The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-22
FARMERS ORGANIZE
Splendid Start of the Farm
ers' Protective Association.
With Great Enthusiasm twenty Subordinate
Associations Have Been Begun in the
Eastern Section of N. c.

| The farmers of North Carolina are or
ganizing for their mutual protection.
1t is on strict business lines that this
is being done and it is for his CONNER
cial and financial benefit that the farmer
is doing this
Such is tn news that was brought to
Ra c.sh by the men who are leading in
this movement. There was in Raleigh
last night Col. John S. Cunningham, of
Person, president of the North Carolina
Farmers Protective Association; Mr.. j.
o. w. Gravely, of Rocky Mount, and Mr..
o. l.. Joyner of Greenville, Grand Lee
turers of the association.
The North Carolina Farmers Protective
Association was chartered by the recent
Legislature. 1t was organized because it
was considered that the general condi
tions that confront the farmers today
imperatively demand that they be or
ganized for the protection OF their in
terests, the promotion of their general
welfare, their social and educational ad
Vaneement and that of their children and
the securing to them just remuneration,
for their toll
The organization of Subordinate Asso-
Citations is progressing rapidly, the NOR
so when it is considered that the asso-
citation has been but recently put on foot.
This has been made possible because 1t
is known to the farmers that there are
plans in the association now under con-
sideration which is being. matured will
create competition for farm products,
which will not be destroyed during the
present generation.
An interview was had last night with
Mr. ]. o. w. Gravely, OF Rocky Mount,
one of the Grand Lecturers, who has
been doing much earnest work in or
ganizing sub associations. He was asked
to give a brief account of the progress
of the association, and the outlook for
its success. In reply to this request he
said:
The North Carolina Farmers Protec
tive Association is progressing nicely.
We have organized in North Caroliua
about twenty subordinate associations.
these being in Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson.
Wayne, Johnston, Hartford, BERTHE and
Pitt counties The farmers are all very
enthusiastic over the association and are
exceedingly anxious for it to be perfected
wherever it has been talked of and ex
planned.
"The enthusiasm concerning this is
spreading from section to section, and
as the benefcent plans of the organiza
tion are explained there is an ever in
creasing interest shown. The more our
farmers consider the aims and purposes
Of this association, the more enthused
they become and they are beginning to
know that through organization and con-
cert of action they can occupy the posi-
tion in the commercial world to WHICH
they are justly entitled.
Unless one had been to the various
points of the State where / have been
in organizing these subordinate associa-
lions, he would be inclined to doubt the
great success with which the organiza-
ton is meeting In all cases there has
been general interest manifested, and the
various purposes of the association being
shown, the farmers have recognized in
it something that is needed and some
thing that will be of practical benefit, a
benefit not on paper or theoretical, but
a practical, cash benefit which will help
them in their financial condition. This
is what is needed to place the North
Carolina farmer on terms of equality
with the other classes Of the world,
financial backing which will render them
strong and confident The purpose of the
North Carolina Farmers Protective AS
ISOLATION is to enable them to reach this
condition, and recognizing this they are
taking hold of it with a strong deter
mination to make such use of the plans
we present that they will be strengthened
and benefited by the organization we
propose.
"Other meetings are being arranged
and at these the success of the past
meetings is expected to be duplicated.
lone of these will be at Spring Hope
on next Friday, April "a. Then there is
a big meeting to be held at Rocky Mount
on Friday, the first of May, while on
Saturday, the second of May, there will
also be meeting at Elm City. At the
meetings at Rocky Mount and Elm City,
Colonel Cunningham, the president of the
association, will speak"