The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-09
THE FARMERS STATE
ALLIANCE.
Seventeenth Meeting Near
Hillsboro August nth,
18th and 18th.

Mr.. T. B. Parker, Secretary of the
North Carolina Farmers State Alliance,
has the following to say of the coming
meeting at Hillsboro this week:
The seventeenth annual meeting of the
North Carolina Farmers State Alliance
Will be held near Hillsboro, at Alliance
Headquarters, the 18th, 18th and 18th
inst.
On Wednesday the usual work of the
State Alliance will be suspended and the
1 cay devoted to public addresses and dis
CUSHIONS to which every one interested IS
invited These addresses will be of un-
usual interest and should attract large
number of farmers and their families. The
addresses will be by DR.. Burkett, OF the
A. and NJ. College, who Will speak on
agricultural Education; State Chemist
Kilgore, who has not yet announced his
subject, but it will be on some subject of
vital interest to the farmers, Hon. E. l..
Daughtridge, of Edgecombe county, who
will probably speak on Cooperation and
the Opportunities of the Farmers, Rev.
C. E. Maddry, Superintendent of Public
Instruction for Orange county, subject:
Rural Education" and F. l.. Stevens, of
the A. and NJ. College wilfspea on PLANT
Improvement" Prof. John Graham, prin-
cipal of Warrenton High School, and
others.
This will be a departure from the regu-
lar order of business of the Alliance, but
it is confidently believed that the result
and helpful suggestions to be gained at
such a meeting will warrant its continu-
ance at the annual meetings of the State
Alliance. The social feature of the day
will be no less important and helpful than
the regular program. Taking day off for
an outing of the farmers families the
casting aside home cares, the coming to-
gether in social intercourse, renewing old
acquaintance and forming new ones will
add to the occasion and be helpful to
those who participate.
One of the objects of the Alliance is
to break down as far as is practicable the
isolation of country life by inducing closer
social relations.
From letters received at this Office l
regard the outlook for the Alliance as very
encouraging. There is now an orzanigation
in more than twenty-five counties and l
am continually In receipt of letters from
persons living in counties where the AL
lance has died out asking for organizers
to visit them for the purpose of reviving
the order.
Lecturer Gates is now in Granville coun-
ty and is recognizing with the very best
men i'm the county as leaders in the
movement.
We are expecting other counties to be re-
cogniZed just as soon as we get suitable
men to do the work. The reorganization
Of the Alliance at the A. and NJ. College
marks decided advance in the work in
hot Cub
radiate the purposes and principles of the
organization into every part of the State.
Composed as it is of educated and capable
men who will exemphfy in their lives the
principles of the Alliance It's influence for
good will go into the homes of many of
our best farmers.
Again, | have no doubt but the very
low and Disappointing prices received by
the tobacco growers will be instrumental
in reviving interest in the Alliance. Many
who have been standing aloof will now
see the folly of longer waiting and hop
ing that the times will mend themselves.
With complete organization the tobacco
situation could be controlled. If there
is an overproduction by concert OF action
that could be remedied II the quality Is
the cause Of the low prices the farmers
could discuss better methods IN their meet
ings and if the trust is the sole cause of
the low prices the same remedy could be
applied that was so effective IN the days
of the jute bagging trust. There is no
more sense in selling tobacco for less than
cost than there is in selling anything else
at sacrifice. If the farmers can not
make a profit out of the crop they had
better stop growing it. A very decided
and firm stand by all the tobacco growers
in this direction would give a healthy tone
to the market. But such & step can not
be taken without thorough and complete
organization.
The Alliance or rather many of its mem
beers, have made mistakes which it Is un-
nessary to mention here, but it has profit
ed by them and their helpful effects
have put it on its guard against repeat
ing them.
The Alliance is working along the lines
of the original purpose OF the orgamza-
ton, namely the betterment OF the farm
ers, socially, mentally, morally and finan-
cially. 1t will discuss questions of public
interest in a calmn and dignlfied manner,
leaving every member free to exercise and
enjoy his own religious and political opin
ions. Beyond that it does not propose to
go. 1t purposes to help forward every
movement looking to better farming meth
DDS and better rural conditions.
Each sub-Alliance will labor to i'm
prove its community by better schools,
better roads, better mail facilities the in
PRODUCTION of wiser farming practices, the
wider reading of good literature the
identifying of the homes and the closer
union of the farmers socially and com
mercially. 1t has no Interior purposes,
simply the betterment of the conditions Of
he farmers of the State