The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-18
PRESIDENT FLEMING'S ADDRESS
To the State Farmers Alliance While in Session at
HlsborO Last Week,
To the Officers and Members of the Far

mers State Alliance:
Brethren:-'Time with its changes has
closed another year in the history of the
Farmers State Alliance of North Caro-
lima We are convened today for the pur-
pose Of holding the seventeenth annual SEES
sion OF our Order. By a retrospect of It's
history during its existence, and noting its
Struggles and the important victories won,
when its membership was greater than at
present. should encourage us to press for
ward IN every department of work that
concerns the general welfare, prosperity
and happiness of the agricultural classes.
We should remember that no organization
can live long on its past. There must be
something doing in the living present,
something to be accomplished IN the fu-
ture, if there is to be life and growth.
Let us work together and join hands and
hearts in our best efforts to advance the
interest of each other and the Order. Let
us be mindful of the responsibilities rest
ing upon us as he legislators of he Alliance
in the State.
l am pleased to note that our lecturers
have re-organized a considerable number
of sub-Allances during the year, which has
resulted in adding to our roll several coun-
ty Alliances previously defunct. The re-
ports of your Business Agent, Secretary
Treasurer and Lecturer will reveal their
work for the past year. Your Executive
Committee will give you in their report
the financial condition of the State Al
lance. with other information of a gen
eral character concerning every interest oil
the Order. The officials of each depart
ment are expected to make such recon-
mendatons as may seem to them best
for conducting the business of their re
sPective departments. Then it will be your
privilege to adopt, reject, or revise, any
or all of such recommendations. Last but
not least, your agent of the Business Agen-
cy Fund will tell you in his report of the
handsome amount which lie has keys Turn
ed upon; which is ample backing to con
duct business for one hundred thousand
Alliancemen on a cash basis. This should
be an inducement for farmers to reorgan'
ize sub-Allanccs and buy through the
Business Agent at wholesale prices.
THE OBJECTS AND METHODS OF
THE ALLIANCE.
AS a reminder of Alliancemen and for
the information of those who are in sym
pathy with the organization, l have
thought it advisable to mention briefly
the objects and methods of the Alliance.
The prime object of the Alliance is to
better the condition of farmers, mental
ly, morally and financially" TO educate
and commingle with sEose of the same
calling, to the end that country life may
become less lonely and more social, and
to assist the weak with the strength CT
the strong.
The methods are of three kinds, social,
business and political. The social methods
are such as may be secured by meeting
together and becoming better acquainted
with ncighbors, and friendly exchange
Of ideas as to the practicable details of
farm work. The business methods take
a wider range and depend upon co-opera-
ton county and State, in business efforts
to secure the highest price for produce
raised for sale, and the lowest price on
commodities that must be purchased. The
political methods are strictly non-partlsan
and must ever remain so, because every
candidate for membership. before taking
the pledge, is assured that it will IN no
way conflict with his religious or political
views. Farmers of all political parties are
welcomed in its ranks, and we are expect
ed to wok to secure a just recognition OF
the rights of the agricultural classes.
L. d.
The motto OF the Order is: "In things
essential unity. and in all things charity"
These objects and aims should prevail and
influence all men. But far from it. The
country is influenced By many evils. The
two most damaging and far-reaching are
corruption in politics and the greed OF
the capitalists for gain. The motto OF
both are the same: might makes right
anything to win, anything to succeed
The leaders in these evils and their fol-
lowers in these evils and their followers
give credit to no excellence not based on
success. They are making alarming prog
ress and their number and power have IN
creased until they have gotten so much
the advantage of right, which represents
the common interest and principle motive
of good that the latter is almost lost sight
Of Capital combined has supremacy over
the people by controlling financially the
mercantile and manufacturing interest OF
the whole country, as well as the trans,
portation facilities
And shall l add our farming interest?
Yes more greedily if possible than any
other branch of industry. This has been
accomplished without the penalty that
should be inflicted. The people have per-
mltted the plans QeVlScu ny those VINO
possess the spirit of might and greed to
dominate legislation without formidable
resistance through legislation or organiza-
ton. Whenever any truly loyal citizen or
leaders of influence have warned the peo
pie of increasing danger and the wreckage
that would follow in many vocatlons, the
opposition would cry 'perslmlst. The
time has come when nearly all the people
are persimistic save those who are en-
ployed, or arc in some way connected with
the execution of the machinery OF monop,
oily and political deception. Now that the
chains are fastened upon the power OF the
people, for years to come, these forces are
no longer alarmed, or give ear to the NUT
tering of the people.
What we need in this country is sense
of individual responsibility, strengthened
by organization, that recognizes the
wrongness of any wrong doing that narms
any one, such as exalts one person by de-
grading another, or does not return an
equivalent for what is received, or that
impoverishes one to enrich another. To
reach and practice such virtues a Christian
sympathy is required that recognizes the
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