The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-11-30

reason why the farmers suouiu uot &c
: high price for their cotton, and h
declared that their demands are no
unreasonable.
Senator Simmons declared that it
law of trade that the man who ha
something to sell shall have q voice il
naming the price foc such article, ant
that the farmer is about the only ex
ception to this rule in all the land
He raid for more than fifty years, skip
ping the years of the CIVIL War, tht
price of cotton has averaged Il cent:
the pound. II with the smaller crop II
1903 cotton went as high as 10 and Ii
cents and with the larger crop OF 1904
the price was as high as IL cents, Is
there any reason why the crop OF 1900
as law as ten million bales, shall not
( bring IL to IA cents? Now, that the
spinners and spectators have taken a
good part of the crop at 10 cents and
under, why should not the balance OF
the crop reach a much higher price
than cotton is now selling for?
The speaker declared that he has not
sold pound of his cotton crop yet,
and said that there is one thing sure,
and that is be will not sell pound
under II cents, and he shall consider
the matter seriously before he will
take that price.
Encouragement was given the farm
ers in their organization and the speak
er declared with eloquenee and en-
phasis that the organization OF the
farmers is not to attack any one else or
any other interest but to protect under
the impulses OF true manhood that
which God has given them as their
very own.
Turning from the cotton question,
Senator Simmons declared that anoth-
er question is of vital Importance to
the farmers, and that is the question
OF labor. He showed by statistics that
the increase In the population in North
Carolina is not keeping pace with the
demands for labor; that the industrial!
development in the State has absorbed
the increase in the population fer 6
number OF years past, and so we need
to look to some other section OF this
country or to some other countries for
the labor on the farms. He declared
his emphatic objection to the scum OF
Europe and other countries as immi-
grants into this country and said that
we need not ask for or receive that
class Of labor, for thousands of good
people there would be glad to have
homes with us here.
In the course of his able address Sen
ator Simmons urged that the farmers
take more interest in their local banks
and thus become stronger and more
potent factors in the financial affairs
OF tnelr OInmunltleS.
For more than an hour the speak
er held the undivided attention Of
the large audience and his strong logic
and eloquent appeals tor the farmer
and the great cause for which he stands
were punctuated with generous ap-
planse, which evinced the hearty ap-
probation by the earnest farmers who
heard him.
In closing, Senator Simmons ex-
pressed his great faith in the righteous
ness Of the farmers cause and his hopa
and belief In the success OF their efforts.
Thai king the good audience for their
hattering attention he sat down amid
loud applause.
This hurried review OF Senator Sim
mons masterful address has been writ
ten from memory and entirely without
notes, and therefore is quite incomplete.
1t merely hints at the many good and
ASAA SAAASo WILL Nu1Cu Gu0 EuUIeSS
was filled, and we should not have at
tempted this off-hand report but for
the fact We know many farmers who
were not present Will be glad to get
even this meagre report Of the speech
OF one who is so highly esteemed by the
people whom he SO ably represents.
At the conclusion of the speech, by
motion OF the secretary, E. E. Hilliard,
the Association passed a unanimous
vote OF thanks to Senator Simmons for
his masterful, instructive and helpful
address.
SOME BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
Most OF the recess hour of the Supe-
rlor Court was given to Senator Sim
mons speech ant only a small amount
OF the business of the Association was