The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-01
!, MISSISSIPPI MATTERS


secretary win II. Woods, of the
Mississippi Cotton Association, has Is
sued the following address TO th2
farmers OF the State relative to the
work OF the organization: In my
travels around the State in the inter,
hsts of the Southern Cotton Associa,
ticn find the organization strongest
in those sections where the towns.
people take an interest in the welfare
of the farmer. As a rule, l can tell Q
%usurious center by the lack Of support
Of the s. C. A. by moneyed men. Otter
the narrow.minded merchants and the
Observation-Disclosures money lend
ers are so myopic that their vision ID
not beyond a good-sized nose length
These men imagine that their best In,
terests depend upon the poverty of the
great farmer class. These men are
mistaken. The time when such con,
ditions obtained Is past. II is TO the
honest interests of each class that
which concerns the best interest OF
the whole. II is 10 the best interest
of the banker, merchant and profes.
sional man that the farming element
prosper, and conversely this Is also
true, What is good for a part is bene,
fetal to the whole community. When
the timid farmer, who lives eighteen
miles from town. rides this long dis.
lance under an August sun, or in a
January sleet, TO a meeting in town,
and some town seoffer asks, Jim,
what brings you TO town. be replies,
I came to attend a meeting Of the
county cotton association as a repre-,
sentative from my district 4 didn't
know there was any meeting In town
today says the town citizen, and the
farmer feels discouraged, for what
has been represented to him as being
in the interest CT everyone seems not
to be considered by his professed
friends and the town merchant. The
farmer feels blue and goes back home
discouraged. He depends upon his
merchant and banker for advice upon
all matters other than those directly
concerning the management of thc
farm, and when the merchant and
banker appear Indifferent to his IN.
t%erests, through the labors Of the s. e..
A., he feels blue. In order to have a
strong rural organization it is niece
sary that there be q nucleus or local
center of influence. from which ra.
dates information and influence for
the cause. Timid men like associa,
ton. They need this association weld
ed into organization to give strength
The farmers as q rule, are reserved
and tlmid, and in the exercise of their
timidity appear powerfully indepen.
dent. History proves that this indie.
pendence has been only II of profess.
sion, which profession has been given
the o X by those grating upon us,
and who are OF the great cosmopolitan
outside world. Stripped to self, and
stark and bare the great farmer ele
ment has been an easy prey, and my
farmer friends will agree with me, too,
for has not every interest in the pro.
ducing and labor world corrected this
adverse condition through organiza.
ton? And now the leaders offer to
the rank and file, through the S. c. A..
an emancipation, Its acceptance is a
matter Of appreciation and judgment
Our friends in town, the banker, the
merchant and professional men, are
called upon for support. Do not
shayes, shines, cigars, beer, coca-eola
and all other indulgences depend upon
the prosperity of a section? The price
of our staple product Is this effecting
cause, and a hearty support Of organi.
cation is the remedy"
The Mississippi Agricultural and
Mechanical College has recently ere.
ated the position of instructor of for |
sstry and plant breeding In the insti-
tuition, and Geo. l.. Clothier, of the
United States Forest Service, has been
chosen by the college authorities TO
fill this important position. In addi-
ton to giving forestry instructions in
the college, Mr.. Clothier will carry on
propaganda work in forestry in con.
nection with farmers institutes, and
by means Of bullatins issued from the
Exi eriment Station. In
cooperation with the forest service a
study will be made OF various
forest problems Of direct interest to
The State, among which are: Forest
management and woodlot owners; for
est planting for the reclamation OF
waste lands; method for preventing
through forest planting and
reservation; forest survey of the
State.
The following prayer, for use during
yellow fever epidemic, authorized
or use in the diocese Of Mississippi
1y the bishop, Is published: 20 Al
God, who knowest our ~necessi-
les before we ask and our ignorance
n asking, we call to Thee in this our
of great disaster to our brethren,
md Of danger to Thy children in our
and. Assist with the spirit of wis.
the %endeayors Of those who are
irving to devise means for the arrest
Il the fever. and grant to us all the
will to show forth our faithful prayers
n our " earnest efforts, and the
by Thy mighty aid TO accom-.
fish what is well pleasing unto Thee,
hat we, being chastened for a time,
nay be healed by Thy medicine and
omforted with Thy consolation,
Jesus Christ our Lord"
The first bale Of 1905 cotton was re-
eived at V~icksburg on the 23d and
'as sold at auction at the Cotton Elk.
hange. The bidding was spirited, and