The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-12
Associate Railroad Com misSiOners Censurtd. RESOLUTIONS ARE PASSED Montgomery Agricultural As- sOciati0n Out of Business. Planters Merge Their Club Into the Cotton Grswers' Associatiou.-
 Interesting Discussions of
 Modern Methods on
 Farms.
RESOLUTIONS ARE PASSED

| fstence to amalgamate with the County | Cotton Growers Association. The two organizations had practically the same purposes and 1t was deemed wise to l concentrate all the farmers forces in | the county in a single machine by dis solving the old association. especially as most of the members are identical. | Before bidding farewell to the Agri- cultural Association, however, the | members launched a caustic resolution at Associate Railroad Commissioners | W. c. Tunstall and W. T. Sanders, cen suring them for resisting the efforts | of President B. B. Conner of the Ala bama Railroad Commission to secure this month a reduction in the railroad freight rates on fertilizers in this State. The resolution, which was passed unanimously. commended the position of President Conner.
 This was the last action taken by the Agricultural Association yesterday. It sprang from the deliberations of the Railroad Commission over the question | of fertilizer rates in Alabama general ly, which was preached by President Conner at a special meeting held in the | capitol Friday. President Conner made a motion to have a special meeting. March 22, for the adjustment of tho rates, but he was voted down by the | hSsoCtdto WUO SuCCetu- ed in passing the question over to the | regular monthly meeting. The reason for the delay, as given by the hold | over Commissioners, was that compe- tent witnesses could not be brought be- fore the Commission on the date desir- | ed by the President.
 | Resolution of Censure.
 The resolution of the. Agricultural Association was as follows;
 Resolved. That the Montgomery County Agricultural Association en- dorses the efforts of President B. B. Conner. of the Alabama Railroad Com lizer rates in Alabama and censures the attitude of his associates on the Commission in opposing these efforts.' | President M. B. Houghton, of the Association. before a vote was taken on the uestion, remarked that the body was "bucking a pretty big thing in the Railroad Commission but there was not a nay vote recorded, the reso- lution passing without discussion. l It was motion of ]. S. Edson which | resulted in the dissolution of the Agri- | cultural Association. It has been in existence little over two years and while sentiment might have been in favor of continuing the organization the exigencies of the day required 1t to como to an end to add momentum to the movement now under way for cur tailin gcotton acreage and the use of commercial fertilizers. The County Cotton Growers Association was recently organized primarily for this purpose. It is a permanent organiza- ton, having the sanction of the South- organized in New Orleans on January 26.
 Organization Dissolved.
 The resolution of MT. Edson which passed with single nay vote is as follows:
 Resolved, That the Southern Cotton Association having perfected a county State and interstate organization em- bracing In its county membership a large portion of the members of the Montgomery Agricultural Association and 1t being burdensome to attend frequent meetings, and whereas all are greatly interested in the success of the plans of the Southern Cotton Associa,- | ton and wish to yield to 1t a loyal | support, therefore. the Montgomery Agricultural Association dissolves in order to favor the said cotton associa- ton. y
 Resolved further, That J. A. Sellers, | vice-president; W. D. Westcott, chair man of the Executive Committee and A R. Harvey. Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. are hereby authorized and l instructed to wind up and settle the affairs of the Agricultural Associat ton. |" | President W. H. Vaughan. of the Montgomery County Cotton Growers Association. who was present after the resolution was adopted informed the members that the Growers Association holds monthly meetings. Secretary | Charles L. Gay was also present and enrolled practically all the members of the dissolved organization. There where about thirty growers in attend | ance.
 Mir. HOughton Speaks.
 President Houghton. of the Agri- cultural Association; delivered an in- | teresting address to the body before 1t dissolved. He brought out several problems that confront the leaders of | the cotton movement in the South look ing to higher and stabler prices. "AlI the great interests have learned the height and depth. the length and breadth and power of efficient organi- zation except the Southern cotton pro- ducer and farmer" said Mir. Houghton. Apprehension is felt that conditions are so varied, the farms so widely scattered. the degrees of intelligence so marked that 1t will prove impossible to unite so diverse population in one grand compact body.
 'The history of the Grange and Ali ance movement among farmers dem- onstrated that they could be welded | into an almost irresistible business and political force capable of resisting any oppressive enemy of their interests. These great organizations were pro- jected at a time and under conditions | far less favorable than those prevailing at the present time Had they sought capable leaders and refused to allow enemies to SOW tares in their ranks, the producing interests would have greatly prospered and their organization re- mained alive and effective today. Tt was the Farmers Alliance that introduced cotton baling and throttled the jute bagging trust. When there was an production of cotton in the years 1897 and 1898 with the dis astrous low prices consequent, the Alliance brought about a reduction of acreage and a decrease in the use of lfertilizers and the price of the great staple began to gradually rise.
 Work of the Alliance.
 The spread of agricultural and busi- ness information among the masses, the social and other features that were A part of that movement raised the, standard of farming and its good ef- fects are apparent unto the present time.
 'Trhe movement also showed that the producer was as loyal to his organi-