The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-08-17

We are glad TO note IN the Times
Dispatch that the editor Of that paper
EXPRESSES himsolfa, .n sympathy with
the movement among The farmers 10
organize themselves The article of
Mr.. ia. Hardy, of Blackstone which
we printed last week, brought ont
this declaration from the limes-Dh-
patch.
The declaration was timely, aud we
may remark ina passing that If the eo-
itor of our valued contemporary would
VISIT The tobacco section OF Virginia.
would get out among the tanners and
talk with them. would study at fist
hand the conditions which confront
them and would Get face 60 face and
heart 10 heart with the odiou> tyranny
TO which tobacco farmers nave for
years been subjected Dee would stop
those iitde pleasant.ie- at their e@-
pense. He would reigIu Co his DESK
prepared to loo his voice aud use his
pen i'm behalf of am honest and hare
working class ana cease To- "pohe "a
little eoodnalured fun' at the effort OF
the tanners TO protect themse'ves
This matter is too serious J1 be- 'un-
ny. With many o. oUf farmers il Is "a
tragedy, and a tragedy every day iu
the year, not only with tie mea out
with their faithful wive. VINO are
stinuug themselves for the sake of
great principle lts % tragedy with
many OF our boys and girl, ou thc
farm. for TO many Of Them It mean,
the TIME and opportunity forever gone
TO get a good education.
The farmer meets two classes when
he goes TO market either 70 buy OF TO
sell: ON the one hand organized capital
and on the other hand organized la-
Dor And then when hc starts in 90
organize he is told that combination
is wrong and unhealthy is referred TO
as a hayseed and has suu poked 40
him. 10 seems To- have become "a fixed
belief with some people that the farm
er ought TO be sat 'sdei with a bare
living that if he can just manage TO
keep a mortgage or his farm, ne is do
ing well; that ne ought not to lay by
any money because he might make a
fool Of himself
We believe that The farmers Of this
section are organizing Only to protect
themselves from being imposed upon.
We do not believe that Trey are trying
to "hold up" anyone They desire,
and have a right to, a fair price for
their products; and this is all they ask.
They are organizing to get this fair
price. If they shall be satisfied with
this-as we believe they will be they
should succeed in their laudable u1-
dei.aking.
If they shall endeavor TO play the
same game that is played by the To-
bacco Trust-to get money by hook or
crook and to bleed others to get it
they should fail. But when it comes |
to honest dealing and a fair, reasona-
bic spirit, we respectfully submit that |
some Of the critics Of the farmers could /
improve themselves by following the /
example Of the average farmer. He il /
today the best type we lave of honesty /
and fair dealing; Of respect for law Of /
industry and Of sturdy character.
We are well aware that there are
among the farmers, hOtheads who are I
hurting their cause seriously. They /
are making big mistake in thinking /
that personal abuse is argument; and /
they will live TO see their folly. But /
the average farmer Of this section is I
reasonable. Ald if be is dissatisfied /
with present conditions there must Doe .
a good reason for it.
One thing is certain If the farmer
waits for Others TO help him he will /
wait long time. And If be waits for
the federal government, as it is now
controlled, TO help him, ne will wait /
vain.
THE FARMERS AND THE TARIFF