The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-08-20

THE FARMER
ton. Grr much beloved ane lament
ed Ex-Governor Vance IS accredited
with saying that IL would be much
better that the negro should be taught
"Gee-Ea-Buck." instead Of He, Haec.
Hoe"
Davidson County Matter.
The Davidson County matter. which
was before you last year. Is Still in bad
shape, and I shall call the attention
OF your judiciary committee 10 il. ard
VIII give them what Information ]
have. Though IL be r comparatively
small matter, IL deserves and should
have due and careful confederation
Let US not be negiectfui Of our duties
when our rights or the rights Of any
OF our members are endangered
Ii Agricultural Department..
The North Carolina Department Of
Agriculture Is very helpful 10 you and
would be more So II you would only
accept il as your friend. Post your
selves and keep posted as 10 Il. plans
and purposes ana proportions.
Brother McAIister. your worthy
vice-preeident. proposed last winter
that the Alliance in each county take
hold OF the Farmers Institutes and see
TO IT that they are ~eli-attended. and
that subjects Of direct Interest 10 the
farrfers Of each county be discussed.
Now we can do no better than to ac-
cept this suggestion show your ap-
probation by attending these institutes
Take an active part in their manage
ment and in the selection OF subjects
TO be discussed. Try them well and
without prejudice. Then should they
be found valueless. we will inaugur-
ate such a campaign for their discon-
~tinuance that no legislator can fail TO
& heed.
L veture the assertion. however, that
NJ matter how good a farmer you are,
you viii be a better one after you
have talked with Bro. T. 3. Parker or
DIT. TAFT Butler. both OF whom have
added so much to the value OF these
Institutes
Ways and means TO secure a suffl-
Client revenue 70 run a government is
now, and has ever been a mooted
question. and one thoroughly i'm
~pregnated with opportunities 10 COM
init fraud and to practice graft.
Numerous wars. both foreign and civil,
have been precipitated by the tax
question. If it were not for taxes We,
the farmers of North Carolina, would
be the very ~wealthiest, the most pros
porous and the very happiest people
in the whole universe.
Ny brethren, did it ever occur to
you how many kinds of taxes you pay,
and how often?
1C1S So ~ " f1J o0AAJ b@ -
orbitant extravaganza tax, which is
plainly shown by our ways of living
and dressing.
(2.) Then we have an idler's tax to
which we contribute largely and free
ly almost every day in the year.
(S) hen we have an Utmost ruin
Gus fool tax which could not and
would not be afforded by any other
class thar the farmers, which is too
plainly shown by US when we allow
| nthnrv tn 1intafa the nrtce Of orr
farm products.
All the above taxes should and
could be largely reduced by the ac-
ton Of the Farmers Alliance, the only
strictly arners organization in North
Carolina.
ca Then we have an annual tax
which is due and payable to h tax
collector in September of each year,
the payment of which no man should
endeavor to avoid or be allowed to
escape.
Taxation Should be Equaiized.
However, it is a bowling shame
that it is not more evenly and justly
distributed
1t is an cad vaAorem" tax in name
only.
I submit that numerous and glaring
cases of unfairness and inequality can
be found in every county in North
Carolina The mere matter of val
uation need give us little concern. 1t
is equalization of which we have just
cause to complain
MANY men of wealth and influence,
both in State and in church. escape
payment of their just and proportion
ate tax by making under oath false
statements as to the ownership and
, value of property.
This should and could be remedied,
if in no other way, by applying the
statute usually applied to the common
p~erjurer.
We trust, however, that u Cor
poration Commission, On whose
, shoulders the late legislature p.-ced
the duty of equalfzing taxes, will give
such relief that each and every man
shall pay taxes in accord with his
: prOperty's value.
Business Affairs of the order.
Your fund which is held for support
and backing of your State Business
Agent is in good. efficient, clean hands
and should give you no concern as to
, its safety.
!. Your property at headquarters de-
mands attention. and while your Ex-
ecutive Committee is eminently qlali-
!, fed to direct its management. yet any
suggestion on your part Will, / am
sure, be well received and carefully
considered.
Continued efforts should be made
Z dlSbooS u \ So eooiI as OO1L-
lings, castings and shaftings in the shoe
factory. as it is not probably that the
:. State Alliance will ever need them
z again for the manufacture of shoes.
The Alliance and It's Membership.
| am gratified to be able to say to
YOU that certainly during my admin
~istration no newspaper in North Caro-
lima has to my knowledge or belief
| shown any feeling for our order other
than the very kindest. On the con-
trary we nave every reason to regard
them as our friends who are ever
ready to serve our interest.
We are not embarrassed financially;
: in fact, we have at our
more money and on our roll books the
names of more men and women thar
any other organization in all North
Carolina save the Church of God.
Brother Gates, your ever faithful state
/ ecturer said to your executive COM
mittee in my presence last spring in
E Raleigh, that it was not money, but
men and women the Alliance needed