The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-06-18
vTTAILI IMPORTANT MEET
INGS.

Two OF the most important meet
ngs in their bearing on the contin-
he'd prosperity Of the state Will be
ield in Greensboro next week, the
letail merchants association on the
18th, the state cotton association on
he goth.
Both meetings will have under con-
.ideration-and it is hoped, will de-
termine to take action on-the Ques-
ion of freight rates that touches in its
notifications every man in the State,
Whether rich or poor, labOrer or cap
talist. In this matter the merchants
association representing the great
body Of business men throughout
North Carolina has been most active
rhey initiated the fight and have fol-
owed it. They have opened the eyes
ST the people to the matter of he
Virginia Determinations and have
Saused the beginning of u fight in
which there is to be no let-up this
side of victory and justice only re-
Gently the Greensboro Chamber of
Commerce through the Corporation
Commission started proceedings to
seek relief from the intolerabIe Vir-
sinia determinations.
The cotton mill men have for long
suffered from much the same sort
Of discrimination against them and in
'avor of their New England COMPETE
tors for the trade Of the Orient in
cotton goods. 1t was only recently
hat the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, i'll a case brought by South
ern mills. gave official sanction to
This sectional taxation and laid down
the principle that the advantages Of
fered by nature in locating the cotton
fields shoula not control in cotton
manufacturing. We p that the
cotton manufacturers a appeal, as
well as the railroads might have done
had the case been decided against
their practice of determinations and
we hope that the coming convention
will AXE steps to see that this fight,
also, is Waged continuously.
We doubt if the Importance of cot
ton manufacturing-and the iniquity
Of the arbitrary methods by which it's
development in the South is retard-
eds properly appreciated by South
ern people. A pound of raw cotton
sent through a mill means fully three
times as much in value when it comes
out into cloth. This enhancement is
nearly all clear profit to the South.
1t goes out in wages. in dividends. in
purchases of mill supplies, in living
expenses Of mill operatives. 1t means
DrnrnnrN1,r pa~-l, z,lA1 o-N -
live community. an increase n an
excitement of trade and commerce
that runs from the leading bank to
the corner grocery. Only a small per
cent. of this enhanced value of the
product goes in insurance or machin-
cry to the North and tina per cent.
IS being constantly cut down. When the
New England mills are enabled, there
fore. to gain a false advantage over
their Southern competitors who have
the advantage of the staple at their
doors through an artificial manip-
ulation of rates, the injury is not only
the great one following on discourage
ment of manufacturing itself but af-
fects vitality and individually the
whole community.
In their efforts to get just treat
ment from the railroads and a fair
system of freight rates, the two as
sociations to meet in Greensboro will
have both fellowship between them
selves and the sympathy and interest
of the entire people of the State.
The Kinston Free Press says that il
his speech at Beaufort Sim
mons proposed a new issue for tn,
coming campaign a big nationa
bond issue for river and harbor i'm.
prOVementS.
Brown Marsh township, BLADDER
county, has voted ten thousand dollar
Tor road Improvement. The people
are tired of hauling their crop
through the mire and mud. Coco
roads pay in dollars and cents as wei
as in other ways.
Where North Carolina sits is still
1.-The head of the able Assisted b,
Editor r. b Glenn tho nraSi6apc,