The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-03-01
Thoughts On Organization.
Rice, Va, February 25, 'OI

Never in the history Of Virginia
farmers, has there been manifested so
much Indifference as TO planting a
crop Of tobacco, as there l. the present
year. There is, beyond all doubt or
denial a positive determination in the
minds of the majority Of the farmers
to reduce the acreage from last year.
One reason for this Indifference, is,
not so much on account Of the scarcity
Of labor, as it i-not having control Of
it. will mention two causes, that ]
believe, prevent the farmers from en-
ployng and controlling the labor.
First, by being run by the mission
merchants a. the negro calls them.
With all due respect TO themerchants,
for among them l have many warm
personal friends, and knowing in the
eyes Of the law, they are doing a legiti-
mate business, 1 must say, candidly
and honestly. and 1 believe express
the opinion Of every thoughtful
farmer, that the commission mer-
chants, by advancing provisions and
money, are doing more to demorallze
and destroy the labor than anything
else. and if this condition Of affairs
continues to exist, they Will skill the
goose that lays the golden egg This
is a self-evident proposition. Think
Of it my commission friends, and
"choose We this year, whom you VIII
serve" your colored customers or the
people Of your own race, upon whom,
rest the welfare Of our entire country.
Another cause why farmers cannot
control labor, is that railroads and saw
mills pay more for their laborers, than
we can afford to pay, at the present
prices we are getting for our farm pro-
ducts.
Why can they afford to pay more?
Simply because they have organized
One Of the most prominent lumber
dealers in our section said TO a neigh
Dor Of mine, "that they had been or
ganizlng for ten years, and now they
could get the value Of their lumber
and with a kind sympathetic feeling
advocated and advised the organiza-
ton Of the farmers for their mutual
protection and prosperity, and might
say for their only prospect Of future
success.
We readily see from the prices Of
lumber now and ten years ago, the adj
vantage Of organization. Yet when
the farmers begin to organize and
make an effort to protect theirinterest,
we find men who reproach, ridicule
and even abuse as for doing that
which all other classes Of men have
done, even to the boot black.
To show another instance Of organ
ization, / will bring to the minds Of
those who may see fit to sketch these
scattering thoughts Of an old clod-
knoc er. an incident that occurred In
warehouse in the town Of Farmville.
There was pile Of tobacco being
sold on the floor, and one Of the in
spectors, knowing the price offered
was below the cost Of production,
gave the auctioneer a sign for a bid,
and with ne keenness Of a hawk s
eye one ofthe buyers saw him, and
this inspector was arraigned, not be-
fore a court Of justice, but before the
tobacco board Of trade, and made to
pay fine. This shows that the gen.
tlemen who compose this board are
organized, not in the interest Of the
farmer, but to protect their own in
terest, which they have a right TO do
Then why should the farmers not
have the same right TO organize to pro.
tect their interest?
II we do not, we are virtually al
lowing other people to act as our Gus
todians and saying to them, take the
fruits Of our labor, use them as they
see best for their advantage, and wher
theyare satisfied give Us the small
portion that they think the farmer car
live on. There are men all over The
country who do not hesitate to Say
they believe they ought TO pool thei
tob, eco. but are still holding of
plucking the fruit from the trees plant
ed and are being cultivated by thu
Z members Of the association. Let mi
say to these farmers consider tni
question earnestly, solemnly ant
prayerfully, and if you conscientiousl,
believe it is your duty TO pool your to
bacco, even at a sacrifice, and help u
to protect the interest Of our love
, ones, and that Of the whole farmin
community, how can you longer re
I fuse to follow the dictates Of your COZ
+ science?
g Some will say it is impossible to g
e the IA mers to organize and work L
8 gethsr. When we remember tins
Y Peter, one Of the Disciples Of Chris
/. denied his Master, and the many
q our day who fail to keep the sacre
- VOWS they once made TO their God an
e have broken the pledge Of allegian'
n to their church, we are not surprise
is to find some unfaithful to their pleds
q made the association. But it is su
% prising that some who profess to
n Christians, and TO have within the
the spirit Of Christ, filled with d
sire to thwart the efforts Of the farn
s ers, should rejoice whenever a mer
Der Of the association violates b
D, pledge. My brother, examine yoi
heart aud see if the spirit Of Go
prompts you to do this or is it Il
prompting Of a heart filed with a st