The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-24
General Agricultural Information.

General Agricultural Information.
 The high or satisfactory prices which farmers received for their cotton the past season has given the farmers such announcement that they believe they have almost reached the time when farm CTS may control or dictate the price of not only cotton, but all other crops grown in this country. It has been stated that the past season the farmers of Texas were able to control the price Of So per cent of the cotton crop grown in that state. ! am not well enough posted on this to say whether or not this has been the case; however from what l have seen and heard I am inclined to question the statement. While the statement may or may not be overdrawn, yet the re- suit has been so satisfactory that the farmers in the west are encouraged to believe that through a well organized ef- fort, the will be able to control the prices of all crops grown. l read re gently in one of our great papers that r. movement was now on foot to extend this organization among the farmers of the west. The plan is this To bring into che great organization 100000 or about one-third of the farmers of the United States. The idea is that an orr ganization of this kind will be able to exert q wonderful influence on the price
 
 70 control the prices entirely.
 Now it is not my purpose to say whether or not such movement is right or whether or not 1t will bring the de- sired results. I only wish to outline 8 fev' facts and to give my opinion on the subject In the first place, the farmers of the country have for some time been crying out about the great trusts that Ina c been, as they think sapping their blood, bleeding them in every deal Does not this movement now on the part of the farmers threaten that it may be- come che of the greatest trusts ever or ganizad in this country? As practical farmer and one who is in sympathy with every honest, legitimate movement t t is brought forth, having for its ob- ject the uplifting of our farmers, ask to be permitted to submit few questions for the consideration of the farmers who read these lines.
 First why is 1t that the farmers have never been able to bring about this much fred result, that of being able to con- trol the price of their crops, and why Is 1t that every farmers organization in the past has gone to pieces of its own weight? In giving my answer, l want to deal with these questions honestly, but bt the same time I want to be plain, so that tllere may be no mistake in my posi- tion.
 
 have failed in accomplishing what they intended when forming their organiza- tions. First, they began at the top Of the ladder to build; they started out to build up by putting some other business do y.i. Second, there was too much 1llit- eracs- brought into the organization, for no illiterate man is capable of protect in- himself or his general interests. Third. farmers organizations in the past seem nave ben unmindful of the fact that the first step leading to protection was education. Fourth, interruptions srafters. wolves in sheeps' clothing, who had no good will at heart for the farmer. came in took advantage of the illterate con diti,n of the farmer sowed seeds Of dissension and famed the flames of enmi- tv and jealousy which the illiterate state of mind of the farmer had kirdled. In this manner the very purposes of the or ganization were defeated. What assurance have we that the same kind of design ine~ grafters will not be able to get in their work again among the farmers and once more defeat their purposes? Are they rot already getting in their work M answer iJ, yes. In many cases and in many places. agitators are going out among the farmers, trying to make them dissatisfied with their condition in life an having nothing better to offer them They go among the farmers bowling aDOuI SelllHS cIopS ihStS"o VI tS-S--, e' them how to grow crops. Our farmers, as a rule, are not paupers or objects or charity, and the farmers of today who are not comfortably fixed has no one to blame but themselves unless sickness or misfortune has befallen them.
 Let me metion a case that took place only few days ago to Illustrate the point I wish to make. The farmers of a certain section of our country gathered in a beatutifu1 grove for a great picnic They came in fine buggies and carriages