The Semi-weekly leader., 1908-02-15

The writer is in receipt of the follow
ing thoroughly sensible letter from HI.
J. Cheatham of Neshoba county. The
advice contained in this communication
is worthy of space and consideration,
and it is to be hoped that others will
follow the example of Mr.. Cheatham
and not keep their lights under a
bushel, as it were. Tell of the good
work of the Union and thereby encour-
age those who may be getting luke
warm in the work.
LAS | have been reading your arti-
Cles in the Neshoba Democrat on
Greater Mississippi for number of
years, and being much interested there
in, take the liberty of saying some
thing concerning the work of the Union
in this county. l am chairman of the
executive committee in Neshoba coun-
ty for the Union. want the brethren
over the State to know that the Union
Is on the move in this section. We
have just closed very interesting and
important meeting of our county union,
held on the 10th and 1lth inst. with
Ocabla Local. Twenty-Five locals with
membership of $50 were represented
by delegates. We have a good ware
house at Mcdonald on the M, j. & K.
G. railroad and expect to nave one at
Philadelphia by the time cotton begins
to move next fall.
LAS chairman of the committee on
'for good of the order, as we'll 'resolu-
tiOns,' / submitted the following recon-
mendations which were adopted by the
county union: That we abandon the
credit system as soon as practicable by
making our farms self-sustaining, re-
ducing the acreage of cotton and divers
flying our crops by planting more corn,
COW peas, potatoes, hay and forage
crops. We also recommend that in
buying our supplies we make the pay
ments, especially for fertilizers, one
third in November, one-third in Jan
uary and one-third in March. This was
done to prevent forcing too much cot
ton on the November market
"The county union elected officers
for the ensuing year and a lecturer to
organize every hillside in Neshoba
county. We are considering the fer
tilizer question and trying to make ar
rangements to buy direct from the
manufacturer. | am doing all | can to
push our cause, and any information or
help that you can render will be thank
fully received"
If ten men in each county had the en-
thusiasm evidenced in the above letter
President Hightower would have to
make no more calls to bring the men,
bership up to 10000 by the first of
next January. What we need is good,
active men who will take an interest in
the work outlined and keep it up until
that object has been accomplished.
Representative Frazier of Benton
county has prepared and introduced a
measure that if it is made law will be
worth great deal to- the people of
Mississippi, especially those living ad ia
cent to the railroads. There are few
indeed who have not experienced trou-
BILE and worry in collecting claims for
stock killed or injured by the trains.
Too often these claims drag along for
until the man whose stock has been in
jured gives up the effort and lets it 60.
Mr.. Frazier has prepared measure
that provides for an arbitration COM
mittee composed of three members, one
to be selected bv the company, one by
the owner of the stock and the third
by two already chosen, who are to say
what the animal was worth. If the
first two fail to agree upon the third,
the local magistrate selects the man.
After appraising the value the com
pany must settle in a short time, sixty
days at the outside from the date on
which notice was first served upon the
company or its agents. Should they
fail to do so heavy penalty is placed
upon them. Let US hope that this will
become law aid be strictly enforced.
A conference was held at Durant
some days since for the purpose of an
organized effort to extend the work of
competitive crop growing contests and
experimental work among the public
school children of the State. State
superintendent Powers, Professor
Lloyd of the A. & NJ, Hon. A. S. Me-
harg of the United States department
of agriculture, Superintendent Smith
of Holmes county, originator of the
work in Mississippi, and the writer were
present. 1t was definitely determined
20 push this work during the year and
the cooperation of county superintend-
ents, teachers and others is solicited.
An address, together with instructions,
was prepared and will be ready for dis
tribution in a few day. This is one of
tho most important movements in re-
cent years and deserves the encourage
ment of all citizens interested in the
future prosperity of Mississippi.
Up to this time no action has been
taken by the legislative bodies on the
suggestion of the writer that small
plant for the manufacture of cotton
bagging be located on one of the State
farms to be operated by convict lakor.
This is a suggestion IA the interest of
those who would wrap their cotton in
cotton to fight the iute bagging trust
and in the interest OF the better han
ding of cotton to insure better price.
And the legislature is composed of a
majority of farmers. too.
THE DISCONTINUED TREE.