Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1908-06-17

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of proper supervisors, and tn
facility with which lcans can b
obtained from the local banks
The Memphis office does, however
make liberal allowances on cottol
shipped to representatives of tn
union in Memphis, Mancheste
and Liverpool. During the lat
financial furry the union arranged
for loans to members Of thirty
dollars per bale and upward.
"The difficulties which at times
beset the sales agent of the Junior
when dealing with members whose
commercial training has not beer
of the most thorough description
is illustrated by the following in.
structions set forth in o circular
recently issued:
6. indorse your name
across the back of the bill Of lad
ing. If you do not understand
how to do this, get the station
agent or landing keeper to show
you
'In view Of the necessity of
such elementary directions it
would seem that the word 'eduea-
tlonal,' in the name of our organ
ization, is there for no idle pur-
pose.
''For the enlightenment of such
as know more of business customs
than the farmer, and at the same
time have lesser knowledge than
he ineother directions, it ia ex-
planned that a landing keeper is
the commander-in chief of a
steamboat landing or dock on
one of the Southern or Western
rivers.
Concerning the conduct of their
affairs the members Of the union
preserve an elaborate air of mys-
terry. Their meetings are all of the
executive character, aud much
care is taken to prevent inform a.
tlon of the proceedin, hscom ng
public. Al the rece-. i anapbis
it was dcJidaa INA /
the extent to which the curtail-
ment of acreage is to be carried
next year must be kept a pro-
found secret-and this secret is
to be known to one million mem
bers.
"Some of the officials of the
union have declared that they do
not know how much cotton they
are holding. With new members
constantly coming in and placing
their cotton under the control of
the organization, and with sales
occasionally being made, this Is
correct as far as the
exact number is concerned. New
warehouses are springing up all
over Texas and Oklahoma, and
their number is not less than 800
nor more than 1000.
"The possible future of the un-
ion depends largely upon the
question of whether OF not the
prlce of fifteen cents is secured
for any of the present crop. If
this figure is reached, and the
trend on the market, unfortunate
ly for the union, is not at present
in that direction, the scope and
power of the organization will be
greatly increased.
1.-The decision to curtail acreage
is binding only upon such men,
bers as were present in the Mem
phis convention or were represent
ed by delegates. Even upon them
the obligation is moral only such
as the honorable will observe and
and others ignore. No such can
be legelly enforced, for a man
may plant his farm with anything
or nothing as he chooses, provided
that he does not lnjurs his neigh
bors. He may SOW it with glass
beads and bone buttons if it
pleases him. If it were certain
that all members of the union
would religiously observe the cur
tailment percentage farmers out
side the union easily might, and
probably would, meet a prospec-
tive high price by efforts at IN
creased crop of their own. Sue
cessful curtailment Of acreage
may be carried out in a limited
territory which produces q pre-
ponderance of any one commo-
dity. 1t remains to be seen
whether the members Of the Farm.
ers' Union can successfully COM
bat the almost insuperable diff
culties that beset its operation in
a territory as great as that of the
cotton-growing States.
The future of the organization
will depend largely upon the fdel,
ity with which it's members oh.
serve the agreement to curtail