Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-08-20
ANNUAL ADDRESS TO
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
President J. E. Peterson Discusses in
Clear and Sensible Fashion Topics
of Lively Concern to Farmers
Freight Rates, Fertilizers, Educa-
ton, Immigration---The Alliance
Taking on New Life.
The Progressive Farmer.

The State Farmers Alliance, Q
twenty-five years old, was in annua
session at Hillsboro on the 11th. We
GO to press too early to print the other
proceedings of the meeting, but are
glad to give our readers the address o,
President Peterson entire as follows:
Brethren OF the North Carolina Farm
ers' Alliance: Another year has rapid
ly passed and we are gathered together
on this pleasant occasion in the
twenty-sneond annual ses sion OF eul
organization. A kind providence has
smiled upon us in large measure not
wi~thstanding the cries of panic and
disaster in the financial world. The
average conservative citizen has seen
little cause for this, and has gone on
with renewed energy, and hopeIu
heart. There is little doubt bat that
the few who would profit by the dis
tress of their fellowman bave intensl-
fed every possible condition to precip-
itate financial trouble.
If it had not been for our o~rganiza-
tion and cooperation by similar or
ders in the face of such pressure, the
products OF our la bors would have
been sold far below the cost Of produce
ton. One lesson we ought TO have
learned weIl-market our crops slowly
and carefully.
AS these conditions Under strong
speculative effort may arise at almost
any time, it behoves the farmer 1c
realize his right in the premises and
while we are at peace with those in
other vocations and with all Godspeed
in the race OF life tor an honest exist
once, we must not forget thorough or
g~anization and unity of action and
to maintain a fair recognition
of our side of the question. Every
other interest is organized, We must
not be the exception.
We are doing more now to command
the respect and attention of the world
and enlist every desirable and quail
Aed person to join hands with us in
trying to better our mutual sondi-
The past year has been one OF new
life for the Farmers Alliance, more
new Sub-Alliances formed, more old
ones that had beceme dormant revived,
and larger numbers of substantial
members added than in like period
in many years. I am gratified and re-
joice with you in this progress and
hopeful outlook for the future. This
encouragement must stimulate US for
greater short in the coming year.
We need to reach our membership
more than we are doing. While all
the papers of the State SO far as I know
dealt kindly with US during the
past year, and some Of them have beer
especially considsrate of us, yet some-
time for lack of space, articles of in
terest to the Alliance have to be prun-
ed so far as to lose their true meaning
and purpose.
Naturally we feel that The Progress
i've Farmer Is more closely connected
with US than many ether papers.
While this paper has to meet many in
terssts Of cur agricultural people we
regard no interest of more Importance
than perfect organization of the farm
ers. It may be that a column of this
paper could be secured for reaching
our organization, at a small COST I
am sure if this cannot be done that
they will give reasonable pace for all
articles of interest to our Alliance that
represents so many subscribers to this
valuable paper.
The reduction or equality in freight
rates so strongly advocated by my pre-
decessor and SO justly expected by the
merchants and farmers of Nerth Car
olina has not been obtained. Instead,
there is said to be an effort on the part
of some railroads for an increase in
what now appears as excessive rates.
We desire to see the most cordial rela-
ton existing between the great masses
OF the people and the railroads. This
the part OF all concerned to do what
is right and fair. If these things can
not be recognized, then public opinion
will grow until the demand is impera-
tive.
After a complication OF matters, our
efficient business agent made an ar
rangement about certain brands OF fer
tiIizers that pore the "A1liance
Brands" This seemed the best thing
he could do at the time. I would re-
commend that a more defnit under
standing be reached at an early date
in regard to these matters. About this,
however, u business agent can more
fully explain.
There is an increasing desire among
u nroiI IN col uor Of ororn