The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-01-11
IT IS WELL WORTH READING
Extract From Mr.. ,la,s Speech
Before the s&.ers Union
/jxsS"phis.
Dealers in Cotton Futures and Spectators
Referred to as Blood Suckers-Pleads
for Diversification Of Crops.

Below is an extract from a speech
delivered by Mr.. Frank Fl. HiggS be-
fore the National Farmers Union in
Memphis this week:
The all important and paramount
issue before this convention Of actual
farmers is the cotton problem and
how to solve it to the equitable salts.
faction of all parties concerned except
the blOOdSuckerS, known to all as the
speculators and dealers in futures in
this one great product. The very
fact that the Southern cotton raiser
has been unbusinesslike in his market
ing of this crop, which is king, has
fostered and encouraged this fungus
growth which has reigned supreme in
the land for more than half century,
with headquarters in Wall street,
New York. If the declarations OF
purpose of the Farmers Union be
come indoctrinated into the minds of
the American people this menace to
Southern prosperity will soon be reck-
oned with the things Of past his.
tory. Not only must the farmer
produce cotton sufficient to clothe the
world at fair, living price, but he
must also guard against producing too
much each season. The handmaiden
to cotton acreage reduction is crop
diversifcation, and they both thrive
on the discOuraging of the present
credit and mortgage system which
has proven to be financial death to
the Southern cotton raiser.
AS the sap rises with the warmth
of the springs rising sun, as the days
lengthen, so does the fever rise in the
Southern planter to go headlong in
debt for supplies. All these years
when that abnormal fever reaches
boiling point, his tongne becomes
coated and he soon SOurs on his neigh
oors and hunts up some money king
and lets him diagnose his case. The
first thing required of this subject is
to give a blanket mortgage, which in
a few days proves to be a general
epidemic. Unthoughtedly the sur
render of their years toll must take
place all over the South On the same
day-Nnv. Is. The Farmers Union
stands for diversification Of farm pro-
ducts and for necessary obligations to
be scattered throughout the year. In
that way he is not forced to bow sub
missively to class "who toll not,
neither do they spin.' The real
union farmer is stimulated by price
making each month in the year, and
not at the mercy of any class.
What he has is his own, and he
only parts title to it when his price is
offered. He feels that be is a COM
ponent part of the national union by
being a genuine active member of a
local union, for he sees il the spirit of
unionsm is strong in the local that
it is strong in the national organiza-
tiOn.
He sees now that jealousy, envy and
strife are products of ignorance, that
neighborly kindness, cooperation and
fraternal association, the product oil
education. When the membership OF
any orgarizatiOn is educated as to It's
plans and purposes then sure will
it stand the test of time. The hope
of the success OF the Faamers' Educa,
tional and Cooperative Union is in
the spirit OF education inculcated in
its members, for wherever knowledge
is disseminated there is power, and
cooperation is a natural consequence.