The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-06-06
By Il. <. BLAKESLEE, Jackson.

ganiZation of farmers ever seen In Mis-
sissippi and the South is the Farmers
Educational and Cooperative Union.
It has in Mississippi alone approx
mately 10000 members and is expert
encing a steady and healthy growth.
The principles enunciated and the pur-
poses outlined are worthy of the earn
est support of every person who would
see Mississippi prosper. Its officers are
able and conscientious in the discharge
of the duties devolving upon them and
the membership is composed OF the
flower of Mississippi manhood and
womanhood. While there may nave
been a conflict of interests at times
with those engaged in other lines OF
business, there has generally been
shown a tolerance and generous spirit
that was highly c~ommendable, and
which has strengthened the respect OF
all for the organization and its officials.
Mistakes may have been made-hkely
have been made-by individual mem
bers in their fervent zeal for the bet
terment of conditions as to the farm
ers. but these have generally been from
tina head and not from the heart. Few
there are who do not err at times. The
proposition to organize the negroes was
n of these, but it was promptly sat
upon bv the executive committee and
the member who would engage in such
asked to sever his membership with
the Union. The sending out OF letters
with reference to the organization OF a
political party recently upon Union sta
| tionery was an error, but promptly o r
rected by the young gentlemen who
mailed them. The Union is absolutely
non political, according to every man
the privilege Of alignment with any OF
the organizations he may choose and
deem proper.
The men at the head Of the Union in
Mississippi should be a sufficient guar
antee as to the faithful carrying out OF
the plans and purposes as laid down in
the constitution and bylaws. Friends
of the masses of the people in our great
State are respectfully urged to place no
oredence in reports that the Union is
doing or about to do things that are
radical and not in keeping with the
generally published principles and pur-
poses. Such will tend to lessen conf
dence in the organization among con-
sentative members and respect from
outsiders. The newspapers have usu-
ally been very kind to the organization,
appreciating the great benefit to be de-
rived from anything that would help
tue farmer, the source of wealth in Mis-
sissippi.
1t is to be sincerely hoped that this
feeling of good fellowship between the
varied interests of our State may con-
tinue, and that all will appreciate the
fact that we cannot prosper except the
farmers first prosper. Mississippi is
largely agricultural and will likely re-
main so. 1t is an immense community
of interests founded upon a basis OF
the product of the farm. Let all strive
diligently to increase the prosperity OF
the whole by first aiding the interests
separately.
Diversifcation is something not only
applicable to the farmer, but to a COM
munity as well. The old plan of carry
ing all eggs in one basket is being rele-
gated to the rear, and it is we'll that it
is. Diversifcation is an insurance
policy against complete failure and
should appeal strongly to thinking peo-
pie. Read what Walter Robertson OF
Wesson has to say right along this line
with reference to conditions in his
neighborhood:
'If any one thinks that Wesson folks
have been sleeping just because the
cotton mills do not run but three days
in the week, it is a mistake. Since May
l there has been eleven full car loads
of cabbage, beans and carrots shipped
from Wesson, besides the local ship
ments which amount to about lis crates
per day. Early every morning hun
dreds of little boys and girls can be seen
hustling off to the vegetable farms to
pick beans. Many of the women
are making good money at the work
and get their money every night. BY
next season the vegetable business here
will be on a large scale and many more
people can get such work; then Wesson
may be successful in locating a canning
factory"
Wesson has the largest cotton mill in
the State, employing hundreds OF
women and children. This mill is run
ming on half time on account of the
general business depression. The truck
fields furnish employment for the class
of labor that would otherwise remain
idle. In rare instances are the mill
operatives able to stand enforced idle
ness, and the truckers are glad to have
them at fair wages. Diversity as much
IS possible.
The season for farmers institutes
will soon be on. In fact, some have