The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-16
Bankers Pledge Help
 In Holding of Cotton

cases. It nuliifies the power of wealth. When farmers learn to pntronize the banks they will receive the same &C., commodation that the merchants have long received ard the banking power of the State will be doubled"
 T have put twelve months energy in twelve days time. to get this meeting" said J. A. Wilkerson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.
 Most of the bankers are in South Alabama, and if this had been a onlni- bus meeting every bank In Alabama would be represented.
 We are glad that the bankers are willing to help the man who grows the cotton. Tn the past the farmers Of forts to stand on his feet have been pathetic. The great world said You are getting together only to gc down : That day is past. The farmer does know how to stand together.
 T believe if the bankers of tfe State would follow your example Mir. Hard ing, both would be benefited.
 It takes three men and a mule to make out the maximum from an acre Their expenses are s45 month. If the farmer gets 12 cents for his cotton each lahorer gets only $33 a month for his work.
 q haven't found a single banker or business man who has looked at this question fairly who doesn't want to help the farmer. We want to work up the price slowly.
 The Farmers Union has told me that farmers who do not pay their debts will be turned out
 The farmers are only asking a backing. It is best for you and for US to get together and get together quick ly. We want you to finance the cotton crop so that 1t may be marketed slowly and wisely"
 President c. $. Barrett of the Farm ers' Union said:
 'I think know what is the matter. The farmer Is more of g. business man. He doesn't care so much for talk as formerly. We want help. I am not going to tell you how we have suffered. how we clothe and feed the world. I have never tried to rouse the prejudice of the flrmers. That has been the cus- tom The fellow who wanted to use them has played upon their emotion.
 We are soing to do the right thing and the man who doesn't will be ex- cused Let Ala bama start. Other States are going to follow, but let us do the right thing first"
 Governor Conner Speaks.
 Governor B. B. Conner was intro duced as a farmer. banker. statesman. merchant, manufacturer and at present statesman or politician, according as people regard him.
 ''It Is a good thing that Mir. Harding is President of the Alabama Bankers Association, because he will do what ever Is necessary.
 "A bank stands in alliance with bus mess Tbe State has put all of its money with the banks of the State and 1t Is there on deposit. But what does that mean? Whenever you put money in the bank you put money Into use, and 1t is just as wrong of you to keep your surplus money under brick as 1t is for the banker not to lend his surplus to you
 ..Every dollar asked for soil and fer- tilizer surveys was granted to Mir. Will kinson. It was given in the interest of the farmers.
 .aThere is no one knows better than that the farmer does not make all that is attributed to him. If he could get eight per cent on his in- vcstment he wet Id get rich. we say that we ought not to raise much cotton. We plant to make just as much cotton as we can and per- haps we ought to. But the Lord has always stepped in to reduce 1t.