The new South-news., 1908-02-08

lowing sensible and pertinent addcss.
fiser to the public on the day be re
signed us place in the State Srnate
to take active charge of the position
= Preslden; for Mississippi In this
address President Highscwer outlines
the work If the la.o,s fn ia, -'ear
and his saggessioTs are wei w,r.Ay
Of perusHl and careful consideration;
..In accepting the Presidency of tie
Mississippi, Division of the Farmers
Educational and Co-Opersiise Union
OF America. feel tha, a very great
responsibility is imposed. and that
| Will need the earnest cooperation |
Of every loyal citizen in order TO sue
cesfu!ly conduct the affairs of the or
gxnizaiion. The agricultural clas, ~
Mississippi is the foundation of the
states wealth and prosperity. and
their organization for the purposes
set on. in the declaration o' primer
pie, should be heartily Supported by
every farmer. and approved by The
citizens of all other classes. Il shall
be my purpose TO direct the work OF
the Union during the year 1905 IN
way to secure the greatest goot for
the agricultural people. and without
prejudice to any other class or inter-
est. We feel that all classes can. and
should cooperate with Ms to the end
that the material welfare OF the whole
state may be advanced. This organi-
zalion has reached the stage IN ITS
history where il must be factor IN
the great economic questions of this
country, and with your cooperation.
we expect the Mississippi Division
70 take the lead. Hoping and expect
ing to have the united and solid snp-
port of all loyal citizens, | feel It
incumbent upon me to state briefly
a few of the purposes sought to be ac-
complished this year.
Sixty-fye thousand members are
now paid up and in good standing. l
want every Union man and woman to
constitute himself or herself special
committee of one upon membership
and begin the work right now to swell
that number to one-hundred and fifty
thousand by January lst 1909.
Every Mississippis- who loves his
state should agiiate and encourage
such a diversihcation Of crops as wall
make the state absolutely self sus-
taining. This diversihcation should
be so general as to reduce the acreage
} Of cotton very considerably.
With these two objects attained. ar
effort will be mHtr 70 finance al d
. the distressed cotton of the crop OF
} 1908. shall, little later, ask GER
tain citizens Of the state to cooperate
with us in this effort.
A systematic effort will be made tt
} install a number Of gin compresses
} during the year, thus preparing cottor
? at the gin for shipment direct e
, the spinner. To this end, / respect
: fully urge upon the management ol
the State Penhentiary farms to in
, stall these presses to handle thu
states large cotton crop.
The question OF cotton bagging Il
take the place Of jute, will receive
careful consideration in due time, an'
in this w solicit the support and co
, operation Of the planters, ginncrs ana
all parties interested in our grea
1 money crop, cotton
. The building Of union warehouses a
|, every important shipping point in th
state is necessary to the success o
. the movement to improve the system
: Of handling the staple. W. hope ths
|. during the summer a plan can b
evolved whereby it will be possibl
to federate these warehouses with tn
i. view Of facilitating the handling o
cotton.
All business pertaining to matter
here outlined as well as to the lee
ture bureau, will be handled throug
my Office at Oxford, Miss. instead o
: through the secretary's Office at Jact
!. son. All questions for executive ri
: ing must also go to the Oxford oi
\ fee"
Again does Walter Clarke Of ii
Cotton Association speak wisely
: his people. In recent address
: says:
: "Shortly after the Southern Cotto
:. Association was organized, cctto
: steadily advanced, and for the pa
: three years the price has been high'
than for many years. While We do M
claim the earth. we do claim that OF
efforts have had much " do with tn
condition, and we feel that our o
: ganisation is entitled to the moral I
: we'll - the financial support Of eveI
: man in Mississippi.
"In all Of our work We have el
!. deavored to keep before the minds I
" our people the necessity for = dive