The Semi-weekly leader., 1908-08-22
OUR AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL.

VUM nuMtvV1t UNTIL utVM OShVV6s
1t is very strange that every
move put on foot for the better
ment of the great agricultural
masses of our people should be op-
posed by anyone; but it is even
more strange that certain ele-
ment among this noble class should
be found, who are always ready to
oppose that which is for the better
ment of their own conditions. No
doubt the principal cause of this is
that so many of our farmers are
ready to form conclusions without
even investigating these questions
as they should. l must confess
that | was much surprised to learn
that quite a number of our farmers
here in Lincoln county were oppos-
ing our Agricultural High School,
and when | was told that it was
members of our Farmers Union
who were opposing it, I felt sad,
and felt like resenting the state
ment, for it is plain to every one
who reads that the law granting us
this school is child of our noble
Union. The State Union of Texas
five years ago started the fight to
have agriculture taught in our COM
mon schools, and for the building
of just such agricultural schools as
the State of Mississippi has now
given us. Yes, agricultural schools
and education has been the slogan
of our Farmers Union in every
State in which it has been organiz-
ed. The two greatest victories
gained by the Farmers Union of
Mississippi was the legislating of
those gambling hells, (called bucket
shops out of our State and then
giving us agricultural high schools.
Both these laws were given us at
the request of our Union, and we
should feel proud of that noble set
of representatives who needed our
requests. No, friends, it can not
be, that any member of our Far
mers' Union now after we have
gained this grand victory, would
be guilty Of kicking against our
own success. Some may have been
misinformed in regard to the
school; how it is to be managed,
etc., and may have acted unwisely
without first Investigating the
question thoroughly before passing
judgment. -.....
We understand that it has been
reported that before our farm boys
can enter this school they must be
able to hold a first grade certif-
cate, which report is false. Then
it has been told that scholars could
not enter this school below the
eighth grade, which is also mis-
take. We do not expect this shcool
to run an A, B, c class, but just as
soon as your boys are far enough
advanced to read and understand
what they read, they can enter this
school.
No, | am sure, it is not our un-
ion farmers who are opposing our
Agricultural High School; in fact,
l can not see how any farmer can
afford to oppose that which was
created for the farmers especial
benefit. Those who do oppose it
must belong to that class who I'm
Gle Al saw in his dream not long
since, when he dreamed that he
was sent as a delegate to Satan's S
domain to see how things were be-
ing carried on down there. IN
Gle Al says that after the devil had
shown him all the other sights, he
saw rack up over the lake of fire
and birthstone and lot of men up
on that rack, so he asked his guide
who they were, and what they were
up there for and he was told that
they were on-Union farmers; that
ne had them up there to dry them
out little, they were too green to
burn yet; so I think that any
farmer who would oppose an agri-
cultural school is positively too
green to burn.
A. w. MEYERS.
Gambling in Cotton Must Stop.