Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-04
FARMERS UNION WINS FIGHT
FOR FIFTEEN GENT COTTON
J. G. Eubanks, Business Agent
for Georgia Farmers Union,
Talks of Recent Meeting and
Shows That the Union Is En-
titled to a Large Part of the
Credit for Higher Cotton

]. G. Eubanks. general business man
ager of the Farmers union of Georgia.
who has labored hard and intelligently
to help care for the business interests OF
the farmers connected with the union
was in Atlanta Tuesday morning and eX-
pressed himself more than satisheo
with the work accomplished by the or
ganization at its convention here last
week.
AS chief business representative OF the
body in Georgia, Mr.. Eubanks Is thor-
oughly conversant with the agricultural
situation. He is peculiarly equipped by
inclination and training for the position
he occupies; it is said that he has made
no mistakes in his business policies for
the union, and it is certain that he enjoys
the absolute confidence OF the farmers.
Consequently his view OF the recent
meeting will be of weight. He said TO
Journal reporter Tuesday:
IT regard the meeting last week as the
greatest gathering of farmers that ever
took place in this state. So large was
the attendance that every available space
in the hall of representatives was literally
packed. BY conservative estimate
there were 1000 farmers present.
You know the Farmers union is
largely an educational body. Its object
is to study agricultural affairs and better
the condition of the farmers. AT this
meeting we stressed especially the abso-
lutte necessity that the farmers of the
south raise their own fOodstuffs, and even
to have food supplies for sale, never be-
ing compelled to purchase what they
need on the farms. l regard the accom-
%I,s1 of
missions of the union. The business de-
partment has done much in aiding the
farmers in purchasing their fertilizers at
reasonable prices and has served them
in other similar ways, but II l were ask
ed to name the biggest thing which
think has been accomplished by the union
for the farmers of the south l would say
it was in connection with the marketing
of the cotton crop.
Every one knows that the south has
a monopoly on this great crop, but ten
wears ago 1t was the practice for the
farmers to sell cotton as soon as 1t was
raised. They dumped it upon the market
in October and destroyed the value or
the crop by forcing 1t upon the market
faster than the manufacturers needed II.
This furnished an opportunity for specu-
lation and gave the moneyed powers an
opportunity to come in and absorb the
crop at low price, frequently selling IL
afterward at it's real worth, that Is, at
farmers got.
1.-The Farmers union has helped i'm
press upon the farmer the absolute ne
eessity for holding his cotton crop and
selling 1t along throughout the year as
the manufacturers need 1t. 1t is seek
ing to emphasize the fact that the farmer
ought to wait until the man who actually
needs his cotton is ready to come after
it, Then he can fix his own price. This
is good common sense and sound political
economy.
Cotton during the past season has
brought the farmers nearly Is cents
pound. OF course the short crop in Tex
as and along the Mississippi river helped
us make the prices, but If the Farmers
union had not induced so many farmers
to refrain from selling their cotton In
October / believe cotton would have
sold last fall at much lower prices.
Now, If the farmers are TO be really In
dependent and are to put themselves IN
a position where they can hold their
cotton, they must raise what they eat
They must have foodstuffs for their own
consumption and even to sell; their cot
ton crop must be absolutely a surplus
crop, belonging to them as an unencum-
bered investment at the moment when IL
is gathered. 1t is toward this end that
we are striving.
There is one thing I would like to say
with reference to our work which should
be of interest to all the people.
1.-The work of the Farmers union has
increased the amount which the farmers
of the south have received for their cot
ton crop during the past six years &c.
900, 900. These figures are astounding,
and yet when you remember that the in
crease of 2 cents per pound gives this
amount, ii may be conservatiVely stated
that 1t has been accomplished.
THE great prosperity in the south to-
day is largely attributable to the IN
creased profit which has come to the
farmers of the south in the sale of their
cotton Every line OF business has been
benefited by it. Therefore / feel that
we can ask support and cooperation
from the banks, the merchants, ana ev-
cry class of people in the south.
ITO the farmers l wish to say: Heed
the advice and teachinge or the union.
Listen to the action OF our recent con-
vention in Atlanta. Make yourselves In
dependent by raising everything you
need to eat and everything the balance
of the people of Georgia need to eat.
Then the trusts may combine as they
! will, but they cannot rob Georgia on
foodstuffs. Then the farmer Will own
his cotton when he raises it; he can de-
! mand his own price, and with the prices
now prevailing as to everything else, 10