The farmer and mechanic., 1911-12-19

| before But he is fighting gigantic
| and heartless monopoly, the American
Tobacco Trust. This trust, like
mouster octopus, has been thrusting
cut its tentacles and grasping every
| thing that could contribute to its
greed. For a quarter of a century it
has gathered in the hard-earningS OF
| the tobacco farmer, his wife and chill
dren, until we find today an annual IN
come of more than so millions, to
men who % years ago owned less
than a quarter of million. Did they
earn that money? IS it rightfully
theirs, or does it belong to the men.
women and children that have been
Systematically robbed of the products
Of their toll?
After trial in the United States
Supreme Court extending over five
years, which is in itself a shame and
a reproach to our Government, the
Tobacco Trust is declared guilty Of
violating a criminal statute, but no
penalty is imposed. And now listen,
''Ye gods and little fishes" the trust
l.: allowed to prescribe it's own method
Ct conforming to the law. To protest
against the proposed plan of dissolu-
ton, the State Council sent a COM
mittee to New York, October Goth.
This is the first time in the history
of this noted case that any voice had
been heard in court in behalf Of the
tobacco grower. The fight had been
made by the so-caIled Independent to-
bacco manufacturers against the trust
The court may have construed it as
a case Of dog eat dog" hence the
absurd ending that seems about to
be imposed on the independent manu-
facturer and grower alike. At this
writing the case has not been finally
disposed of. I believe that the State
Union in conjunction with the Ma
uonal organization, should do every
thing possible to secure the breaking
UP Of this damnable monopoly that
has been preying upon our people.
The cotton farmer is swallowing a
bitter dose. largely Of his own mix
ing. The State Union, and other fac
tors have called mass meetings and
used printers ink to arouse the pub
lie interest on the all important ques-
ton Of the price Of cotton. But the
price has continued downward. OF
cOuse no one can say that the dis
cussiOn Of this question from the ros-
tru2n and through the public press
has rot done good. l. believe it has
farmers to hold cotton off
the market and influenced business
men to come to the aid Of the farmer. |
One thing has been demonstrated be-
yOnd doubt: the absolute necessity |
for warehouses in every county Il
have received many appeals from
counties that had no bonded ware
house for storage; and hence they
could not borrow money on their |
crop.
The grain and stock and trucking
farmers and fruit growers are more
fortunate. They are raising some I
thing to eat and food crops are high. |
But they should have q more direct |
method of selling, which also calls
for a warehouse or storage room |
They are now receiving only 35 to 40 |
cents out Of each dollar paid by the
tation get the other 60 cents
The State Union, through the News
paper committee, has purchased from
the stockholders, the Carolina Union
and it is now the property
Of the Union. But the committee will
render a report.
[ will close this report with a few
suggestions that | believe will be for
the good Of the organization That
there should be no abatement in our
efforts TO promote the interest in an
education adapted to rural life: an
education that will fit our boys and
girls for the life that they must live.
teach
cooperation by Drecept and example,:
what it is: what it means; what it
does; to the end that our people may
substitute the beneficence of co-opera-
ton for the warfare Of competition:
that the public may be delivered from
the middle men, capitalists and mo- |
nopolsts who would make the labor
er work for the least and the con-
sumner pay the utmost. That we should
promote the spirit Of true fraternity
throughout our order; always plac-
ing the common good before private
interest. fractional divisions Will new
er obtain if you will
Let no mean iea1ousies pervert your
mind;
biemlsh in another'S fame to find:
BE grateful for the gifts that you
possess,
Nor deem a rivals merit makes yours
less"