The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-09-09
President II. Q. Alexander.

Solomon once declared there was
nothing new under the SUM- and as
begin this address l am impressed
with the force OF that statement. For
six years the Farmers Union Of North
Carolina a been working for certain
reforms in u educational system, q
general improvement Of our ways of
farming and Of doing business and a
RADICAL change in the methods Of mar
keting n distribution Of both raw
materials and manufactured products.
The leaders in State, county and local
unions have labored in eas and out
TO effect o changes-which W. be-
love are absolutely essential to the
prosperity and happiness Of the rural
classes ia North Carolina.
And now as / come to address this
the tenth convention Of the Union, l
can MOI help wondering II the farmers
will think our subject an old and
hackneyed n and declare with Solo
mon there is nothing new under the
sun"
But these things are fundamental
and we need not expect TO supptant
them with a new subject or obscure
their importance by projecting new
schemes. And to the men whose minds
and hearts are full Of this work, it Is
like the blessings OF heave renewed
every morning and fresh every even
Ing"
Come with me in our imagination
and let US lift the veil and look inco
the future and see what the reforms
that the Farmers Union advocates
and Is working for will do for North
Carolina and her people.
A View Of the Past.
This is a moving picture-a pano-
rama and 1t opens on a scene of ten to
twenty years ago What do we see ?
A rural people proud Of their anceS-
tiers, Jealous Of their political and re-
ligfOus liberties yet easily led by the
religious zealot or political Quack who
espousas their cause. The name CT
their church or political party meant
more to them han heir creeds or
platforms.
In their farming or other business
ventures they have met with indiffer-
ent success. The latest improved
farming implements are not found on
th2;r farms and their homes are de-
yoid Of the many modern c~onvenicnces
that would tighten the drudgery Of the
average farm home.
Every mar sells his products as
foon as he al get it ready for market
regardless of market conditions
more 10 make up the loss In price.
His land yields less and less each
year and he buys more and more com
merciel fertilizers to build UP his
SOIL
He keeps very little stock IN hi:
farm because he can not raise feel
for them. He says il is cheaper to bus
give Just enough milk to furnish
cream for the coffee. buttermnk t
make bread and a little pat Of buttel
twice a week, or when compan,
comes. He buys a pair OF mules q
least once in every ten years, TO
which he gives two crops Of cotton .
tobacco.
The public schools runs from tire
10 four months each year. 1t is laugh
by a poorly paid teacher-a cheal
teacher who earns all he gets and or
ten gets all he is worth. His childrel
attend very frregularly. often bein
kept at home to do'some little 100 .
work. or allowed to remain at ION
tor any trivial excuse; 4.
This people were welded to the Of
methods Of thinking and doing Things
They hated taxes worse than the dev
and could be counted on to vot
against q school or road tax tna
would cost them two dollars a yea
and give them q two months ionge
term Of free schoSl or a good road I
church and market.
The source Of farm supplies wa
gradually transferred to the owns 81,
they sprang up as il by magic. In
chattel mortgage was made 10 serN
over time and If ever cancelled II w
only TO be renewed again with anotht
fee for recording II.
The affairs of state and nation We
carefully guarded BY the profession
politician and the corporation laWye
Legislation was largely for the pfote'
ton Of certain classes, the intiencnir
Of the party in power n the cIeauo
OF more Offices for the politicians
this we have an example in the cre'
ton OF four new judicial districts
the last North Carolina legislature
Special interests fattened and gre
until they became giant
Prices on raw materials were nAeu
speculators. middle men and man
facturers. The producer had no Vol
in the matter. Finished products we
sold at prices determined py q
trusts, middle men and t~ransportAut
Industries and the 1907
A.h -. "a HICcr{N