The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-02-21
MAKES
A STATEMENT.
Talks About Failure Of Ma
tional Warehouse Com
pany and the Cause.

The following statement was given to
the press few days ago by Hon. G. K:
HightOwer relative to the Farmers
Union Warehouse Co.:
Friends asked him about certain pub
lished statements concerning the bank
ruptcy proceedings against the Nation
al Warehouse Co. in which his name
was unfavorably mentioned, he said:
eyes, have observed some of them
and am not SURPRISED. All well in
formed people will recall that this re-
lentless war and malicious misrepre-
sentation has been going on five years.
Since the day ! accepted the presidency
OF the State Farmers Union it has con-
tinued. 1t was intensified as it became
apparent that some business methods
were being adopted which would better
market conditions and make the farmer
in measure independent. One very
astute gentleman said to me that ev-
erybody gets little picking off of the
farmer, and if you make him independ-
ent you naturally arouse antagonism.
The farmers have also been taking a
hand in legislation. The Parcels Post
is reality. One branch of Congress
has passed legislation restricting immi-
grafton. Land monopoly through cor
poration holdings was made impossible
by the last legislature. The per cent
contract interest and the per cent ex-
emptiOn laws went into effect Jan. 1st.
The farmers have come to full reali-
cation of the fact that the present
wasteful methods of marketing must
be changed. A chair of Markets has
been established at the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Mississippi,
and competent representative of the
college has been detailed to organize
market demonstration work l.. dozen
counties of south Mississippi These
things are enough to lash those who
live from the toll of others, into furi-
GUS rage, but the battle. has been fought
and won, the seed have been sown in
good ground and will produce hundred
fold for our children if not for the men
now carrying the burden. All the lies
of the malcontents can't turn back the
tide.
have been keeping pretty close tab
| on those who are trying to save the
country by loud waling about the trou-
bles of the National Warehouse Com
pany and incidentally abusing me.
find that 95 per cent of them are advo-
Gates of 10 per cent contract rate of
interest, unrestricted immigration, and
corporation holding of land without
limit. Yes, it is perfectly natural that
l should be the object of their wrath,
but whatever injury they may be able
to visit on my reputation or finance,
one thing is certain, they will never be
able to destroy the foundation builded
for the farmers future progress dur
ing the last five years. After all, it
matters little what becomes of the in
dividual if the principle for which he
has devoted his life lives.
1t is true that the National Ware
house Company has been forced into
bankruptcy, but not until it had fully
demonstrated the fact that the farmer
could exert a most powerful influence
on the price of his products; that he
could sell his produce and cOttonseed in
bulk at a profit, and that he could place
his cotton in any of the worlds mar
Skets without the assistance of an inter-
mediary.
1t is truly unfortunate that the COM
Ipany should have failed. 1t will dis
courage so many farmers, and some
will lose some money. but it is won
der that it was not sooner destroyed by
it's powerful enemies. A relentless wal
was waged against it from the begin
ming. 1t not only did not have the sym.
pathy of the great commercial inter
ests. but on the contrary had their open
antagonisrn. The friends of cooper.
ative marketing should not despair, bu,
should find consolation in the fact thai
the worlds greatest victories have fol
lowed defeat, and greatest successes
have been founded on the experience
gained by failure. No, the farmers will
not surrender; they are determined t
have better market conditions.
The charge that used the company
for personal profit is part of the game
to discredit the whole movement.
trust that | will not lose all have made
in lifetime ! devoted four years
honest toll and drew less than S2500 sal
ary for the entire time. The director
voted me a salary of $3400 for the las
year of my service, but did not draw
it. Yes, am the largest creditor o
the company. Ihold two thousand dol
lars unsecured claims and $l0,5 Sc
cured claims. am also endorser 0l
$l5,O 900 of the company's notes.
proved my faith by my works. If thos
1 scandalmongers who are always tn
4 peoples champion when it costs moth
ing and when they get good chanc
to tell lies on honest men, had don
one-half as much as did, the compan
would today be operating successfully
in every cotton state.
l saw some days ago statemen
that Otis Robertson was travelling an
carrying private stenographer wit
him at the company's expense. Nothin
can be more absurd. After he ha
served nearly two years as attorney fo
this company without pay, the board o
directors voted him salary of $1,000
year for future service, and his ow
stenographer did much work for tn
company for which there was n
chorOo