The Wilmington morning star., 1946-03-11
Carolina Farm Comment
By F. H. JETER

William Wooten Eagles of Crisp
is not only distinguished citizen
of Edgecombe County, but he also
is a distinguished citizen of North
Carolina. His elevation to the presi-
dency of the North Carolina Farm
Bureau Federation at its 10th an
nual convention in Winston-Salem
was in fitting recognition of his in.
terest in cooperative farm effort,
of his success as a practical farm
err, and of his wider interest in the
business and financial affairs of
the rural people about him. Cap
Eagles, as he is more affectionate-
ly known by those who have been
intimately associated with him, is
natural. leader. Not that he de-
mands, or pushes, or shouts, but
through quiet, natural ability and
sincere interest, he stimulates the
best in those with whom he is as
ISOLATED.
I have known Cap for many
years. I have visited him in his
home and on his farm where I
have seen the fine cooperative at
titude which has been developed
between him and the II or more
white tenants and seven Negro ten
ants who have worked there for SO
many years. Mr. Eagles began
farming back in 1903 on the same
family-owned plantation, in the
Crisp neighborhood, which had
been farmed by his father and
earlier kinsmen. He attended the
first farmers meeting out of which
grew the North Carolina Farm
Bureau Federation. He has not
missed a meeting Of his Farm
Bureau since, unless he was out Of
the state.
Signed Note
Mr.. Eagles also was one OF the
signers of the first note for $4,000
which set up the North Carolina
Cooperative Cotton Growers As
ISOLATION. He served as vice-presi-
dent of that organization for many
years and more lately has been
president of the North Carolina
Cooperative Farm Exchange. His
belief in the value of these two
organizations to the farmers Of
the state has led him to support
both of them until they have be-
come able to stand on their own
merits. His interest in the welfare
of his tenants is well known. His
landlord-tenant program in which
he has developed spirit of CO.
operation and achievement is a
model for other large plantation
owners. 1t was my good fortune
to attend one Of his annual meet
ings a few years ago when he re-
warded those tenants who had done
unusually good jobs in that season.
They were first served an old
fashioned barbecue and were then
given cash prizes for improved
farm and home practices. These
prizes were awarded on the basis
Of a score card worked out by
Brooks James, farm management
specialist.
On Full Time
This 1andlord-tenant idea is to
fbe pushed throughout eastern
North Carolina, incidentally, as
trained persons can be found to
carry it along. In Edgecombe
County, H. c.. Scott and Miss -Ath-
lac Boone, the assistant farm and
home agents, have been designated
to give their full time to this work.
On the Eagles farm, there are
tenants who have been on the
place for IS to SO years. Most OF
them, of course, do rot have the
young labor that they had in other
days, but, the older ones still carry
on and are doing good farming to
the best of their ability. Much of
this is due, of course, to the heart
ening and sympathetic attitude of
the owner. AS matter of fact,
Mr.. Eagles got his nickname of
cap" from the tenants on the
place.
Supports Market
It is interesting to note that
Cap supports the Edgecombe
County Livestock Association, a
going concern formed years ago by
those who wanted to market their
fat hogs, beef cattle, lambs. wool,
and other livestock products CO.
operatively in pools.
Not only is Mr.. Eagles good
farmer. and model landlord. but
he also is known as a good business
man. He is president of the Farm
ers Bank of Macclesfield, the post
office of his home community of
Crisp. The bank there came
through the great depression as
sound as a new hickory nut. The
states leading farmer also enter.