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PAGE SIX
Os Interest to the Wealth Creators
FARMERS’ UNION IN POLITICS.
Chicago.—The national leaders of
both political parlies have lately had
their attention directed to the possi
bility of the Farmers’ Union going
into active politics. While it would
perhaps be putting it a little too
strongly to say that they are alarm
ed over the possibility it is neverthe
less true that the rapid growth of
the organization is already causing
some uneasiness.
The Farmers’ Union was not organ
ized for political purposes and the
leaders of the movement insist that
politics will be barred. But this
statement is not reassuring to the
politicians, who remember how the
leaders of the Farmers’ Alliance
years ago, declared there would be
no politicians in the organization,
and how, a few years later, the Al
liance played havoc, with the older
political parties. There is a strik
ing familiarity between the new or
ganization and the old. In their
place of origin, purposes and growth
the two are almost identical.
The fiist Farmers’ Alliance had its
birth in Lampasas county, Texas, in
1876. The objects of this pioneer
association were purely local, and
confined to defence against the dep
redations of cattle and land thieves.
The movement was taken up, however,
by other counties, and, in 1886, a
Farmers’ State Alliance was formed.
Its declaration of principles included
“the education of the agricultural
classes in the science of economical
government in a strictly non-parti
san spirit,” and the development of
a “better state, mentally, morally,
socially and financially.”
In the meanwhile, organizations of
farmers were growing up in the ad
jacent states. In Arkansas was the
Wheel, so called, which first Raw
light in a school-house in Western Ai
kansas, in 1882. In Lousiana was
the Farmers’ Union. Delegates from
the latter met with delegates from
the Texas Farmers’ State Alliance, at
Waco, in 1887, and out of the two
bodies formed the National Farmers’
Alliance and Co-operative Union of
America. At Meridian, Miss., De
cember 5, 1888, was held a convention
betw’een tins organization and the
National Agricultural Wheel, and
from it was evolved the Farmers
and Laborers’ Union of America. At
the next annual meeting, held in St.
Louis, in 1889, the name of that or
ganization, which had now spread
over the South and a large part of
the West and Northwest, was chang
ed to that of the National Farmers’
Alliance and Industrial Union, a
name by which it continued to be
known until its dissolution some
years later, to be revived in the pop.
ulist party.
As before stated, the origin and
history of the Farmers’ Alliance and
the Farmers’ Union present many
points of striking similarity.
Like the older organization, the
Farmers’ Union had its origin in
Texas. It was in Raines county,
that state, that ten men met on Au
gust 28, 1902, and formed an organi
zation to bo called the Farmers’ Un*
WATSON’S WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN.
ion. The object and aims of the or
ganization were set forth in the fol
lowing constitution:
1 To discourage as much as pos
sible the present mortgage and credit
system.
2. To assist our members in buy
ing and selling.
3. To labor for the education of
the agricultural classes in the science
of crop diversification and scientific
culture.
4. To constantly strive to secure
entire harmony and good will amont'
all mankind and brotherly love among
ourselves.
5. To form a more adequate union
with those in authority for a more
rigid and impartial enforcement of
law, that crime, vice and immorality
may be suppressed.
6. It would garner the tears of
the distressed, the blood of the mar
tyrs, the laughter of innocent chil
dren, the sweat of honest labor, and
the virtue of a happy home as the
brightest jewels known.
7. This is no political party, and
shall forever abstain from even so
much as a discussion of partyism.
Yet we do not feel it is right to place
shackles upon the limbs or a padlock
upon the lips of any one who may
wish to discuss for educational pur
poses the science of government, for
upon this rock all important struc
tures must rest for either mental,
moral or financial development.
That Hie members of the union have
seen fit to construe the last cause
of the constitution to their own lik
ing is evidenced by the fact in Missis
sippi and in other states the local
branches are planning for representa
tion in the legislative assemblies.
The above press dispatch, which
was sent out frem Chicago, reveals
but one fact, and that is, that the
capitalists of this couptrv. who con
trol ABSOLUTELY, all national leg
islation. are trembling with fear,
that the Farmers’ Union WILL GO
INTO POLITICS, and it IS only ex
pressing it mildly when we say that
the rapid growth of the Farmers’
Union has so thoroughly aroused and
alarmed the political bosses and cap
italists that they are watching and
taking note of the doings and actions
of this organization as never before.
But. as an organization, the Farm
pts’ Union will net go into politics.
It is a business organization for busi
ness purposes, and it will not go to
pieces on the rock that shattered
the Farmers’ Alliance. However, the
Farmers, that great body of Amer
ican laborers, are conscious of the
fact that they have not gotten, and
are not getting, their share of the
profits derived from the products of
their labor and as individual Ameri
can citizens, they will, at the ballot
box, vote for what they want.
Rest assured of this. —Jasper (Fla.)
News.
A baby was born on a Chicago
street car the other day, and its
parents certainly cannot regard that
as an omen that it will lead a fast
life,
*< . .
IMMIGRATION AND CHEAP
LABOR.
The Farmers’ Union of Georgia,
says the Newberry Observer, objects
to immigration on the ground that
it will cheapen labor. The general
opinion as well as the experience of
other states, has been that white im
migration makes labor higher. That
might be an objection with persons
who hire labor, but. it ought not to
be, fcr the labor would be better.
It is strange to us that any white
man in the South can object to white
immigration, unless he is content to
consider only the present and his own
individual interests. Thefre is no
great future for the South as a sec
tion so long as there is such a pre
ponderating negro population. It is
certainly to the interest of our pos
terity. if not to the present genera
tion, that the South should have more
white people than she can ever hope
for by natural increase. Wherever
thrifty and industrious white immi
grants come in the negroes are driven
out to make room for them. So that
the Southern States that take the
lead in white immigration are going
to reap the greatest benefits; for the
slow states will come after awhile to
be the dumping grounds for the sur
plus negro population of the more
progressive states. —Griffin News.
SEATTLE AS A COTTON PORT.
Seattle’s remoteness from the cot
ton fields of America does not keep
this city from playing an important
part in cotton shipments to the
Orient, a fact emphasized by the
statement sent out from the national
capital that the Puget Sound district
occupied eighth position in the export
of cotton during the fiscal year 1907.
Cotton exports through Sound ports
were valued at $8,405,803.
Baltimore exported only $8,698,494
in cotton values during the same pe
riod, and Mobile’s exports totaled
only $8,774,741. While Seattle’s cot
ton exports nearly equaled those of
Baltimore and Mobile, they were
nearly twice as large as San Fran
cisco’s exports for the year.
During the bullish movement sev
eral vears ago, precipitated by the
Brown campaign, which forced cot
ton steadily up to about 18 cents. Se
attle was an important factor, be
cause Japan had bought in this coun
try, and routed through this port,
millions of dollars’ worth of cotton.
The fact merely emphasizes the im
portant part Seattle, and the Puget
Sound district generally, is playing
in Oriental commerce. On the Pa
cific, and in Far Eastern trade, Se
attle’s position is steadily strength
ening, and no more striking or con
vincing evidence of the fact is need
ed than may be found in cotton ship
ments through this port.—Seattle
Post-Intelligencer.
CROP PROSPECTS IN AUGUST
The government put the condition
of the cotton crop on July 25 at 75,
a gain during July of three points
only. This was disappointing to
many, for a gain of five points had
been anticipated, The ten-year av
erage of July 25 is 82.6, and the grow
ing crop is 7.6 points below that.
The most that can be said about
the crop is the great uncertainty on
August 1 cf the probable size. Some
uncertainty is expected, but today we
have a great deal of uncertainty. The
crop is late, and the suns of August
cannot overcome that lateness. The
crop must go into the picking months
calling for a lace fall. It may not bo
able to articulate, but every stalk
will nevertheless beseech the frosts
to stay their coming until Novem
ber.
The government reports the condi
tion of the Alabama crop on July 25
at 72, as against a ten-year average
of 82. We are three points “worst
off” than Toxas or the general con
dition in the cotton belt. Georgia has
a better crop, but Mississippi has not,
nor has Louisiana or Arkansas. A
late fall is needed in Alabama, and
plenty ot’ showers this month. The
state crop will probably be a million
halts, whereas, in 1904, we made over
1,460.000 bales. We must make at
least a million bales if the entire
crop is to be carried to 12 000,000
bales.—Age-lleraid.
FARMEES UNION ADOPTS
RESOLUTIONS.
At a call meeting of the Farmers’
Co-operative and Educational Union
of Spalding county, held July 26th,
the following resolutions were unan
imously adopted*
Whereas, Inasmuch as all of our
propositions to the lessees of the
Farmers’ and Merchants' warehouse
were turned down, and all proposi
tions made by them to us have been
turned down,
Resolved, 1. That we discontinue
any further negotiations with then,,
and appoint a committee to notify
them of our action.
Resolved, 2. That we instruct S. C.
Mitchell to secure for us the Pat
terson warehouse, if same can bi
done on reasonable terms; if not,
then to make the next best arrange
ment possible.
Resolved, 3. That, if a surplus
should arise from said warehouse
business sufficient to pay back a
dividend, each and every patron
shall share and share alike in pro
portion to the number of bales of
cotton he weighs. ,
Resolved, 4. That we ask our
home papers and the Union News to
publish these resolutions.—Griffin
News.
T. J. BILES, Pres. Pro. Tern.
J. W. COOPER, Sec. Pro. Tern.
THE COTTON CROP.
The time has now arrived when the
outlook for the growing cotton crop
assumes paramount importance. By
August 1, ordinarily the crop has
reached a stage where some indica
tion of the probable yield is possi
ble. and where the harvest is well
uilhin sight. The present growing
season has differed materially from
the ordinary course of events. The
first plantings of the crop were ear
lier than usual, but owing to the ex
cessive rains ot April and May the