Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-23
Farmers Clubs.

NE mGiS GEuUSs
Editors Southern Cultirator: see
DIR. II. NJ Hunter has preceded me in.
the Il >cus>i III oi' u questioned vital i'm,
portance. just now, to- every farmer,
South. We must cooperate and act in
harmony and concert. DR.. Hunter has
not been very minute. | will give, as
briefly as possible, a plan have digested
in deiaH. claim nothing original, ex-
cert in developing details TO. act in
CONCERT. We must know something about
thr agricultural products and resources,
of our lands. will give my plan Tor
forming agricultural clubs and then SIM
ply state what think should be their
duty after we have formed on organized
them.
Let every lar,ner-every landholder'
at least-in every county in this State,
and, in fact, every State South, meet at all
appointed place, in each county, at as
early date as practicable, and proceed
TO organize society of farmers-to be
known as the Farmers Club of whatever
county represented. The officers of these
clubs to consist of u president, five vice
presidents, one treasurer or agent, and
two secretaries Every county club to
meet once month, and, at the second
meeting, send Il delegate from each couh-
ty, to place designated by Il majority
of the counties having clubs, for the pur-
pose of forming club to be called the
United Farmers Club. Of the State of
-. After which, let a day be appoint
ed for the State Club to meet (WHICH I
would state, should be by the 18th of
September-if possible, let it be the lst
of Septcmber.) The State Clubs should
meet twice year-on lst of March and
lst of September, in each year. Yhe
clubs of the seven Cotton States could
have general conference, by correspon-
dcnce, during the whole year, and could
meet and confer together aboat the 4th
of July, of each succeeding year, after
this.
This, Mr.. Editor, is my plan for band
ing together the farmers of the :" land we
love-" and bringing about state of in.
dependence hitherto unknown among the
poor, isolated, disintegrated farmers of
the South-who once were powerful
alone, but who Must now band together,
or be inundated by the cormorants, land
sharks, and skinhnts. infesting every vii
lage, town and city, throughout our land.
Shall work for this end in my county,
Who will stir up the farmers in every
county, throughout the South, many of
which are reached very little through the
public press? This is the question
perhaps some will think it uusolvable.
but that should not deter those: who can,
from acting their part well. Put the
ball in motion, and fear no failure. En-
tighten the minds of the ignorant and re-
move the prejudices of those who may
be halting betweentwo opinions, because,
perchance, they are merchant AND farmer
too.
These clubs will not injure the mer-
chant but rather tend to benefit him.
But, whoever holds land and tills the
soil, is emphaticaily q farmer, and should
be with US. If he is not farmer we
will make him one.
Now, let me give, briefly, few items
of duty devolving on these clubs when
once organized. Duties begin at once.
First, 1t is our duty to regulate labor
and make it uniform, and, by this means,
teach the negro system, (which ''Panola'
says he cannot do, but let him get up n
club in his district and work to that end. J
Second, To have an estimate of the prob
able yield of all products in each county,
taken and made public by the first day
of September, Of every year. Cotton
not to be over.estimated by any means,
as was the case last season, when this
selfimposed duty devolved on those who
were p-n6ted by exaggerated reports.
Third, To regulate the price of cotton by
statistics showing the demand and preba-
BILE supply, and, if the supply is limited
and the fact made public by the lst Sep,
tenber, there would be fewer poor men
CIl6aCeu Oub VI tnciI COtIOii of oPOSuia-
tors and traders, who put their goods at
high price, and the poor mans cotton
at low one. Fourth, to stop specula-
ton in all the necessarics of life on the
farm, such as fertilizers, implements, ba-
con, &c. Bacon should be raised at
home, but as many have to buy it ut
spectators prices / enumerate it as one
Of the articles coming through the hands
of those who live off the farmcr.) Fifth,
To promote the general interest of the
country, by fostering and protecting the
farming interest in every county, district
and parish throughout the South. Many
others will devolve on these county clubs
as soon as formed, for at present ! capnot
be ve;y minute. But let us act. -et
nothing deter us. Spectators we must
fight against, for the good of every other
class. COSMOPOLITAN.
rn,AIanr I rNAklc Q. nn