The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-05-22
Ertrncts from Mr. Bronson,s Address.

"For this purpose we present you this ad-
dress, setting forth the necessity, advantages
and practicability of such Union of Farmers.
And we must first call your attention to the
fact that all industries as we'll as all classes OF
laborers, except farmers, have their unions,
compacts and methods of self-protection. And
Just in proportion TO the benefit they receive
therefrom are they aggressive upon US, enhan-
cling the cost of all they produce. Not a strike
made by the miners of Pennsylvania, or the
shoemakers of Massachusetts,, but hits us here
in Kansas. Every hour taken from the arti-
zan's day of labor adds two to ours. Every
dollar added to his wages takes as much from
ours Can we afford to stand idle spectators OF
the consolidation and mobilization of every
interest but ours without an effort at self-de-
fence? The results of these combinations are
telling tale that we must listen to. We must
fight them with their own tactics and weapons,
or succumb in the contest, as does every disor-
ganized body when coping with organization
and discipline. While we are feeding others
for less than half the former cost, they, by their
cOmpaets, a are forcing us to pay as much ? %e 9s
congratulate ourselves upon living in the coun-
try where we do not have to pay Al per cent.
tax, or $500 for paving 80 feet of street, when
in fact an assessment is laid upon the business
that we do in that city to pay these expenses.
The real estate owner charges it to the rent, the
merchant puts the rent on the cost of his goods,
and so with every stately edi6ce, public build
ing and pleasure ground. Trade pays the
whole bill; the city is the fleece; officials, pro-
fessions and tradesmen are the shearers; far
mers the sheep-and in these times when the
hide goes with the fleece they may be excused
for a feeble bleat.
"Men can sell us goods, buy our produce, or
lend us money, on the same plane of physical
comforts with us, without any detriment to our
interest, or violating any principle of equality.
Their whole system is based upon profits, while
we rarely ever get cost They live by trafick-
ing in the products of labor; we, by labor
alone. Profits flow as naturally to the city as
streams to the ocean. Every thing is high
there and has to be well paid for. If the pro-
prietor of the Metropolitan Hotel goes into the
country and stays over night with farmer, he
is kept free of cost. But if the farmers goes to
the city and stops with him, he pays two dol
lars. The producer of anything in the city
finds it expensive to live there also, and adds
to its per centage. The purchaser pays both
bills. And 80 this wave rolls back until it
it must; for when all these extravagances are
Preferred back to the committee on agriculture"
where can they "refer" them?
"Let us glance briefly at the situation: let
us see what kind of bargains we are driving
with others. Few of us realize how little we
are receiving for our labor. We suppose that
there is no crop on the farm that pays better
than the corn crop, and we think this is the
general opinion, from the fact that full two
thirds of our cultivated lands are annually
planted with corn. If we allow that to clear
the ground, plow, mark, plant, replant, tend,
gather and deliver an acre Of corn will take