The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-08-09

4 ( /,
Nj ~ I
ton of the J.;rop. The result was a
greater yield per acre, and an equally
large crop "pon decreasing area.
Mr.: Editor, i am m advocate of
cooperative effort in every general
Industry, and have slaboled. for the
Southern farmers until T have we'll
nigh reduced myself, to poverty in
my .y,g efforts to organize them for their
own recnperation and prosperity
and l am prepared to- assure IS"
tisat there is already eatant IN or
ga3ized association55f farmers more
coherent, more uniied sand more
powerful than chn ever be created
for any temporary relief frem pres
ont lilss The !sayanlzatnn of tho
Patrons of Husbandry is systematic.
t'omplete, and admitting ito it's ranks
every mn, that could or would dis
interestedly unite in the effo1t suy.
gested by IS ) and the subordinate
branches of this organization meet
monthly, and arc in constant on
direct communication with each
other. Through them good effects
might be produced but evon then,
it seems impracticablc, because our
Southern farmers are 10th to CO.
operste for anything, apparently,
except their own destruction. Out
of tho 10000 farmers in South
Carolina, only about one third are
members of the Grange and about
the same proportion are members in
the other Southern States. This
one third might move fowa.1d soiidly
to accomplish the end proposed by
IS WHAT effect would this have
upon the other two~thirls ? And
yet this one third is vastly groatcr
number than would ever join IA
, <'Protective Associations or be
bound by it's regulations
The platform and resolutions
adopted by pop"lur conventions avail
but little unless they are the sen
timeuts of of 4 previously organized
body, Township and county or
ganizations must he formed before a
State Convention can speek even
snggestively Those conventions
are expensive bodies, and especially
SO IN South Carolina perhaps moro
so than uny State in the Unlon> In
Georgia the farmers hold se,ui ,,nau-
fal conventions to and from which
delegates are carried free by the
railroads, and during the convention
private families extend the hospitali,
ties OF the town or city to the dele
gates. Almost everywhere else dele
gates are transported ut half the
usual rates. In South Carolina a
different poli"y prevails. and hotel
accommodations are mole expensive
and mcagre than elsewhere. OF i'll!
men, a days, farmers have least
money, and tor these reasons the
conventions advised by IS" would
not he attended generally. or. if
attended. would not sit long enough
to ctfoct the end proposcd>
The Georgia State Convention
meets in G ;inesville on or about the
7th of August [ suggest that IS
prepare &" paper upon the subject he
has SO well considered in your col,
umns and sui NIT it to that BODY. I
will venture to guarantee it warm
reception and favorable consilera~
tion. If that body. in their wisdom.
should SEQ fit to promulgate a
scheme by which m effort shall be
made in mywise whatsoever to
relieve the depressed and oppressive
condition of the Southern farmers.
pledge my influence to make the
same practical among the farmers OF
South Carolina,
Mr.. Editor, | have presumed to
send you this article only bccausc
my name was mentioned Ivy you in
your editorial and by IS" in his com
munication. It is with no spirit of
dictat!on that I would speak, but SO
firm believer am I in the power of
cooperation that / say, if the farm
| crs of the South will but unite they
can exact tribute from the wo.l!
upon tho cotton question, and if the
same solid, compact union were
effected among the farmers of South
Carolina, political as we'll as indus
trial redemption is near Mt hand,
indeed, is now knocking at the door
and asking admission.
Your obedient servant,
D. WYATT AIKEN.