The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-07-07
THE FARMERS.

G.. w. Shell, tho IOWnShip Central
Club, assembled in the Court House
"tO take into consideration the adj
visibility Of nominating candidates
for the Senate and House of Repre-
sentativcS to be known "a Farmers
Candidates and to be submitted to
the Primary Election"
Six merchants, two editors, two
county officers, one newspaper cor
respondent, one doctor, Il law stu
dent and twelve farmers, were
present at the meeting.
Inasmuch as the call was made
for this important discussion, it is
somewhat strange that so little in
tcrcst vas manifested. \ report of
the meeting appears elsewhere in
this issue. Most Of the speeches
made upon this occasion appeared
to be delivered in Il calm, patriotic
spirit and prompted by Il desire to
benefit the farmers without injur-
ing others. More libcrality and
conservatism appeared, than on
some former occasions.
We still believe that II move
mcnt on the part Of farmers towards
organizing clubs for agricultural
discussions and to discuss the gem
eral interest of the farmers, will
bring good results. What farmers
need most is enlightenment on the
subject of agriculture. They should
study their business.
We have at least one club i'm this
County that has heretofore been Il
model. Whenever such 0rganiZa-
tiOns as the Lisbon Farmers Club,
which has lived and flOurishcd for
ten years, become general through
out the land, we may look for the
standard of intelligent and SYSTEM
attic farming to be elevated.
We are and always have been
opposed to turning the movement
which a bring good results, into
a %log-rolling political machine. But
unless we fail to understand tho
movers in this movement, they are
gradually beginning to see that po-
litical nominations by an Organiza-
ton of farmers will not do, and if
they are to accomplish anything,
1t must be made Il fghtOf measures,
not men.
Let the farmers decide what
they want; let them investigate,
consult, discuss and advise, as to
the needs of the country; let them
embOdy tho result ofthiS invcStiga-
ton and discussion in a platform
to be passed upon in the Demo
cratic party nomination, which is
the Primary Election, and they may
rest assured that, so far as Laurcns
County is concerned, the Senator
and Representatives elected, will
carry out the will of the people az
expressed.
While we cOnnOt endorse the res
olutions of the Columbia Convcn-
ton as a whole, we do endorse any
man or body of men, who are seek
ing to benefitthe country. We be-
lieve in allowing the people to de-
termine their grievances andi in al
lowing the people to say directly,
without the endorsement 0fanyOnc
who are capable of ~rcdrcsSing these
grievances.
If q man has settlccd convictions
as to what is needed for the bone
fit of the farmers, he is but Il poor
excuse for a citizen, if he does not
east his ballot for one who is in
sympathy with him.
We will aIlude to one remark
made in that meeting on Saturday.,
viii n needs no comment. 1t has
been Il privaledge to attend var
ious places when public spccchc s
were delivered, but never before
have we heard a sentiment equal
to this. We refer to a remark made
in favor of agricultural clubs going
into politics. The speaker said:-
eve want more politics preached
from the pulpit"
Atsuch, we are astonished-nay
shocked But, although made by
one of it's members, we saddle no
such sentiment upon the leaders of
the farmers movement, "a