The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-11-17
TIE FARMERS C0NNENFIoN.
4 GOUD:I G,T;:f:H:st: cE n::!-:.>: ~
II rHE STATE CAPITAL.

GO6D:.I GtTi.EHs.sts Ct H'.!-.->- t -
" THE sGArE CAPT. ".
Permanent Observation-Disclosures: i:ni !" .'ra;:d
I'd of the General Assembly :yE':'" l':c'c"'i:.';s'
in Detail.
The State Farmers Convention ret
in Agricultural Hall, Columbia, on Tues
day, the 9th inst, and was called to
order by Capt. 3. r. Eillman, Of Edge
field.
Capt. TilIman then proceeded to read
an address OF which the Colum0i;: l;egiS-
ter makes the following synopsis:
Capt. Tillman stated that cwi!:S &c as
having been called upon frequently 10
speak throughout the State the past sum
mer, he had acquired somewhat IacLl-
ty for extemporancous speaking, but
tl.at as he could not follow his subject
with that force of statement and IoGlcaI
sequence that he observed i'll his writ
ings, he would not attempt TO address
the Convention eXtemporaneoEs;y. he,
therefore, had written an address, and
would read it before the Convention. lie
then read the address, which, to begin
with, alluded to the success WIKI which
the effort to organize & farmers move
ment la net, notwithstanding the OPP
position the undertaking had received
from the beginning. That opposition
came usually from those who held fast to
the public teat, and it was natural Tor
them to soueal when they felt 1t s1pplnS
from their teeth. Applause. de sad,
however, that despite tile cold water
thrown on the movement it woGld bc a
success and would result in pn5ounded
benefit to the agricultural interests OF
the State, which, hewas sorry 10 confess,
had gone down year by yeaG until the
situation was appalling. The orsanlza-
ton of the farmers would unite them,
and bv their meetings and the c'dcSclous
plans they would certainly devise the
gloom would be dispeiied ana the aSrl-
culture of the State be put cn . healthy
footing. If nothing else the methods OF
our agriculture would DC changed ana
something done to avert absolute rum.
The farmers, lie stated, were ground 20
powder between the millstones Of West
ern competition on the one 4aLc anc
borrowing money at a high O interest
with which to make their cro;gS on the
other. The organization Of the farmers
would go far towards remeGylng that
mighty evil which threatened to over
whelm the agriculture of this state.
It had been charged, he said, that the
farmers movement was political one,
but it had no more politics II i: than the
farmers of the State had r:g:.t to as
simulate with it. He himself was opposed
to mixing politics with the movement II
the farmers could get their r!s.its with
out it, but the farmers now intended to
right their wrongs, and that VAS ali they
asked. Applause. The political fea-
lures of the movement were TO call atten-
ton to the needs Of the farmers and
place the situation as it is before those
in authority. He felt pretty sure that
their demands would be needed, and IL
case they got what they waited they
would be satisfied, but should they not
receive the relief they ask at tle proper
hands they would rise u Their might and
take what they wanted. Applause: lie
thought, however, that they would get
all they asked, and stated that as one resnl!
of the movement numbers OF members
had been elected to the Legislature,
pledged to their ideas of reform.
The principal thing the farmer asked
was the reduction OF the taxes which
burden him, and the adoption OF less
expensive system IN conducting the gov,
ernment of the State. They wanted
abolished all offices which had been
established for old fossils and broken
down gentry, and he predicted that
something in this line would be done
when the Legislature meets. applause. J
He protested that his remarks cast no
reflection on present incumbents, but
were intended to call attention to useless
offices now existing under OH govern
ment.
He advocated the total divorce OF the
Agricultural Department from politics,
and wants It placed in the hands to winch
it properly belongs, namely, practical,
experienced farmers. The demands OF
! the farmers were that the Agricultural
Department, belonging by rights to
them, should be turned over to them.
Applause. He maintained that farmers
were intelligent enough to manage thell
affairs, and that if the leading men IL
the ranks would come to the front ano
consult they would not have to SO tc
lawyers to know how to get Their polltlc:
and be told how to vote.
The establishment Of an Agriculture
College, said he, would go far towards
giving educated farmers to the State
and would disseminate th"t scientific ane
practical knowledge WI l the State st
much needed. He remarked that he hat
letter from General Stephen D. Lee
in which the General informed him tha
a college similar to the Agricultural Col
lege of Mississippi would cost, exclusive
of the grounds and experimental farm
500, 900. Captain Tllman believed tha
the $50, 600 raised from the privilege ta:
on fertilizers and the fund arising iron
the land script, in addition to snaI
appropriation from the State, would b
ample to support the college and haT
all the work lone that is now done d
the Agricl Department.
In conclul-ul he urged conservatlsl
upon the farmers in their demands, an
expressed his confidence III legislation t
remedy the evils they complain OF.
these wrongs were not righted the
would be on hand two years hence, al
see that they would not be hambooz!e
in the next choice OF officials. a!
,,1o1,ee