The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-11-18
THE FARMERS CONVENTION.
A GO0DLy GATHERING OF DELEGATES
AT THE STATE CAIITiL.

. Permanent What il Demand
sd OF the General Assembly The i'rccccGIngs
in Detail.
b. The State Farmers Convention met
in Agricultural Hall, Columbia, on Tues,
dny, the 9th inst, and was called to
order by Capt. b. II. Tillman, of Edge
field.
Capt. Tillman then proceeded to read
an address of which the Columbia Regis
ter makes the following synopsis;
Capt. Tillman stated that owing to his
having been called upon frequently to
speak throughout the State the past sum
mer, he had acquired somewhat facili-
ty for eXtemporaneous speaking, but
tEat as he could not follow his subject
with that force Of statement and logical
sequence that he observed in his writ
ings, he would not attempt to address
the Convention eXtemporancouSly. He,
therefore, had written an address, and
would read it before the Convention. He
then read the address, which, to begin
with, alluded to the success with which
the effort to organize Il farmers move
ment had met, notwithstanding the op-
position the undertaking had received
from the beginning. That opposition
came usually from those who held fast to
the public teat, and IL was natural for
them to squeal when they felt it slipping
from their teeth. IApplausc.l He said,
however. that despite the cold water
thrown on the movement it would be
success and would result in unbounded
benefit to the agricultural interests of
Stnta hn 10
had gone down year by year until the
situation was appalling The organiza-
ton of the farmers would unite them.
and by their meetings and the ctiic2cious
plans they would certainly devise the
gloom would be diSpcllcd and the agri-
culture of the State be put on u healthy
footing. If nothing else the methods Of
our agriculture would be changed and
something done to avert absolute ruin.
Ihe farmers, he stated, were ground to
powder between the millstoncs of West
crn competition on the one hand and
borrowing money at q high Of interest
with which to make their crops on the
other. The organization of the farmers
would go far towards remedying that
mighty evil which threatened to over
whelm the agriculture of this State.
1t had been charged, he said, that the
farmers movement was n political one,
but 1T had no more politics in it than the
farmers of the State had Il right to as
simulate with it. lie himself was opposed
to mixing politics with the movement if
the farmers could get their rights with
out it, but the farmers now Intended to
Fght their wrongs, and that was all they
asked: Applause. The political fca,
lures OF the movement wore t. call atten-
tlon to the needs Of the farmers and
place the situation as it is before those
III authority. He felt pretty sure that
their demands would be needed, and in
case they got what they wanted they
would be satisfied, but should they not
receive tho relief rhey ask at the proper
hands they would rise in their might and
take what they wanted. IApplause.l He
thought, however, that they would get
all they asked, and stated that as one result
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 tho reduction OF the taxes which
burden him, and the adoption Of 3 less
expensive system in conducting the gov-
crnment OF tho State, They wanted
abolished all offices which had been
established for old fossils and broken
down gentry, and he predicted that
something i'll this line would be done
when the Legislature meets. Applause.
lie protested that his remarks cast no
reelection on present incumhcnts, but
were intended to call attention to useless
oihces now existing under our govern
ment.
He advocated the total divorce Of the
Agricultural Department from politics
and wants it placed in the hands to which
1t 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,
lApplausc. He maintained that farmers
were Intelligent enough to manage their
affairs, and that if the leading men in
the ranks would come to the front and
consult they would not have to 90 to
lawyers to know how to get their politics
and be told how to vote.
The establishment Of an Agricultural
College, said he, would go far towards
giving educated farmers to the State.
and would disseminate that scientific and
practical knowledge which the State so
much needed. He remarked that he had
letter from General Stephen ID. Lee,
in which the General informed him shat
o college similar to the Agricultural Col
lege of Mississippi would cost, exclusive
of the grounds and experimental farm,
100000. Captain Tillman believed that
the $50, 900 raised from the privilege tax
on fertilizers and the fund arising from
the land script, in addition to a small
appropriation from the State, would be
ample to support the college and have
al the work done that is now done by
the Agricultural Department.
In conclusion he urged conservatism
upon the farmers in their demands, and
expressed his confidence in legislation to
remedy remedy the evils they complain Of. If
lhese wrongs were not rightcd they
would De on hand two years hence, and
see mat they would not be bamboozlcd
il1., IN the next choice of oth>ials. IAp,
Mr.. J, B. Watson &C Anderson nomi
mated Senator w. j. Talbert, Of EDGE
field, for temporary President Che % hoi SO
the caucus nominee) and that oentIon1nES
was unanimously elected by aceIomatinm irI,