The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-07
Whittier is Agriculture Drifting

Editor Cotton Plant: .,
In taking q broad view of this subject 1t
brings up a m after OF more Importance to the
welfare of the people than any other question
that can now be agitated. 1t IS true in some
respects our country has nothing to compia n
of, but in the AGricultnral Department mere ;t
losing It's f1arorS, nearly all the County FAIRS
have gone up, for the want Of patronage to
pay expenses. 4 number of excuses are made
for these failures, but there has not been any
plan yet made to revive the farmers pride,
and the question is here asked: "Whither IS
agriculture drtting?" Shall the country be
sacrificed because the farmers will not take
some action. Now is the time to act and
strike while the iron Is hot rs such an oppor-
tunity that is now offered will not possibly be
offered in number of years. MIR. b. II. MI
man now proposes to call Farmers Ccnven- =
tion to n.eet next month. 1t Is plain that
nothing can be lost in the meeting Of this con-
vention, and the chances are that great deal
Of good may be accomplished. 1t is an indls.
putlblc fact that the agricultural interests OF
the State are III a depressed condition, but
some relief might be obiSined by the united
action Of the farmers when they meet IN cou'
vention.
berlain was Governor of this State, and mon
ey is hard to get at-particularly by large
number of the farmers. Where has the bulk
of the farmers money gone to? 1t must nave
How do they get it? The merchants go to
them to borrow money and they get 1t at ten
per cent direct interest with the understand
ing that the merchant must ship them nine
bales Of cotton for every one hundred dOtlarS
borrowed, or in case the cotton Is not shipped
to the factor, q penalty of one dollar and fltty
cents for each bale on deficient numbers is for
feited. BY this transaction the merchant IS
paying about twenty-five per cent. interest
annually. Now how does the merchant meet
this heavy per cent interest? He has to sci
his goods to the farmers at forty per cent.
profit to get out with any margin. Conse-
quentfy, If this plan Is followed long enough
and does not break the merchant and farmer
both, then figures cannot be relied on.
1t is true that farmers as class make their
own roads rough, and have to be bridged
over. The farming class have been IN the
wilderness long enough, and they should
ting out Of the old ruts, and get on hrn
foundation. Stand erect and bid the credit
system farewell forever, and then any good
fa rlner "can sit under his own vine and hg-
tree, where none dare modest or make MIN
afraid"
Let us now pause for moment and here
ask the question. "Why is 1t that all classes
and professions can have their meetings antt
conventions and not q murmur is made III
words or in the press, but now when the far
mcrs are going to meet in convention. pow.
erfu big dust Is being kicked no? Yes
Even some newspaper correspondents LnaC
claim themselves to be farmers are trying 10
throw obstacles in the way of the Farmers
Convention. All these small matters when
put together, are to some extent calculated to
weaken Ia fiimsy way the prosperity OF our
State.
Now. Mr. Editor, hope you will advise
your farmer readers to meet in the conven-
tion and have the Cotton Plant spread on the
Conventions table, for 1t Is one of the strong
pillars of Agriculture. With the advantages
the advice is taken, the drifting corn blades
can be gathered up and packed away IN the
barn for safe-keeping. w. A. MOORE.