The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-02-15
EdooD xxYecrs or rraHrAnnxRv

counties that does its trading there was
represented by many of the best farmers
It the community. DR.. j. s. Hester
ddrss,ed the meeting. The principal
'usluess on hand was the adoption of
.ome plan by which they might get
'heaper supplies and fertilizers Car
oil y Carpenter offered terms which
we're considered reasonable and were ac-
oepted.
The general opinion was expressed
that q smaller quantity of fertilizers
would be used than was used last year.
Other, similar meetings will be held in
he county.
i Your correspondent has been watch
ipg the working of the Alliance in this
State since tie State organizer first came
-fiere and began his work. The move.
mont has met with some opposition on
che part of the merchants and middle
men. Some ridioule it, and say that the
farmers cannot stick together, and the
whole thing will soon fall through.
There are some unreasonable, bull-h cad
I'd farmers who believe that merchants,
lawyers, doctors and manufacturers
nave only one object in life, and that is
70 rob the farmer of his hard earned
dollars. They are Ishmaelites, ; and raise
heir hand aud voice against every man
with calling or profession differing from
their own. Such men as these honestly
believe that there is direct and con-
slant antagopism betwesn them and all
men who make their living by buying
and selling. This class, however, is very
small. The most Of the mem bers of the
Alliances are reasonable mon. They
understand that all professions are neces
sary in State and they feel that their
several interests are inter-dependent.
They know that the spirit of the com-
bination of classes prevails all over the
land. All trades and professions have
their organizations. These are gener-
ally for self-protection and improvement.
The farmers believe they have the same
right to combine for these purposes tha.
any other class has.
Then it is evident that since the war
they have had hard time oft. This
has been an age Of wild speculation in
every marketable article. Such con-
dition is always unfavorable for the pro-
ducer. They have had to pay most ex-
orbitant prices for goods on time. In
many instances 100 per cent has been
paid. The farmers have been driven
to organizing on account Of what they
consider oppressive conditions. They
came together not to pull down others
but to build up themselves. They
know the process will be slow. They
do not expect the Alliance to create
money fs. them. They hope BY COM
bination 10 show that they are an impor-
tant factor in the business aud work
ing world, and not mere isolated units,
or ciphers, as heretofore considered. Of
course, it is expected by all that tho
lazy, shiftless farmer will not change
his ways. The Alliance does not pro-
pose to make men over. 1t furnishes
them with incentives to improvement.
One of the Alliances represented at
Gaffney's from Wilkinsville, in Union
County, is going on the cash basis.
They have raised the money amongst
themselves to purchase their main sup
plies. They have ordered carload of corn
and will buy their -four and bacon the
same way, or in such quantities as to
get it AZ very small advance on fret
cost and freight. One tendency of the
Alliance will be TO work the farmers up
to cash basis. When a man has the
ready cash in his pocket he is pretty
good Alliance within himself. But act
ing alone, he cannot do as we'll as if a
dozen or fifty men, with the ready cash
should combine to accomplish some pur-
pose.
Some Of TIE professional class cs seem
to fear that the Alliaoce will become
political organization aud seek to name
all our officers from Governor down to
trial justice, This is an uafouuded fear
1t is expected that when an Alliance
man is candidate his brethern will vote
for him, if he is good and worthy, Just
as every banker or capitalist will now
vote for the candidate from their class.
Both these phases of politics were illus-
trated in our election last fall. The AL
lance men, then not very Numerous, did
not vote for candidates who represented
money corporations, or who had much
money by selling goods to farmers at
lien prices. On the other hand, this
latter class gave no support to candidate,
who belonged to the Alliance. That is
to be expected in the future and would
result in that way without any combine
tlon. Taking it all in all, the Alliances
ihreaten no ev il to any other class, but
they hope as tho years 60 by to accom-
plish much good for the farmers. - Cor.
.Ne,os and Courier.
QUITE A Lively LITTLE FiaHr.--A bloody
tight occurred on Tuesday night 10 Litlle's
10 oRunIia CtraAf horr I'll.