The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-07-31
PRESIDENT STACKpOUSE'S MESSAGE
To the State Farmers Alliance in Convex
ton Assembled.

To the State Farmers Alliance in Convex.
| ton Assembled.
Below is given in full the annual ad-
dress or message" of President Stack
house to the State Alliance, delivered al
the opening session on Wednesday:
BROTHERS OF TIE STATE ALLIANCE:
During the first year of our existence as
State organization our numbers have
increased from 5000 to 10000. We
now have 754 sub-Alliances and 81
County Alliances.
At the date of our State organization
We had 1862 Sub. and 10 County AL
liances. The growth of the organiza-
ton in the other cotton States has not
been less marked. Its unprecedented
growth and the devotion of its members
to its principles best indicate their
belief in the necessity for the organlZa-
tton and the success Of its mission. The
desire t. avert the ruin which must re-
suit from the continued Capitalization
of money and of political power causes
thoughtful and patriotic people to strive
by organization and education to arrest
its further progress.
COOPERATIVE BUSINESS METHODS
have not yet been fully and fairly
tested, but the experiment warrants the
hope of ultimate success. Where it has
teen tried under the greatest diSadvan-
tageS, it more than compcnsates for
the time and attention devoted
to it, while the more advantageous
methods are securing advantages which
should soon place the entire business
upon strictly cash basis, and to this
end the Alliance in this State should de-
vote its best efforts.
No true Alliance man will now think
Of fixing a money valuation on the
MENTAL, MORAL AND SOCIAL WORK
of the Alliance That which eleyateS
and directs the mind in the contempla-
ton of life duties and responsibilities =
broadens the conception of life's oppor-
tunities; that which teaches and de-
mands rigid discharge of moral obi
cations; and that which lifts to a proper
appreciation of social life-unites q
brotherhood for cultivation and practice
of the virtues which ennoble human
nature teaches the necessity of Divine
guidance in all things-is above and be-
yond money valuation.
Your executive committee will submit
plan for the establishment of
STATE EXCHANGE OR BUSINESS AGENCY.
This is the most important matter that
will claim Your attention at this session,
for upon its wise establishment will de-
pend very largely the success OF our
organization in this State.
While the special session last De
cember fixed the responsibility of
reporting plan on your most
important committee, and while | rely
upon the fidelity and ability of that
committee, l may be pardoned for max
ing one suggestion in reference to this
very important matter. The limited
time that | have been able to devote to
the study of this subject induces me to
believe that, in its establishment, every
feature that savers Of the credit system
is an evil OF such magnitude as to de-
mand its abandonment.
Our efforts ttl,..-;zzr,ssrz7de Deen directed
to the Improvement of this system, and
ESe efforts, I am satisfied, are materl-
any beneficial both to the debtor and
creditor classes, but in the establishment
of State agency, which is designed to
be permanent fixture, it should be
done on correct system-the only cor
rect system-the cash system.
Cannot our people by greater effort,
a close application to business and the
practice of more rgid economy, regain
the lost year2 The establishment of an
agency that gave assurance of absolutely
fair dealing and the very lowest prices
that could be procured by wholesale cash
purchases from the producers would be q
powerful incentive to make the effort to 90
so. Then, TOO, why could not many who
are now supplied on the general credit
system on security, upon the same or the
best security available. borrow the
money and buy for cash? Without a
State agency this is incomparably the
better plan. With an agency the advan-
tages obtained should be largely in
creased.
You are to vote, during this session,
on the very important question submit
ted by the National Alliance at Merl.
dian, Miss, of
CONSOLIDATION.
The question has not been discussed
in your State organ (nor elsewhere, to
my knowledge,) as its Importance de-
manded. Possibly it has been discussed
in your subordinate and County ALI
ances, and it may be that you are IN
structed as to how you shall vote On this
question. If, however, such is not the
case, and you are free to form conclu-
sions, and to vote in accordance with
your best Judgment, l invoke your very
careful consideration of this question:
Can the organization be consolidated in
unity and act in harmony This is the
great central question for our consldera-
ton. If there are ant known con-
ditions which create a reason
able doubt on this point, we
should vote against consolidation. For
while we might withdraw from line
Farmers and Labors' Union of Amer
lea, we might never again have The
National Farmers Alliance SO united
and harmonious as it now is. While, if"c
now vote against it, they might possibly
admit lis hereafter if we should apply Tor
admission.
On the other hand, if there is no
reasonable doubt about our ability to
live in unity and in harmony with
the great consolidated body to be known
as .'The Farmers and LaborS' Union OF
America" we snould vote for the consoi-
idation, because this great national
body could be so much more Influential
in securing great national reforms.