The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-18
THE FARMERS MEAN BUSINESS IN THEIR
FIGHT.
Jute VIII Not be Tolerated i'm any
shape or FOrm-.Other Trusts to be
Attacked---HOw the Boys in the
Trenches Receive Advice that is


Trenches Receive Advice that is
not Wanted.
To the Editor of The News and Courier:
We are now being advised by commission
merchants of Charleston not to use cotton
bagging. They are either stripping the cotton
bagging or putting jutc covering over the cot
ton bagging. 1t Is useless to say who is the
loser and who the gamer. We have expected
to lose the difference in weight of cotton and
jute. We are willing TO stand the loss in diff
Jute Trust. We did not expect those who
should be our friends TO be our enemies. 1t
appears that such is the case. The Alliance
men are organized and just as determined on
breaking the lutte Trust rs they were in '7G TO
break Radical rule in South Carolina. Many
Of us have gone into this fight with rcluc-
tance, thinking that cotton would not answer
as well as jute, but we find after giving 1t q
practical test that it will answer and that we
are the losers by weight. That the Alliance
men consider their business. They don't
want any advice on the subject.
We have gone into it to win and win we
must You just ought to be ut one Of our
backwoods county Alliances and hear the
boys talk when O letter Is read from Charles
ton baggipg, that it is being replaced with
jute. 1t raises an excitement. Every man
rises to his feet. The president raps with his
no good. will pot tell you all that is said,
for the Alliance Is a secret society. will give
only little of the secrets and those interest
of talk and some OF 1t mighty severe. The
boys were hard to manage but they have
great respect for their superiors, and are
sworn 10 obey ORDERS and the orders will be to
sell no cotton to any man who will strip the
cotton bagging of. Why, sir, it Is just as in
sulting as 1t would be for q rufllan to meet
your wife on the highway and strip her of
silk gown.
One well-informed Alliance man said he had
1t from good authority that a bale in white
didn't more than strike the ground in Char.
lesion before dozen negroes pounced OH 1t
ground, swearing that 1t would not stand the
hooks. A sober-sider old chap asked the
boys: What you going to do next January
when you 60 down, with hat under your arm,
when you waIk:in to the factors pfiicetand
stand round, sorter in one corner, like a crlmi-
nal, waiting for your turn to come to ask for
another Lien. said before TIE boys are
case They are going to 60 1t, lien or no lien
We have big corn CROP, We have found
precious little good In sulphuric acid. They
say they will risk the bacon, use cotton seed
oil for lard, and long sweetening (sorghum) I
don't look for anything else but for them to
bounce the Sugar Trust next thing. They say
they will as soon as they get through with the
about whskey. SO far have heard no COM
plant. I guess whiskey is all right, and they
can afford to pay the price If they can break
The boys think President stackhouse will
issue an order in few days not to sell to any
buyer unless he obligates to ship to the spin
ner as he buys 1t, whether he be in America
or in Europe. II he should do SO the boys will
obey. The boys have talked this matter over
pretty thoroughly. They have read all of
your splendid editorials. They drank in all
carefully noted what prominent merchants
on East Bay generally say in the same ISSUE
The boys say they like advice OF any kind
and considered the source. .l1t don't cost much.
Cotton Exchange. You know the Exchange
issues regular orders and speaks with so much
authority. Well, you know they have always
the Exchange will say put on six hoops; then
again, it countermands that order to some
other number. One time 1t will say put side
pieces In, cover the bale up entirely. In a lit
| tie while they say take off, and If any extra is
have been very Submissive, SO far. Then
there is so many prices for handling cotton,
from eight to twenty cents for drayage, and
all other expenses In the same proportion.
| It is not probable that th change controls
all these matters, but: the boys do think II
and their property they should take hold OF
the handle. Some OF the boys are green
enough to think that the Exchange are the
handlers and even have an interest in the
have gone SO far as to say they believe the
| spinners would buy cotton II 1t was packed
in barrels. That is possible rather than stop
to to- fig leaves again. some Of the he boys boys
said If the Alliance didn' quit talking about
cotton so much the thing would fall, but
Others thought differently, and concluded it
was having good effect, and thought the jute
excitement had raised the price,
The worst puzzle they had was how would
they pay their debts If they were ordered not
to ship cotton, but keep 1t at home and sell
| to buyers who would oblgate not to strip 1t Of
the cotton covering. Why. sir as quick as
thought, fellow jumped up and said bank
er told him that II the Alliance men wanted
to hold their cotton, II they would insure 1t,
he could get all the money they wanted on 1t,
pay every body you owe, commissions and
all, If you have cotton enough Well, sup
pose ifthey continue to stay mad, and espec-
tally If the staple was TO go down, they would
| resort to such extremes.
| Some OF the bsys wanted letter written TO
some of these fellows who were advising
| them, and even went SO far as to want 1t pub
| lished in the Ne,ns and Courier. Some Of
them proposed that your humble servant
write letter In regard to the matter, but I
have refused and desired tc have nothing to
| do with the matter.
| ]. A. PETERKIN,
| Fort Motto, Sept. TO-