The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-06-13
Tie People and the ..Bagglng Trusts

One of the most startling events of the
past twenty years, occurred in Birming
ham month ago
The allied farmers of the cotton States
had met in convention. Before them
came gentleman representing a com.
mittee Of three men, who make up what
is known as the "bagging trust" He
gave to the farmers the figures at which
he would let them have baggiug for this
season. When asked if he would agree
that the same figures should prevail for
the next year, he declined to answer!
Now consider this Here are the
representatives of an industry that occu.
pies 70 per cent of our population and is
the base of our prosperity. They
are discussing an article ofprime necessi-
ty and of variable price. They are met
By man who tells them that he con-
trolls every pound Of that article
controls every mill that is making it
and then fixes q price, absolutely arbi.
trary and dependent on his own whim,
aud tells the farmers they can pay that
or do without bagging When asked if
he would graciously consent not to cut
deeper into the quivering flesh of the
farmer for the next year, he replied that
he couldn't make any such agreement! !!
In other words, ifhe and his associates
took notion to levy an additional mil.
lion or 30 on the farmers in 1890, he
wanted to be bound by no hastily.made
promise to limit his forced tribute.
Wars have been fought for less oppres
sion than this, and men have been strung
to lamp. posts for less wanten insolence
If submitted to it means the abjectest
slavery for the farmers and unlimited
power to the bsgging trust kings. Last
year they took from the farmers-as un.
rightecusly as the highwayman who halts
traveller and forces him at the end of
pistol--more than million dollars in
excess of what was paid the year before.
The price named for this year added even
more. An extra million could be-and
doubtless would be-put on next year.
And so the levying might 60 on, as long
as the farmer had dollar left, or until
public indignation was fatigued and the
unwritten law OF human rights declared
It is to the everlasting honor of the
farmers that they refused to barter with
their despoiler and oppressor. This man
had no hit to make terms with them,
while he whirled his lash above their
heads. It is the solemn duty of every
farmer TO stand by the declaration of
principles made by their representatives
even if he does so at temporary loss.
It is the duty of every merchant-of
every man-to stand by the farmers in
this struggle, with every helpful and
legitimate agency
This issue is broader than most men
think. Ifthe bagging trust whips the
federated farmers, after the issue has
been deliberately joined, in that defeat
will be forged the chains for US all The
oil and gas ne burn--the fuel we use
the coffee re drink-the sugar it holds
almost every article Of prime necessity is
involved by syndicate or trust. Let the
fragrant and Infamous greed of the bag.
ging kings prevail over the power Of the
farmers Organization over the farmers
plighted word-over the solemn protest
he has entered-oYer the aroused public
sentiment that condemns it-let it
prevail over all these things and the
kings pocket their looted booty in safety
and in insolence, and it will not be long
before every class will have the chalice
put to its own lips and the bitter waters
forced down it's averted throat! There is
no limit to human rapacity except the
power to extort-and the assurance that
it may hold securely what it has extorted
Let it be shown-as the defeat of the
farmers in this fight will show-that
against banded insolence and oppression,
neither individual nor class organization,
neither public sentiment nor private
indignation can avail-and there ia no
article so mean that the "trusts" will not
seize it and no field so scanty that they
will not greedily invader
We confess that this question goes
deeper than any other. If no limit be
set to corporate power, then individual
liberty is lost. If the government cannot
cure the swift apprehension under which
capital is consolidating, or limit the
powers it is thus acquiring, or check the
method by which it increases its own
undue and toppling mass by robbing the
helpless and the poor-then the govern.
ment will lose that cordial respect and
affection Of the people without which no
government can endure! We had rath.
er see this power to rob, if it must exist,
lodged in the government, for govern
ment is responsible and subject to control.
We had rather almost any barrier broken
down, or any bulwark erected, than to
see the people made the :defenseless prey
of the rapacious, and scourged by oil.
garchs from rampant of money.bags
But this will come later. The duty in
hand is to whip the bagging trust.
Pledged to do this, the farmers stand
embattled In many towns and cities
the merchants. have Joined hands with
them. The universal sympathy of the
people is theirs.-At2anta Constitution.