The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-10-09
ADVICE TO THE ALLIANCE.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A VETE-
RAN NEWSPAPER MAN.

Alliance Men Should Sottle Down to their
Regular WorE-The Benefit OF tho Or
der-What has been Dono and what IL to
DO Dono.
The Alliance swept over the country
like great and far-reaching cyclone.
In the agricultural States its influence
was felt everywhere Many persons
predicted that 1t would soon fail and
that the farmers would become dis
gusted with their own organization.
1t was also believed that, with their
direct dealing with manufacturers and
wholesale merchants, the current of
trade would be turned aside and that
confusion would reign in business cir"
cles. Those who were opposed to the
Alliance predicted all sorts of disasters
and failures. In fact. many of them
hoped that the organization would soon
come to naught and that the farmers
would return to the old way Of doing
things.
Instead Of weakening, the organiza-
ton is growing stronger. They are
learning in that school of experience to
which all must go, If they amount to
anything. OF course the Alliance, in
its infancy, has made mistakes, Just as
the child blunders and stumbles and
falls when learning to walk In
worthy men have been admitted to
membership and incapable men have
been selected for office. Now and then
men have been put at the head Of AL
llances, whose only aim and desire was
self promotion. They either wanted to
make money, or ride into Office on the
backs of the farmers. All this was to
be expected. notwithstanding these
backsets, the Alliance is stronger and in
better working condition to-day than
1t ever has been.
After all the mistakes incident to a
start and after passing through an ex-
citing political campaign, the Alliance
should settle down to. regular work.
The organization is intended to bene-
lit the farmers, without hurting any
one else. Should they endeavor to
remedy all their evils by some grand
legislature panacea, they will be in the
condition OF the man who would apply
mustard plaster for all sorts of dis
eases. The Alliance cannot afford to
rae certain hobbies, although they are
recommended by some Of their leaders.
Ii one wished to raise 4 building a few
feet and devoted all his energy on one
corner and left the others on the old
foundations, he would not have a yery
comfortable house. So the Alliance
would fail in its beneficial work, If it
should devote all It's energies to some
special improvement, or reform, and
leave the others nndone. The York is
general In It's nature, broad as the
foundation Of society itself.
The principal work up to this time
has been the fight against the bagging
trust and an effort to secure legislation,
which will put farmers on an equal
footing with men of other professions
in the business world. They have also
been working to secure cheaper sup
plies and cheaper money, with ten
dency to get Oh cash basis. In the
light against the bagging trust they
nave apparently done good work, for
Jute 9agglng is much cheaper than it
was twelve months ago. They have
demonstrated to the business world that
they can combine and stick together,
and that Is long step forward. The
Alliance stores are furnishing cheaper
Suppllcs and bringing about sharper
competition in such goods as farmers
use. Heretofore farmers have been in
the power Of middlemen, for the single
farmer could not accomplish much,
even If he desired to kick. Now thew
are III condition to make known their
wants. They do not propose to dictate
TO other professions, but they will
maintain their rights.
The Alliance has much work yet to
90. IN TACT they have begun at the
| wrong end OF the Job; or rather thew
have neglected the foundation stones
and mudsills, while they have been
building at the top. 1t would be well
for them to reyiew their work some
what and take ground start. This
must be done I'm the Sub-Alliances.
Here are q few Of the material wants
OF the farmers The cash system; bet
ter methods Of farming; improved
stock and implements; the better an
pllcatlon of manures; better buildings:
dlVerSllled crops; raising supplies at
nome as far AZ possible, and getting
the best terms in buying and selling.
Here are subjects enough to engage the
; attention of the Alliance lecturers all
winter. The fact is any Sub-Alliance
in the county might protitably discuss
the necessary improvements in build
lngs for several meetings. The dwell
: ing house with all it's surroundings,
the stables, barns. cotton houses, work.
; shops and all would come In for sup-
gestions.
More important than material i'm.
provement is the education of the far.
mers family. Herein the Alliance
should DO its best work. The field is a
broad one, including not only the work
done in schools, but the information
Gnat has to be gained all through life.
IL Is generally believed that farmers
are the easiest people fooled in the
world. lience fruit tree vendors. light
ming rod men, travelling straneers
generally, can cheat them out of their
eyes. The farmers need little busi-
ness training and one of the most ap-
proprIate subjects for a lecture or two
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