The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-24
AN ALLIANCE PICNIC.
A Large Gathering at Pomaria-Several
Speeches-Good Dinner-The Sub
Treasury Bill Endorsed.

On last Saturday morning the editor
of The Herald and News boarded the
Laurens train for Pomaria, to attend,
bv invitation of friends in that section,
picnic to be given by the Sub-Alli-
ances of that portion Of the county on
that day. There were several others
on board from Newberry. At Pros
perity we were joined by dozen or
more ladies and gentlemen bound for
the same place.
The picnic and speaking were in the
beautiful shady grove on the branch
near the station. 4 good stand had
been erected for the speakers and seats
were arranged on one side, most of
I which were filled with ladies. 1t was
one of the largest gatherings we have
seen at any public meeting ever held
in this county, unless it was the picnic
held at Little Mountain two years ago.
The crowd was estimated at from
1000 to $500. If we had not decided
never again to estimate crowd we
would say there were about | 900 per-
sons present. Any how, there was
large crowd present for picnic and
there were a large number of ladies
out. The picnic was under the auspices
of the Sub-Al lliances of that section.
Whether there was a union of two or
more we are not informed. We noticed
on the stand the presidents of two
Messrs. Summer and Riser.
The Alliance part of the speaking
was presided over by JOS. L. Keitt, the
President of the County Alliance. He
opened the meeting by speaking of the
good of the organization and what it
was going to do to remove the depres-
sion in agriculture, and introduced as
the first speaker E. T. Stackhouse, Of
Marion, the President of the State Alli-
ance.
Col. Stackhouse's voice is not very
strong and from where we had to stand
we could not hear very much Of bis
speech. He read it from manuscript
and occupied about an hour in its de-
livery. The burden of his effort was
taken up in a discussion of the Sub
Treasury bill. He spoke of the objec-
tions that had been urged against the
bill and wanted the farmers not to vote
for any man for Congress who was not
in favor Of it, and who would not
pledge himself to supportit. Heargued
that if it were law it would enable
the farmers to hold their cotton and
thus do away with middle men and
speculators and sell direct to the fac
tories and thus get more for their cot
ton. He thought the bill was consti-
tutional and could be classed and
passed under the general welfare clause.
Rev. J. A. Sigh was next introduced
and made forcible speech. He spoke
of the necessity Of the farmers organ
izing and working together. Only by
organization could they command and
demand respect and recognition, for if
they were organized they would be
power and their influence would be
| felt and appreciated. AS for the taxes
the farmers paid it all, either directly
or indirectly, and they should have
voice in the government. What would
benefit them would benefit all classes
and professions. He also spoke of the
Sub-Treasury bill and favored it. He
said the bill was constitutional. If not
then all national banks were estab-
lished under an Act that was not con-
stitutional. He was not in favor of
class legislation and he did not think
the Sub-Treasury bill class legislation,
for if it benefited the farmers it wonld
! benefit all other professions, for as the
farmers prospered all others prospered.
At the conclusion of Mr.. SlIgh's
speech an intermission was taken of
one hour and half for dinner. It was
a picnic dinner and to have viewed the
crowd one would have naturally con-
cluded that there would not be enough
to feed them, but there was an abun-
dance for all and plenty left. We had
several invitations to dinner and eat
with Maj. A. J. Gibson, P. NJ. Derrick,
Miss Addie Caldwell, Dr.. o. E. Hentz
and others, and we do not know that
we ever enjoyed picnic dinner more.
Hon. w. J. Talbert, Lecturer of the
State Alliance, came on the up passen-
ger train and after the dinner recess was
over he was introduced and spoke for
two hours. He spoke of the Alliance
and the work it was doing for the farm
ers and the Importance of their joining
and working together in the Alliance
for their mutual benefit. He took oc-
casion to say that any farmer who
would not join the Alliance had the
kiss of Judas on his lips and ought to
have the mark of Cain on his head.
He was not after arraying class against
class but the farmers ought to organize
and stick together. The Alliance had
to 60 into politics to a certain extent
to secure the reforms the farmers need
and legislation that would benefit their
vocation. They were principally after
national legislation and were in ma
tional politics and be had tried to keep
from discussing State politics. The
farmers should look after the selection
Of Congressman who were pledged to
support such legislation as they wanted.
He said all the Southern Congressman
had held caucus when the Sub-Treas-
ury bill came up to determine whether
they would support it, and majority
had decided they would not, and very
soon after the country was flooded
with letters giving virtually the same
reasons why they W ould not favor it
and intimated that somebody's money
was behind the caucus that in some
way Influenced to position of these
Congressman. All the Congressman
from South Carolina opposed the
scheme, aud he explained when he
said Tillmsn, that he had reference to
Geo. D. Tillnlan and not to BENJAMIN
R.Tillman. HeIsaid that in the National
Congress there were only fourteen
farmers, one in the Senate and thirteen
in the House, yet the farmers were
largely in the majority in the country.
He thought however that the farmers
were getting their eyes opened and
that they intend in the future to have
their rights. He also spoke of the Sub
Treasury scheme and told the farmers
they ought to favor it because it had
been decided that it was for their bene-
tit, and ne hoped they would endorse it
when he finished his speech. MI. .Talbert
is a good.and effective speaker and had
the attention Of his audience. He in
terspersed his speech with several tell
| ing anecdotes which amused the
crowd.
At the conclusion of his speech Jos.
L. keitt read a resolution endorsing
the Sub-Treasury bill and asked ali
those who favored it to hold up their
|