The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-10-08
ADVICE TO THE ALLIANCE.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A VETE-
RAN NEWSPAPER MAN.

|
RAN NEWSPAPER MAN.
Alliance Men Should Settle Down to thei
Regular Work-The Benefit Of the Or
der-What has been Done and what is t.
be Done.
The Alliance swept over the countr!
like Il great and far-reaching cyclone
In the agricultural States its influence
was felt everywhere Many person!
predicted that it would soon fail ant
that the farmers would become dis
gusted with their own organization
1t was also believed that, with theil
direct dealing with manufacturers anc
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-
tion is growing stronger. They are
learning in that school of experience to
which all must 90, 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
liances, 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
it 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-
fit the farmers. without hurting any
one else. Should they cndeavor to
remedy all their evils by some grand
Legislature panacea, they will be in the
condition of the man who would apply
a mustard plaster for all sorts of dis
eases. The Alliance cannot afford to
ride certain hobbies, although they are
recommended by some Of their leaders.
If one wished to raise a building a few
feet and devoted all his energy on one
corner and left the others on the old
foundations, he would not have very
comfortable house. So the Alliance
would fail in its beneficial work, if it
should devote all its energies to some
special improvement, or reform, and
leave the others nndone. The work is
general in its nature, broad as the
Foundation OF society itself
The principal work up to this time
has been the Fight against the bagglng
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 a ten
dency to get on cash basis. In the
fight against the Dagging trust they
have apparently done good work, for
jute bagging 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
supplies 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 they
are in 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
do. In fact they have begun at the
wrong end Of the job; or rather they
have neglected the foundation stones
and mudsills, while they hare been
building at the top. 1t would be well
for them to review their work some
what and take a ground start. This
must be done IN the Sub-Alliances.
Here are a few Of the material wants
of the farmers: The cash system; bet
ter methods Of farming; improved
stock and implements; the better ap-
plication of manures; better buildings;
diversified crops; raising supplies at
home 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-Alliauce
in the county might proitably discuss
the necessary improvements IN build
ings for several meetings. The dwell
ing house with all its surroundings,
the stacles. barns. cotton houses, work.
shops and all would come in for sug-
| .eStlOns.
More important than material i'm
provement Is the education Of the far
mer's family. Herein the Alliance
should do its best work. The field is a
broad one, including not only the work
done il schools, but the information
that has to be gained all through life.
1t is generally believed that farmers
are the easiest people fooled in the
world. Hence fruit tree venQerS, light
ming rod men, travelling strangers,
generally, can cheat them out Of their
eyes. The farmers need a little busi-
ness training and one of the most ap-
propriate subjects for lecture or two
would be contracts with strangers
Then the farmer and his family can
learn much from the reading Of books
and papers. General information on a
variety Of Subjects is what the sons and
daughters of farmers need. They will
do the reading if parents will furnish
the books. Along with this general