The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-13
ROLLING DOWN ABLUNDEE.
Shell. Manifesto, With the Venom Ex-
lractedi

,ractedi
TO the Editor of the News and
Courier In answer TO the cOmmunlca-
ton Of Col. Iycdell Jones, published IN
The News and Courier on the Sd inst,
allow me to say that ! am afraid he
has taken . One-sided view of the call
for Convention of the Farmers Asso-
citation, which is to be held at Colum-
bia on March 81, proXimo. The call
when boiled down and tersely stated,
amounts to this:
First. y demand for a more econo-
nlical government by the reduction Of
expenses, salaries and unnecessary
"existing institutions wherever prac-
ticable and possible, which will insure
Il general reduction OF taxes, as we'll as
the benefits OF an agricultural college,
without increasing the burdens Otour
people.
Second. \ demand for cheaper, more
practical and scientific education for
the farmers and mechanics, artisans
and laborers in the State, all OF which
is embraced in the demand for an az
ricultural college.
Third. \ demand that the land
scrip and Hatch funds, the agricultural
bureau, and fertilizer funds be
used for the purpose for which
they We're intended, instead of being
diverted and monopolized for other
"cXisting institutions" as they have
been.
Fourth. 4 demand that the railroad
commission be made of some benefit
and use to the State, or abolished alto
gether, so that the responsibility may
rest surely upon the railroads for any
mismangement and oppression, until
such time as the people may see tit to
curb and control them, by fair and
proper laws.
Fifth. \ demand for reapportion-
ment of Representatives and Senators
in the General Assembly, and also i'll
our Democratic Conventions, so that
all parts of the State may be fairly rep
resented, and the State freed from the
autocratic control Of certain parties
and places, regardless Of the will and
wishes Of the people.
Sixth. \ demand for a constitutional
convention by which our Judiciary and
certain fundamental laws could be re-
formed, thereby making a better and
more economical government OF the
State possible.
Seventh. A demand that the peni-
tentiary system be so conducted us to
give the greatest possible return to the
State, both in money, and III the I'M
provement Of our public works, roads,
highways, bridges, etc.
Eighth. \ demand that the South
Carolina University, which bas had no
opposition from us, should take care of
its own interests, and that its friends
and advocates should cease their oppo-
sition to the Clemson Agricultural and
Mechanical College, for in truth there
is no necessary antagonlsn between
the two.
These are the principal demands
made in the call which l had issued, at
the request of the executive committee
of the Farmers Association, and the
call ends as follows:
1--WE therefore issue the call for a
convention of those Democrats who
sympatbiZe with our views and purpo-
ses, as herein set forth, to meet III
Columbia in the House of Representa-
tives on Thursday, the 9th day OF
March proximo, at y o'clock NJ, to
nominate ticket for every State otfl-
Ger, from Governor down, to he put in
the field for ratification or rejection by
the next Democratic State Convention,
and we pledge ourselves to abide the
result, whether that is for or against
u.s.
Now is there a single demand made
therein that Was not made in the Far
mers' Convention of 1856, and which
has not been repeated time and again,
both in and out of our conventions, up
to the present time? The farmers do
represent about eighty per cent OF the
people of the State, and they have
endcavored by every means in their
power 10 secure the benefits and remedy
the evils alluded to in the call, and
they have also endeavored 70 modify
the laws of the State by other methods"
and now, after having been bitterly
opposed and thwarted at every turn,
they have been compelled to call a
convention of all those who sylnpathiZe
with them and their views for the
purpose of nominatinga ticket which
will go before the people and advocate
them.
The call makes no distinction as to
profession, callings or classes, and all
ARTISANS, mechanics and laborers as
we'll as all professional Or mercantile
classes vino sympathize with US, ere
invited to cooperate.
Certainly "the Democratic party is
strong enough, and good enough" and
we do not propose to use any other,
but we certainly have the right inside
of the party to meet, formulate our
views, let our wants be made known,
and put representatives in the field ho
will advocate them, and most surely,
we admit the right Of others who DO
not agree with us to pursue similar
course. Of course it would suit some
people for us to go along in the old ruts,
and let other people control us, as they
see fit, but we have found that the
usual methods" are inadequate to the
occasion, particularly as they are under
the control of existing institutions"
The Clemson College will not be
secure until we have Legislature per-
tectly in sympathy with us, and our
other demands will not be complied
with until we have Democratic Con-
vention, and State Government in
perfect accord with US. If we sit still,
rely upon ''ordinary methods" allow
our Democratic Convention, State
Government and General Assembly to
be controlled as they have been, we
can only expect repetition of the ring
rule which has so long been the bane
Of the State. u. w SHELL.
Laurens Court House, S. G., Febru-
arY I, 1890.