Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-04-03
The Farmers Convention.

IN Columbla on Thursday, March II.
The Convention was called to order
by Col. She'll, of Laurens. The pro-
ceedings were opened with prayer by
Rev. D. w. Hiott, of Anderson. Col.
Shell then addressed the Convention
as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION :
AS President of the Farmers Asso-
citation and ex-oflicio Chairman of
tho Executive Committee, it is my
duty to call this body to order and
organize it. 1t is not necessary to
read the address issued by the com
mittee, but in order to have clear
understanding as to our purposes in
assembling here, l will proceed to
read the call at the end of the ad-
dress. 1t is as follows: Here Mr..
Shell read the last paragraph of his
famous address, such paragraph con-
tanning tie call for q convention. He
then resumed his address,
Now these things are very clear
from this call. First, that this is q
convention of Democrats, true and
loyal, and that we are only exercising
our rights as freemen to come to-
gether and, after consultation, take
such action as we deem best. Second,
that this is not a farmers convention
unless it is because other classes
aud callings have refused to have
anything to do with electing dele
gates. Third, that it is q convention
of those who sympathize with the
views and purposes set forth in the
address of the executive committee,
and that if there are any delegates
here opposed to the farmers move
ment or tho reforms demanded by it,
they are here either under misap.
prehension or they have come rs OBJ
structionists and marplots to create
discord and thwart tho friends of the
convention. In this regard know
nothing except what l have seen in
the papers; and it is not for me to
decide upon the credentials of any
delegate who appears here. Tho
convention itself must be the Judge
of that matter. So 1 will pass on to
other things.
1t is perhaps incumbent upon me,
and it will help to clearer under
standing of the situation, if shall
explain how and why issued the ad
dress, part of which has been read.
The executive committee of the
Farmers Association is composed of
one from each county, and under our
constitution it has charge Of every
thing connected with the manage
ment of the Association and is au
thorizcd to take any steps likely to
aid the purposes for which the organi-
zation was formed. All of you have
heard of the "Farmcrs' Movement"
and what it has becn trying to ac-
complish. The reforms demanded
are clearly set forth in the address,
and l shall not rchcarsc them, as ali
of you have read that document.
The executive committee held a
meeting last November in this city.
Sixteen counties were represented,
and after full discussion Of the stu
alton, and careful consideration
of what should be done, it ordered
me to issue the address and call this
convention. | had no discretion in
the matter. l am only the mouth
piece of the committee.
Remembering how we had been
tricked and betrayed during the last
we decided that we must
quietly surrender or make the issue
fairly and squarely before the people
and let them decide.
1t is necessary to begin early in
order TO get an even start, and from
the howl that has been raised think
the Ring believes we have got it,
and | say to you in all earnestncss,
if we have got it let us keep it, and
when the Democratic Convention
meets next August we can give these
gentry rest.
If you are not cajoled or intimi-
dated by the dust the has been
raised, we will purify the Dcmo-
cratic party, and in November we
will elect men to office who will have
some regard for the rights and well
fare of the people.
We do not want to forcstall or
dictate to the Democratic party, as
has been charged, but we want a free
and fair expression of the will of
the party after tho people have
heard the issues discussed on the
hustings, and by the Eternal God
we intend to have it.
The cards have been stocked and
the game lost often enough by these
unfair methods, and we intend to
have fair play or know the reason
why. We want the majority to
rule, and we propose to see that it
does rule, and if it decides that we
are wrong we will submit. If it
decides that we are right our oppon-
cnts must submit or bolt the ticket.
All this talk about our dividing the
party is bosh. We have been beaten,
and that, too, by unfair means. and
we submitted to it without IA mur
mur. The accusation that we are
doing everything to disrupt or en-
danger the party is an insult to us,
and dishonors the man or paper that
makes the charge.
| have no desire to boast of my
own record, but as a soldier in the
Confederate army, as Democrat in
1879 a - 7