The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-06-18
The Farmers Movement Platform.

WHEREAS, it is the inalienable right, inhe-
rent and constitutional Of citizenship, to
meet in any orderly manner, to propose and
discuss measures, to adopt platforms, of
principles and appoint, if eXpedient, cham
pions of said principles; and whereas, expe-
rience has shown the value OF agitation in
side Of our ranks, and We feel that we must
devise some plan by which differences of
opinion as to measures and meu may have
scope to bring about needed reforms, there
fore this Convention Of Democrats. assem-
bled in Columbia, this March u, 1890,
unite in issuing the following platform Of
principles AMI measures, upon which We
intend to strive for supremacy in party and
State:
l. We recognize the imperative necessity
OF Anglo-Saxon unity IN our State, and
pledge ourselves to abide by the arbitra-
ment Of the Democratic party, relying upon
the sense Of justice and enlightened self
interest of a majority OF Our white fellow
citizens to secure all needed reforms. We
will make our issue inside the party lines,
and, differing as brethren who must make a
common cause against a common enemy,
we will bow in submission to the behestS of
the party fairly expressed through the regu-
lar channels.
,. The nominations Of the Democratic
party are virtually elections. Believing in
the JetferSoniau doctrine that 'the people
are the best conservators Of their own rights
and liberties and that ''self-governineut is
the only free government" We demand that
all nominations for Office in the party, other
shan State Offices, shall be by primary elec-
tions, conducted under the State law enacted
in 1888.
3. We demand the reapportionment of
representation in the Democratic Conven-
ton upon the basis Of the census of 1880,
and that it so into effect this year. We de-
mand that the delegates to the State Nomi-
mating Convention Shall be chosen by pri-
mary election on the same day that the 9th.
er officers are nominated, and that all the
counties shall hold their primaries on the
same day, to wit: the last Tuesday in August
Of each election year.
I. We demand that the board of agricuI-
ture be abolished; that the privilege tax on
fertilizers and everything pertaining to ng5-
ricultnre, or mechanics, or industrial edll-
cation, including the agricultural stations,
be under the control Of the trustees Of
Clemson Agricultural College, and upon
said trustees shall deyolve all duties now
performed by the present board and COM
missioners of agriculture, except the control
of the State phosphate interests.
s. We demand that the South Carolina
College shall be literally supported as q
classical and literary institution.
&. We demand that the school districts in
the valious counties in the State shall be as
n.arly square as practicable, and m area to
allow only one white and one colored free
school in each district, and that the school
trustees be elected instead of appointed.
Wa demand riria economy in public
aynanditures the abolition of useless Offices
r.fnrt;on of salaries and fees of all officers
Stoi.. and comfy to conform to fhe increas,
"a ,,,,.ohoS;, mr. nnwer NJ mcn.v and dacraas-
~ a,S;l;t,. ~ 3do,,la - nov toxac. thot tho
,,,,bl;c ni1fcars sball l,e maid in nronortion
t - tbair iohor and resnnnsibi1itv
Q We dnm,nd that the railroad commits
s;on sbo,l II. r;van al needed ,,owcr 70 mo-
tact , thn r;oIts and interests Of the people
without in;nrino the railroads and that the
commissioners be elected bv the people after
nomination bv the Democratic Convention.
II is thr sense of this meeting that salarial
attorneys of railroads and phosphate COM
nonies shonld be INELIGIBLE 20 seats in the
eoi slotnra
. W. demand that there Snail be q survey
Of the States phosphate beds and their claS-
sit;cat;on into three grades and that COM
mission COMPOSED of the Governor, Comp
tro]ler General and Attorney General, shall
control and direct the mining under rigid
rnles each river or phosphate district being
leased ot npblic auction for q term OF Years
ofter the commission has fixed q minimum
,oy,,+y occor6ino m tha yalne rs shown by
the suryey.
10. We demand that a Constitutional Con-
vention be called to give Us an organic law,
framed by our own people, and adapted to
our conditions and wants. We believe that
we cannot obtain any great relief FROM our
burdensone taxes till this is done, and We
have lost faith in the power to amend the
present Constitution so that 1t MIL answer
the requirements.
II. Believing, as Thomas JefferSon' 'that
Il diffusion OF information anu the arralSn-
lnent of all abuses at the bar OF pnblic rea-
son" is 4 fundamental principle Of free gov
We demand that Candidates for Governor
and Lieutenant Governor shall, and all otLef
asplrants to state Offices are invited 10 can
rass the State, and that lhoSe ASKING our
SllHraSeS 1or the General Assembly siltii