The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-01
Farmers Must Protect Themselves.
..r %" Southern ClItuQtoT. : IS.

There is no doubt that trusts, combinations,
TRANSPORTATION companies and unnecessary
middle men are getting more than = their share
of the wealth produced, while the farmers are
getting less than their rightfu! share. The
problems that we must solve II tile American
people are to maintain their proud position,
the distribution Of wealth. ] am free 70 say
that these problems are grave and pressing.
would not be understood as discouragtng In
against aga | those that are fobbing them. Wish
very earnestly that farmers everywhere Woulu
make O united and vigorous effort against
trusts. combines, unjust taxation, e3tortion.
ate transportation charges and unnecessary
middle men. 81
Nevertheless, there is much written about
the financial condition OF farmers which Is
untrue, misleading, and calculated TO do serl-
GUS harm. The condition OF the farmers fs
not near SO bad rs :lany would make us be.
lieve. Notwithstanding the unjust and ille-
gal conditions imposed upon farming, 1t is
even now capable, on the average, OF yielding
as high profit as any legitimate enterprise,
and tile income from farming Is surer than
the income from the great majority OF other
occupations. Even now there ls less per
cent. OF failures among farmers than among
manufacturers, merchants ol bankers. IL is
very rare that an industrious, economical far
mer fails to keep even with the world, ana
the great mass OF such farmers MAKE = re-
spectacle increase in their material possess
sIons almost every year; yet not lnfrequentiy
Industrious, economical men engaged In oth.
er occupations lose their all. The reports OF
the commercial agencies show that success IN
commercial life IS the exception. Scarcely
ten per cent. of those engaged III commercial
pursuits are steadily successful and die with u
competence. How much better showing than
this does farming make! Instead OF success
being the exception, it is The rule. l have
never known an Industrious farmer that
To bed at night not knowing where the next
days food aud fuel were TO come from; yet
such is the condition Of not q few mechanics.
Often there is no work for the good mechan-
les. .... 2
II is time that in some parts OF the country,
| farming Is not so profitable how as II was
| twenty years ago, but In other localities 1t is
| more profitable now than II was then. Prices
have declined very much, IL is true, but we
must remember that prices OF twenty or twen-
| ty.tiye years ago were based upon paper cur
| reucy not near up to rgold standard. Also,
when we got higher prices for what we mao 10
sell, we paid higher prices for what we had 70
buy Circumstances are really not SO oad as
they appear. The most progressive and ener-
getic farmers are making handsome profits
i now. The thing for us 10 do Is to stop grum-
bling and emulate those successful larmers-
We should live up to the doctrines OF the
Young Farmers Club.
One Thing more: When farming is such o
good and generous VOCATION, we ougnt 10
| = ia ri 1t jealonsly from faults within ahd loes
Without. We should look well to our own
| farming. that we may not dishonor agrlcul-
ture. and we should watch with a jealous eye
and a ready arm for the first attempts TO de-
spoil agriculture of It's rights and just re-
wa rds, At present there Is need OF both our
private and our public action.
Quincy, Ill. JOHN M. SrAhL'