The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-07-28
THE STATE ALLIANCE
MEETS IN ANNUAL CONVENTION AT
sPARTANBuRe, 3. c.

| meeiS IN ANNUAL CONVENTION AT
SPARTANBuRe, 5. c.
tration-A slight Decrease In Member
chip Social, FinsncIaI and Political As
poets aud Record OF the Order.
SPARTANBURG, S. o., July 22.-The
city is crowded with delegates to the
State Alliance, and their friends. Good
humor prevails and sub treasury senti-
ment is on top ar ong Alliancemen.
Nothing OF special Importance has yet
been done by the Alliances. Indica-
tiohs are that the strictest secrecy is to
be observed on such matters as the Al
lance does not want made public. SO
far, however, the greatest courtesy has
been shown the representatives of the
press. q
The first session of tile Alliance was
held this morning in the opera house at
10 o'clock. The annual address tof
President Stokes was read. The fol-
lowing is a synopsis covering every
point:
PRESIDENT STOKEs's ANNUAL ADDRESS,
DR.. Stokes began by referring to the
/ hOpNy WIuCll III d
weighted him down during his term Of
Office, and to the devotion which he had
given to the duties Of the position. AS
a lover of agriculture he had discharged
them with "pride and satisfaction"
| AS to the condition of the order in
South Carolina, he said that although
there had been "some loss of member
ship, due to peculiar conditions" it had
been more than compensated by the
gain homogenelty and compactness
of organization" Y
Reference is made IN the address to
the spread Of the order in other States,
braces 100000 voters. one-third of the
total population of the Union.
| Financially, the Alliance has a hand
some surplus to its credit, and it would
be wise to invest this and further bal
ances in some permanent way. The
county and sub-Alliances are likewise
in good financial condition. The State
Exchange has wrought the emancipa-
tion of the poor farmer from unjust op-
preston. Important CONCESSIONS have
been wrested from the commercial
world. GAS mere menace, the busi-
ness methods of the Alliance have
made themselves felt even in remote
trade centres. The money power has
| felt it, and bids for Alliance patronage
are the result. 1t is best to leave those,
! skilled in mercantile pursuits the mans
agement of their own capital. lIiet
them furnish the capital and experience
and the Alliance the patronage" -
The suggestion Is made that com.
| mittee be appointed to confer with the
Alliance Exchange in "an effort to
| sOlidify the entire business Of the order
and send 1t through the Exchange on
| n n q hlo hooic N hnorH Nf
elected by the State Alliance or by a
joint board. to conduct 1t.
reference is made to the moral, edu.l
catio2al and social work of the order
| and praise is given to each.
AS to politics, it Is claimed that the
| order has maintained its integrity and
adhered to the prescribed line OF dis
cussion in a non-partisan sense" and
that increased attention to political
| questions has not diminished the sue
cess of the members in raising crops.
These paragraphs are Of interest:
"Some few sub Alliances relatively,
last year at the beginning Of the State
campaign. The lapse must be attribu-
ted. however, to the emergency thrust
upon them by hostile press, intensely
unfair in its hostility, rather than to
the genius Of the organization. The
instances of such lndiscretion were
| isolated. AS soon, too, as attention
was called to its compromising ten
dency through the Cotton Plant, the
abuse materially lessened; and as soon
as political clubs were formed, furnish
ing legitimate and adequate medium
of expression to their pent up feeling,
the abuse ceased entirely.
| "The..outspoken utterances of the
| lnu1nra xu or not oh n oott ton, nd ba
order was reminded that it's function
was purely In the way Of presentation
of truth in non partisan way and
stimulation of thought. Further than
this the Alliance in its organized
capacity does not and dare not go. 1t
must not and dare not interfere with
the political or religious afliliation of
its members" -
Concerning the Cotton Plant, it is
stated that "the partisan press, with
"a few exceptions, is against onr de-
mands," and that this has rendered the
duties of the State organ exceedingly
onerous. "While the organ has received
generous sympathy and support, it
must be confessed that our people do
not read it generally. 1t is of the ut
most Importance that some means be
devised by this body to get this paper
and other approved literature into the
hands of every member of the order"
1t is recommended that the State Al.
lance consider the propriety OF estab-
fishing a propaganda bureau that shall
furnish Alliance literature at cost. He
Is authorized to say that while the
owners of the Cotton Plant are not
eager to part with 1T as an investment
they are willing to sell a controlling IN
terest in it to the State Alliance upon
an equitable basis"
The over production of cotton is NJ
ferred to as a most serious question,
and it is recommended that "a commit
tee be appointed to confer with other
State Alliances with view to securing
the call of a convention Of cotton-grO&-
ers-non-A Alliance as well as Alliance,
colored as well as white--to meet las
soon as possible tor conference and
action" The "iniquities environing
the marketing of cotton" are denounced
as Outrageous in many instances" and
intolerable. "rhe Alliance should ap-
point Trustworthy men at each cotton
market to sample, grade and weigh
cotton, and tell the farmer, upon the
basis of telegraphic quotations., what
price it should bring iu the market that
day" IL fec of ten cents per bale Is
suggested to cover tho expense. Re
Communications are therefore made
that the local Alliance appoint its
weigher and grader at each cotton
market. that arrangements be made
| In vpri, fn tala IA Ia, cot 10,