The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
FARMERS MEETING.
THE POLITICAL POT BEGINS TO BOIL.

THE POLITICAL POT BEGINS TO BOIL.
Speeches by Lieut.. Governor Gary,
Senator HemphiIl, w. c. Benef,
Esq, Hon. ]. r. RObertsOn...First
Guns of the Campaign.
The Farmers Movement met in the Court
House on last Saturday to re.orPanlze, and
elect officers for the ensuing year. On mo.
tion OF /. H. McAlla, Esq.,, Hon. John H. Nor.
r;,h was called to the chair, who stated the
object OF the meeting and announced that
idents, Secretary and Treasurer. were now In
order.
Hon. John H. Morrah was put In
nomination for President and ca lied upon the
Hon. ]. N King to take the chair and put the
question to the house which resulted IN q
Unanimous vote for Mr.. Morrah. MIR. Nor.
rah thanked the farmers for the honor they
piished by their banding together heretofore,
said they had right to discuss politics, and
they intended to do 50 and demand oil their
rights. They were not parliamentarians able
ton. but, their deliberations would be just
fair and honest.
Mr.. A. F. Calvert was placed in
nomination for first Vice President by MIR.
Doc Bowie, while Mr.. 1. H. McAlla who was
seated by M. b. Clinkscales, and whom he
greeted as one Of the old guard, nominated
MIR. Cinkscales for second Vice President;
Col. J. r. Robertson was made Treasurer and
Mr.. w. r. Bullock was asked TO act as Secre-
tary.
This completed the organization when
the Chairman asked If there was any further
business, the reply was that there was none
when Mr.. McAlla, after u suggestion from
Senator Hemphlll. moved that the house
hear from Lieut.. Governor Gary. DR.. Speer
and Mr.. j. $. Graves both rose at this point
and asked before that motion was put that
1t be announced that any white person pres
ent who was in sympathy with the move.
ment was cordially invited to come forward
and unite with them. IT was said that the
constitution already provided for This, put q
CODY of the instrument could not be found, es
the former Secretary Mr.. A. w. Jones had
moved away and nobody knew where the
books and papers were. Mr.. McAlla SAID ne
was pretty sure that the constitution did pro
vide for the admission of preachers. doctors
lawyers, merchants and every other occupa'
tions, If in sympathy with the movement
Atapy rate, he was willing to admi them and
II any Of them became unruly he thought
they were strong enough to handle them.
Speech Of 1t. Governor Gary.
Mr.. Chairman:
II was wholly unexpected on my part that
would be called on to-day for speech but ne
low.citiZens call on Inc l Will say lew
words.
When recall the fact that this is a Farm
ers' Movement meeting, and that the organ
the question naturally arises, why are you
organized? The answer is.-from necessity
In this age individuality Is swallowed up IN
trusts, syndcates and combinations, and you
could an Individual farmer have done with
the jute trust? Yet the Alliance was able to
dictate terms.
These trusts, syndicates and combinations
incubus on our rights They are not confined
10 the financial world, but heretofore took
charge Of the politics OF the country, and
person who was not In the combine was gen
orally afraid to run for office unless some po-
litical chaperon had taken him under bis
Two years ago we determined to organize
against the political syndicate In our Stale
AS one of your public servants 1 will give q
short account of our stewardship.
After heated campaign we succeeded IN
electing 10 the highest office In South Carroll
ma Governor B. r. Tillman, and from the time
he entered upon the discharge OF the duties
of his office certain so-called Democrats have
wHged an called-for and savage warfare
against him. They tell you that they object
efficient Governor and that he is not suited
for this high and exalted office. These dc
not seem to be the reasons.
They try to deceive you by pretensions that
they object to Tillman, when their real ohjee.
tion is that they who have held power for, 50
many years in our State. no longer enjoy that
pleasure.
THE FIGHT IS AGAINST TILLMAN.
Fellow Citizens The fight is not against
Governor Tilnan as All individual, but be.
cause be is the representative OF the Reform
movement. I want each and every one Of
you to realizo this fact fully that the fight is
against the Reform movement: and every
one Of It's sympathizers should feel that the
fight is against him. They would make the
same fight against any other person who was
not In their political syndicate.
History repeats itself and We find the same
fight was made against Patrick Henry and
Andrew Jackson when they espoused the
cause OF the people. They were called dem.
agogues. and other approbrious names In or.
der to make them odious In the eyes OF the
people, but to no avail. They attacked their
private characters, and nothing was sacred
from their calnmDious attacks.
A young and handsome man who was a
crack shot with the pistol was made cats
paw to bring on a fight with Jackson by In.
sulling his wife, and lost his life. They said
SO many harsh things against Jackson that a
foolish man inflamed by the words OF The pol
.ticians tried to hssassinate him. The peo-
pie did not lose confidence I'm Patrick Henry
and Andrew Jackson, and wnen on one occas.
ion jackson put judge under arrest and
WAS fined one thousand dollars, the people
through their representatives refunded him
the amount paid with Interest.
POLITICAL RISGsTERs
We find the political rngsters always hand
and glove with the money powers and corpor.
ations. In Virginia Patrick Henry exposed
the corruption praetlce,d 6y certain OF the
funds contrary to law and Its President was
ruined by the exposure. Andrew Jackson az
ter great effort succeeded III aboliLhing the
United States Banks and its branches al.
though the politicians and persons interested
In them said the country would be ruined II
they were abolished. One OF the objections
against them was the favorltism displayed In
making loans. In our time we see the rich
corporations on the side of the political syn
dlcaie, and trying to make the government
by the peoples representatives Il failure. We
see the conspiracy on the part OF certain rail.
roads 10 obstruct the collection OF taxes, and
as they hold their charters by consent of the
people, 1t seems that such legislation should
be enacted as will prevent a repetition OF such
q conspiracy.
lent bonds on the State by parties knowing
them u be fraudulent null and void. who are
opposed to the present administration. / am
proud of Governor Tillman's utterance when
the threat was made to hold him indiyid-
ually responsible for refusing 10 accept them
and give possession OF the property.
TILLMAN's ADMINISTRATION.
It has been asked what has the present nd
minlstration accomplished. II has lowered
the taxes, gained the Coosaw case by which
the rights or the State were protected. main
tained the dignity Of the State, had made
progress toward opening Clemson College, un.
I'll the work WAS checked by preventing the
State from receiving the proceeds OF the sale
Of Agricu ltural Hall, when the attempt was
made to pay the bid In fraudulent bonds by
our political opponents.
We have in progress the establishment OF
an Industrial College for our women.
We have, as far as possible under existing
laws, eQualiZed taxation, which can not be
thoroughly accomplished until the laws are