The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-07
TIE FARMERS MASS MEETING.

j. +. Glenn, PRESIDENT OF the AnueTsoi
County Farmers Association, mass
meeting was held in the city last Tues
day in the interest Of the State admins
tration and tie Alliance.
The County Alliance met at 10 O'Clock,
and, after session of an hour or more,
finished its business and adjourned.
Atabout 1l.3O o'clock the crowd began
collecting on the eastern side of the Court
House Square. Fearing that the Court
House would not comfortably hold the
| crowd, it had been deemed best to have
| an open air meeting. A large wagon
| was brought UP to the Court House, and
in this the speakers of the day, Hon. e.
B. Gary, Hon. w. G. Benet and Col. w.
J. Talbert, together with President
Glenn and Mr.. j. Belton Watson, occu-
pied seats. The day was lovely one,
| and everybody seemed to be in good
| humor and anxious to hear what the
speakers had to say. The crowd was va
riously estimated at from five hundred
to seven hundred people, the greater
portion of whom wero from the country.
President Glenn called the meeting to
order and stated that there would be sew
eral speeches and that the speakers would
be limited to forty-fve minutes each. He
then appropriately introduced Hon. g. b.
Gary, Lieutenant Governor of South Car
olina.
Mr.. Gary expressed his pleasure in
meeting the farmers of Anderson County
on this occasion, and that he did not
know of more appropriate theme to
speak to them of than the ballot-box and
its purity. The farmers had met two
years ago and formed a broad, liberal
platform-one on which any good citizen
of whatever profession. or calling could
stand upon. They were right in doing
so, but now an attempt was being made
to kick them of of that platform. Every
profession and calling in the country had
its organization, and the farmers were the
last to band themselves together. Why
had they done so? Because necessity
forced it. The squealing of the opposi-
sition did not commence until the far
mers had organized themselves. He was
not in favor of arraying country against
town, but it was known fact that the
towns had ever since 1876 been controlling
the elections and naming the officers.
The people in the country had quietly
submitted, because it was difficult for
them to meet. But che times had chang
ed now, and those people who had con-
trolled the affairs of State and named the
officers for so long time hated to give up
their power. The farmers had now taken
possession of the political vineyard and
proposed to drink the wine themselves.
Heretofore the representatives. Of the
rings had nobody to oppose them, but
the people bad at last stepped forward
and determined to take the reins of gov
ernment in their own hands.
Tie speaker then referred to the OBJ
jections that had been used against the
leaders of the farmers movement, and
advised his hearers to pay nc attention
to them. He spoke of the newspapers
who were opposed to Mr.. Tillman and
his administration as little hounds, little
fec who would do the barking for their
bosses, the big dogs" These little fee
were the tools of their superiors. He
referred to the fight made by Andrew
Jackson in his day, and said the same
fight, was made by Patrick Henry irf
Virginia. He said the principles of these
two great leaders were being fought for
now. The opponents then had predicted
the downfall of the government, and
they were doing 80 now. But Tillman's
government was not going to collapse.
1t was here to stay. The opposition
squealed when Til)man put his hands on
the corporations. The main issue before
the people to-day is to stand up for what
you have accomplished. When we
started our campaign two years ago
what cry was raised. We were charged
with attempting to break up the Demo-
cratic party, and when ticket was NOM
mated by the Democratic party, those
same opponents tried to beat us with
Radicals. The heel of the negro nor in
dependent will never trample your necks.
The opponents of the Administration
want to name the officers and you do the
voting. That is tho peace and unity they
want.
He then stated that the men who wero
opposed to the farmers government
were inconsistent, and claimed that many
of the delegates who had signed the call
for the recent Convention had been fool
ed or deceived. The opponents had de-
manded direct primary at home, but
when they got to Columbia they refused
to make the demand. He said there were
a lot of shrewd politicians among the op-
ponents. Anderson had one, but he was
too smart to allow his friends to put him
on the Sheppard ticket. The smart poll
ticians had got out of the way and would
let the cyclone catch the others. He said
the opponents of Tillman had changed
base on every important issue made by
them. He referred to what the Admins
tration had accomplished, and said this
country could not afford to be led by Bank
Presidents and Railroad Directors. The
Administration had determined to equal
ize taxation, and what has been started
will be carried out. He dared his oppo-
nents to show where the State had start
ed single law suit.
The speaker next defended Gov. Till
mans acts in various matters, and said he
was not the sort of Governor that Bank
Presidents and Railroad Directors want
ed. They would be better off without
him. The people, he said, could not be
fooled, and would not let Bank Presi-
dents and Railroad Directors be forced
down their throats. He gave his deini-
ton of "ring" as all ofice.holding class.
He cited the re.apportionment Act as
passed by the peoples Legislature, and
said under it Anderson, Greenville, Spar
tanburg and other Counties would get one
more Representative and Charleston five
less. He said he was in favor of a direct
primary, but it could not be had until the
Constitution Of the party was changed by
the people. He urged his hearers to at
| tend tho Club meetings, and said the