The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-02
r1LLmsS TALKS TO THE FARMERS.
The Ovsrproduction of Cotton Discussed
and its Evils Pointed Cut-Remedies
Suggested-Resolution Adopted
by the Meeting.

Governor Tillman has come and
gone. He has advised the farmers what
to do, and in the main his advice was
good. The Herald and News has given
the same advice time and again, but
possibly coming from Governor Till
man, it will do more good. 1t still re-
maius fact, however, that until the
farmers first make their farms self-sus-
tanning by raising their own supplies at
home they can never make money rais-
ing cotton.
Governor Tiliman came to Newberry
on Friday and was the guest of DR.. S.
Pope during his stay here.
There was no display or demoGstra-
ton on the part of ou: people over his
arrival nor very much enthusiasm at
the meeting on Saturday. 1t is fact,
however, that he will have a majority
of those who were present when elec-
ton day comes around.
This was not a political meeting.
The best of attention was given the
Governor during the delivery Of his
speech.
There were about six hundred per-
sons present. The Governor was not
looking we'll and did not speak with
his accustomed vim and vivacity.
The speaking was held in the opera
house. On the stage sat President
Sigh of the County Alliance, District
Lecturer J. L. Keitt, County Lecturer
S. Pope, Messrs. J. S. Hair and W. E.
Lase-the committee to invite speak
ers-Hon. r. T. G. Hunter, Rev. VIC.
Schaefer and about a half dozen
newspaper men.
The meeting was opened with prayer
by Rev. W. C. Schaetler.
President Sigh, of the County Al
lance, presided over the meeting and
introduced the speaker. He explained
the object of the meeting and spoke OF
the various conventions that had been
held by the farmers of the cotton-grow-
ing States to discuss the same question.
It was pleasure to him to preside over
this large meeting and to intro
duce the distinguished speaker, a
man very well known to you all
and throughout other States; the best
advertised man in the State; farmer
to speak to farmers. The very fact
that he is here shows that he takes an
interest in you and has an appreciation
of the people over whom he has the
honor to exercise the functions of Chief
Magistrate. [Applause and hurrah for
Tillman.
THE GOVERNOR SPEECH.
Governor Tillman said that be was
lust out of sick bed; that yesterday
he had ventured out for the first time
in ten days, and but Tor tie fact that
be did not want the people to come
here and be disappointed be would not
be present. II am always glad to re-
spond to the call Of the citizens of any
county, and confer with them on any
subject affecting the public welfare. |
am here to discuss the agricultural
outlook and kindred subjects. It is a
broad question. Agriculture is the
basis of all wealth, the foundation on
which society rests. l am also told
that I am not expected to touch on
politics. The subject is g. very Cry one,
althC ugh of far more importance than
any other. 1t affects every household.
We have a superabundance of advice
and good counsel. Shakespeare says
7 can easier tell twenty men what
were good to be done than to be one to
follow my own teachings We are
confronted by a condition that is
gloomy indeed; never, at least since
1865, has it been more so. have heard
it said in the forties similar condition
existed, so far as the price of cotton is
concerned. But then every we'll regu-
lated farm was self-sustaining. They
had nothing to buy except some lux
uries, shoes for the family, etc. We
have reversed the conditions then exist
ing, and in large measure look to one
crop to buy almost everything we are
compelled to have. The present con-
dition of over-production of cotton was
foreseep by me several years ago., and
predicted in a public speech at Ben
nettsville seven years ago, when l un-
dertook to bring about a change so far
as discussion could do it.
DRIVEN TO THE CULTURE OF COTTON.
1--WE have almost driven our people
to the culture of cotton alone. How?
One of the greatest engines to bring
about this condition was the enactment
of the lien law, which placed credit on
the future crop, even before it was
planted. It placed the honest and the
dishonest, the intelligent and the igno-
rent man on the same basis. 1t placed
the raising of the crop in the hands Of
those who make profit out Of it by
speculating in the product. Our rents
look for so much cotton, and the liens
look for 80 much, and as consequence
our people were forced to raise it.
OUR LEGISLATION RESPONSIBLE.
Our legislation is largely response
BILE for our condition. The effort to
make that with which to buy every
thing else, especially where the negro
was dominant. brought about de-
mand for stock law. We concluded
that we couldn't make any money out
of stock, and why keep up the fences?
am strong advocate OF the law and
believe it to be blessing if properly
used, but after the law was enacted the
effort to raise stock ceased. Thereafter
we turned our attention more to cotton
and the blessing was turned into a
curse. We need a summer pasture.
We can produce bacon and beef as
cheap here as in the West. l have
raised hogs myself and kept strict ac-
count, and they did not cost me as
much as the Western bacon, but there
are other ills. We spend for guano
alone, in this State, 100000 annual
". The making Of home manure has
become forgotten art. We kill grass
nine months in the year and then turn
around and buy Northern hay.
CLEMSON COLLEGE.
"Foreseeing this condition, we have
endeavored to put on foot Clemson Col
lege, where our young men can be
taught the importance of diversified
industry; but what are We to do now
while we are waiting for Clemson to
start? It is very simple case. The
only road we can now follow with safe