The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-11

Some two years ago certain politicians inau-
gurated the boycott, when whole towns, GER
tain business firms, and decent newspapers
with honest convictions were to be starved
out of existence If they refused to surrender
their principles at the dictates OF ignorant
presumption.
The leaders of that faction have continued
the boycot, and IL has so far extended that the
Governor himself proclalms himself king OF
the boycotters. See article from Florence
Messenger.
The only retaliation so far charged for this
most unusual proceeding has been against
the railroads in dismisslng avowed enemies
from their service.
Up to this time no retaliation has even
been charged against other sufferers from this
cause.
Two years ago the Farmers Bank was estab-
lished at Abbevllle.
At the end OF the first year, Tor last
january the Alliance stockholders were
greatly in the minority yet the "outsiders''
allowed the old Alliance organization to
stand. Not single change was proposed by
any outsider, or other person. Although the
directors were scattered all over the county, q
majority of whom, by the circumstances and
their surroundings, could be of little benefit
to the bank, and although the direction was
composed partly OF men not legally eligible,
yet for the sake Of peace and unity the out
slders allowed the Alliance directors TO stand.
Although the business men Of Abbeville
need thousands of dollars, yet the Alliance
principle still rules the bank. Farmers have
been first served with money, and the ousi-
ness firms come In, so to speak, only for what
ever might be left.
1t has been suggested that the Tillmanites
intend In the next primary to draw the line
tightly against every man who declares his
unwillingness to support the Governor In all
his exactions. If this be true, then what
chance will a man have If he refuses to be led
around by the nose?
II the anti-Tillmanites are to be boycotted
politically and commercially, will they long
er surrender their right to govern their own
bank in which they hold the majority OF the
stock
Why should men continue to hold the place
OF director, simply because some relative Of
theirs owns stock?
We venture this prediction. If the anti
Tillmanites are to be uniformly boycotted
both In politics and in business, there will re-
main no longerany necessity for allowing AL
liancemen to direct the business of the Far
mer's Bank. large majority Of whose stock
is owned by anti-Tiilmanites, and If the war
is to be kept up the antis will assert their
rights next January by reorganization OF
the bank, nearly all of whose capital has been
let out to accommodate the very people who
are making and keeping up this contention
and strife-and while fostering the ill-feeling
on the part Of the people Of the country to-
ward the people of the town.
Common business principles demand that
the stock holders should be In easy call Of the
president and for this most excellent reason,
the directors should be elected from the town
stockholders. There never was any sense or
legality In electlng men to the dictatorship
who owned not q dollars worth of stock in
their own right, and there never was any rea-
son, except for the sake of policy, in electing
men TO the direction who lived many miles
in the country.
Hampered and hedged In by politicians, the
wonder to us is, that President Parker has
been able to establish the bank at all. But
despite 1t all he has done remarkably well.
At the next annual meeting he will probably
have dictatorship that will be In sympathy
with him, when politics will be forever and
absolutely eliminated from all semblance OF
control.