The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-29
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John G. Edgar, Duval, to whom all
communications for this column should be ad-
dressed.l


When a social reform is seriously
contemplated and its consummatloI
depepends upon p majority of the pop
ular vote, its advocates always rely
upon the support and influence of the
farmer to carry their point. We had
a practical illustration of this belief in
the morality and sobriety of the agri-
culturalists lately in Williamson
county. II has been the aim of the
best citizens OF Georgetown to make
their city model one and the center
of gravity for religious and educa-
tional movement in the state. They
believed that free trade in liquor had
a tendency TO retard the development
of their cherished schemes and con-
cluded to stamp out" or rather vote
down the "accursed liquor traffic.
But votes were required to produce
the desired change and the city could
not supply them, so the proposed dry
district was extended to include the
adjoining justices precincts. What
the "pros" of the city could not &C
complish by their own strength went
through with a whoop when
they Joined forces with the ''old hay
seeds from the forks OF the creeks. !"
Georgetown is now a dry city and
likely to be used as a model for other
towns in the county.
Nv
Farmers as a class are sober and law
respecting and safe to rely on when
public rights are at stake. Now and
again they lend too willing ear to
the voice of the demagogue and allow
| themselves to be temporarily misled by
designing vagabonds, but they never
fail to discover that they have been
deceived and quickly return to first
PRINCIPLES Such was their expert
ence and action in the case of the
Farmers Alliance. This organization
was based ON sound principles and
founded by honest men solely for the
benefit of the agricultural class. But
the politician and the place hunter got
it into their control and worked
it for all it was worth. The
trusting, honest farmer realizing the
necessity for such an organization,
joined the ranks, paid his dollars,
listened to stump orators and patient
ly awaited the good time coming. But
the good time seems as far off as ever,
the Alliance is busted, and its name
is heard no more in the land. But
though the Alliance has dissolved and
left behind only an army OF deceived
and disgusted members, it Will not be
long till they hear the voice of the
charmer, again seeking to allure them
by some plausible device for their bet
terment.
Victims of the Alliance fraud will be
suspicious and will hold aloof from the
new institution, whatever it may be;
but unless the rising generation of far
mers acquire the habit of reading the
literature bearing directly on their
occupation, and studying political and
social economy, they will assuredly
fall into the pitfalls and mantraps
that captured their fathers.
w
The farmers of Kansas have world
wide reputation for boldness of
thought and action, and are the pro-
moters of many So called reforms that
could not have had birth in any other
state But the farmers of South Car
DINA, led by Governor Tillman, have
completed a revolution holder than
ever entered the brain of a Kansan.
A majority of South Carolinians
wanted prohibition, but as that was
considered impracticable at present
they concluded to try an experiment.
That was to remove the sale of liquor
from the hands of the saloon men and
put it under the control of the state.
The object was two fold-to lessen the
abuse of intoxicants and swell the rev.
enue. With this end in view the law
was passed which comes into opera
ton on July l., providing that the
manufacture, trade or exchange of all
intoxicating liquors shall be u der the
direct control of the state. The gov
ernor is empowered to appoint COM
mission to superintend the business.
The commissioners are the only
parties allowed to sell liquor
and they must make statements under
oath as to quantity of liquor sold,
price and to whom sold. All liquors
have to undergo analysis, and home
made goods are to be given the prefer
ence over that from other states.
There are to be no saloons, the liquor
being sold not less than half a pint, or
more than five gallons. Before the
dispenser will sell liquor he must re-
ceive written application, giving the
name of the applicant, his residence,
and his object in buying the liquor. 1t
is in the discretion-of the dispenser to
refuse the applicatiOn,
Druggists are not alloE we'd to make
patent medicines" extracts" and
other questionable connections, con-
tanning a large proportion of liquor.
Social clubs are not allowed to supply
their members with drinks. No per,
son can buy oftener than once a day.
The authorities have the power to ap-
point spies and detectives to discover
any breach of the law. The profits
are to be divided equally between
the state and the county, This
is certainly novel experiment.,
and its operation will be
watched intently by all social reform
ers. Experience only can determine
its ultimate effect. 1t has features
that point to success. While it does
not prevent those desiring LIQUOR from