The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-07-31
ANNUAL MEETING
STATE ALLIANCE.
FARMERS ALLIANCEMEN AT.
TENDED IN LARGE NUMBERS.
President Keitt's Fine Address-Steps
Taken to Fight tho Tic Trust.

The State Farmers Alliance assem,
bled in the State Senate Chamber nt
Columbia Thursday, being cs''ed TO
order by President Jos. l.. kcitt. As
soon as the body had gotten into work
ing shape, committee on credentials
was appointed, consisting of Messrs. j.
B. Sanders, of Oconec, w. II. Bryant,
of Pickens, w. II. Edward, of York.
This committee soon reported and the
roll was made up rs follows, the attend
ance being very good:
Abbevillc-W. i. Gaines, Bradley.
Aiken-B. ii. Zimmerman, Thinner
man.
Anderson. b. Douthit, Ander-
son.
Barnwcll-W. S. Bamberg, Bam-
b .rg.
Chester-T. w. Shannon, Chester.
Colieton-C. j. Allen, Giohans.
Edgetield-S. NJ. Smith, Trenton.
Florence-M. l.. MUM, Hyman.
GreenvIllc-W Nerdin, Walkers
vile.
Horry-C. b. Todd, Finklea.
Lancaster-C. A. Plyler, o. X.
Laurens-N. A. Summerell. Laurens.
Lexington--D. +. Efrd, Lexington.
AIarion-W. McInnis, Carolina.
Newberry-Jno.F L. Banks, FrauAr
Oconee- j. B. Sanders, Oakway.
Orangeburg-J. VIM. Stokes, Orange
burg.
pickens-W. II. Bryant, Easlcy.
Whitman planSonf
Spartanburg-B. +. Dodd, Boiling
Springs.
Union-J. +. Bailey, Scdalia.
Iork-W. Ii. Edwards, Rock Eli.
The counties of Beaufort, Berkeley.
Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon,
Darlington, Fairfield, Georgetown,
Hampton. kcrshaw, Marlboro, Sumter
and Williamsburg had no representa-
tivcs present.
Other prominent Alliancemen pre-
sent were Mcssrs. j. \. Sigh, j. Il.
CAN'T, L. L. Mitchell, J. w. Reid, ID.
p. Duncan, Norman Elder, l.. j.
Williams, and others.
All the officers and members of the
executive committee were present. SO
were the members of the board of
directors Of the State Alliance Ex-
change.
After the organization had been COM
pletcl, President keitt proceeded to
deliver his annual address, as follows:
E.'Nr'yl ~ III" Furmcr&' .lNinH"" 0nt
Iidu~tl'iui fn|DHrf .<DUfh tUrpijHu:
We ugsin meet under the mandate Of
vancement Hot" Out NpTnpUsel fHrn tles lGI=
ing the works of the past year, report
OF our financial condition will be made
by the executive committee. The di-
rectors of the State Exchange and tho
Cotton Plant Committee representing
the two arms of our organization, will
report in full respectively. l will
therefore leave the presentation of the
matters in their charge entirely to
them. Since our last meeting all the
time and labor l could bestow has beer
devoted to the work OF reorganization.
This year ! have attended the County
Alliances of Abbcville, Anderson, Oco-
nee, Pickcns, Greenvile, Spartanburg,
Union, York, Chester, I.au.
caster, kcrshaw, Colleton and
Edgeiicld, besides doing To-
cal work in Fairfield and Lex
inSton. | was accompanied at most of
the county meetings by our State Lee
turer. 1t gives me plresure to ac-
knowledge the hearty corporation /
have received from Brothers Wilborn
and Reid, our efficient State officers.
How far we have been successful in
our work may be shown by compasa-
tive statement of the membership. The
numerical strength of the Alliance is
by no means as great as it should be,
but feel assured that the organization
is now upon Il firm foundation and
moving upward. The Alliance scnti-
ment everywhere appears as strong as
ever. All agree that the Alliance is IL
good and necessary organization for
the protection and advancement of the
farming interests, and ought to be
kept up. Bat too many, through the
inertia of what | presume they con-
slider ''innocuous desuetudc' permit it
to be kept up by others. With
the general sentiment SO fa-
vorable it is important TINT
this Alliance sh ould investigate closely
the conditions and, ii possible. re-
move the causes that have produced
this feeling Of apathy. Ny obscrva-
ton convinc"s me tuat ii proceeds
from failure to appreciate the pur-
poses of the Alliance in both It's local
and general application. Absence of
direct end imm. ,,iatc local benefits is
n prevalent cause OF apathy. In con-
trnst, IT is notable that those Alliances
that continue strong in sentiment and
membership have achieved local hcnc-
fits by the application of business
mrthOES To the letter md snirit Of nnr