The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-02-19
THE STATE GRNAGE.


WORDS OF CHEER AND COUNSEL
FROM MASTER THOMPSON.
Review cf the Past, With Some Expecta-
tions of the Order in the Future.--An Ex-
celIent Address.
Following is the full text OF the ad
dress of Col. w. K. Thompson, of
Kershaw, master of the State Grange
of South Carolina. at its recent meet
ing in Columbia:
Brothers and Sisters of the Grange.
It's very gratifying and pleasant
thought that the grange in South
Carolina has sufficiently revived to
make it possible for US again to as.
semble as State Grange. For some
years grange interest has languished
in most of the counties of the State,
and our number of sub-granges fell
below the required number to form
State Grange. In few counties Ker-
shaw, Sumter, Florence and Oconee,
the grange has never ceased to work,
and owing to the zeal and persever-
ance of the oranges in these counties,
other oranges have been organized
and old oranges reorganized; and to-
day many who once thought the
grange too conservative and slow,
now concede that it is the best organi-
zaZion for farmers and tie best adapt
ed to their wants. The grange has es-
capped the rocks upon which other or
ders have been wrecked, and now is |
an old organization, ready atall times
to enter any contest in which to
rights and interests Of the farmers are
concerned. Not that we desire to |
make war against any other Interests !
or professions, but that we seek to look |
afrer the interest that so closely con- |
Germ the farmers. By ar unalterable |
law, we know that all other profes-
sions and classes must subslst from |
the products Of the farm. Still our !!
every effort should be to so educate
the farmer that he will be enabled to |
retain his legitimate share of his pro-
ducts and see that other professions |
get no more than their legitimate
share. 1t matters not how progressive
the agricuIturist may become, II he
cannot reap the benefit Of what is
rightfully his own, his best efforts are
lost, and he becomes the dupe of
somebody else.
EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCE OF THE OR
DER.
The grange has exerted very great |
and general influence among It's mem
bers and among farmers generally, IN |
an educational way. The farmers
think of, discuss and decide questions |
for themselves, the effect OF which |
is felt in every neighborhood. Then
our educational feature of the grange
has been of vast benefit to our young
men, discussing some agricultural
topic, thus causing them to read and
becoming accustomed to express them
selves in debate. thus qualifying its
members to become useful members OF
society, and better fitting them for
positions in life, to which they may
be called.
THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE.
By nature and circumstances and
profession, farmers are inclined too |
much to become isolated. Where |
oranges exist this has been to a great
extent done away with, farmers and
their families. meet with their broth
er farmers in the grange and thus
learn to know each other better and
broaden their opinions of each other
and become less narrow-n.inded and
selfish. This commingly, and discuss
ing our farm affairs, begets an asplra-
ton and healthy rivalry among farm
ers and their families that nothing
else will. Stupid must the farmers be,
who cannot learn something from the
experience of his brother farmers. 1t
has been well said, THE desire to
tighten the burdens and to cheer our
sisters and brothers in the arduous
labors of field and home is one OF the
brightest features of our order"
FINANCIAL BENEFITS AND CORPORATION.
While in some sections, fear too
much stress has been laid on the T.
nancial feature of the grange, to the
exclusion of other benefits to be de-
rived, still it is the privilege and duty
of members of the order to avail them.
selves of every facility offered by the
grange of bettering their condition f
nancially. In my own county and
other counties in this State, the grange
trade has grown to such proportions
that it is earnestly sought. The coop
tho S0rs 0f the
grange has been the means Of saving
thousands of dollars to the farmers
and their families in the matter OF fer
tilizers and supplies. But cannot
too earnestly urge upon the members
the great importance of guarding very
carefully their good name III their
business transactions. Let strict in
tesrity mark each and all OF your
business dealings. I have often Won
dered that all progressive farmers do
not see and acknowledge the great
benefits to be derived from organized
efforts ia promoting and protecting
the great and many interests OF agrl-
culture.
CONDITION OF AGRICULTURE IN THE
SlAiE.
While it has seemed that the condl-
ton of the farmers of late years has
not been what we would have liked II
to be. Still take pleasure IN stating
that l believe the condition OF the
farmers today is better than It has
been for several years. The financial
stringency and low price of cotton OF
the past few years has ia my judg'
rnent been blessing IN disguise to the
farmers. It has taught us ecouomy,
it has taught US that the all cotton
crop would not do, ii ttaughtu Us to pro
duce more and buy less, it has taught
Us to diversity our crops, 1t has taught
o,J ,>roG,,po 1pnra food