The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-29
THE STATE ALLIANCE.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ORDER IN
THEcITY OF COLUMBIA

President Keitt Maksxa Timely and Patri-
otic Address, In Which, He Endorses the
Democratic Caudidate-wnI Fight the
Cotton Tie Trust.
COLUMBIA, s. G, July 90 The
Farmers State Alliance met in the
Senate Chamber last night at half.
past o'clock. and was called to order
by President Jos l.. ,keitt. AS soon
as the body had gotten into working
shape a committee Oh credentials was
appointed, consisting of Messrs. j. 3.
Sanders of Oconee, w. Fl. Bryant OF
Pickens and w. Edwards of York.
This committee soon reported aud
the roll was made up al follows, the
attendance being very good:
Abbeville--W. J. Gaines, Bradley.
Aiken-B. H. Zimmerman, Tim.
mermsp-~
.4uderson j. B. Douthit, Auder
son.
Barnwell-w. 8. Bamberg, BAN
berg.
Chester-T. w. Shannon, Chester.
Colleton-C. J. Allen. Giohans.
Edge6eld g. M. Smith, Trenton.
Florence-M L. Mum, Hyman.
Greenville Vim. Verdin, Walker.
Vile.
Horry-C. B. Todd, Finklea.
Lancaster-C. A. Plyer, O. K.
Laurens-M. A. Summer.lt, Lau-
fsGss
LeSingson<D. F. E6rd.
Maricn-W. Innis. CSlai;aa
Newberry-John F. Banks; Franks:
Oconee-J. D. Sanders, Oak way.
Orangeburg-J. VIM. Stokes, Or
Pickens-W, H. Bryant, EasIey.
Richland-E. P. Whitman, Pleas
ant.
spartanburg-B F. Todd, Boiling
Springs. )
Union-J. F. Bailey, Sedalia.
York-W. H, Edwards, Rock Hill.
The counties OF BEAUFORT, Berkeley,
Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon,
fairfield. Georgetown,
Hampton, Kershaw, Marlboro, Sum
ter and williamsburg had no repre-.
present last night.
Other prominent Alliancemen pres
ent were Messrs j. A. Sligh, D. P.
Duncan, Norman Elder, l.. j. Will
Jams 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 to ex-
change and editor Jesse CAN'T Of the
Cotton Plant, the organ of the Alli-
ance.
PRESIDENT KEITrS ADDRESS.
After the organization had been
President Keitt proceeded
to deliver his annual address as fol.
lows:
Brethren of the Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial union of South Carolina: We again
meet under the mandate of our organic law
to counsel for the advancement of our pur-
poses. In reviewing the works of the past
year, report of our financial condition will
be made by the executive committee. The
directors of the State exchange and the Cot
ton Plant committee representing two arms
of our organization will report in full re-
spectively. will therefore leave the pres
entation of the matters in their charge en-
tirely to them. Since our last meeting all
the time and labor could bestow has been
devoted to the work of the reorganization.
This year have attended the county alli-
snces of Abbeville, Anderson, Oconee, Pick
ems, Greenville Spartanburg, Union, York,
Chester, Lancaster, Kershaw, Colleton and
besides doing local work IN Fair
field and Lexington. was accompanied at
most of the county meeting by our State
lecturer. 1t gives me pleasure to acknowl-
edge the hearty cooperation have received
from Brothers Wilborn and Reid, our eff
cient State officers. How far we have been
successful in our work may be shown by o
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 a
firm foundation and is moving upward. The
alliance sentiment everywhere appears as
ever. All agree that the alliance is good;
necessary organization for the protection
and advancement of the farming interests,
and ought to be kept up. But too many,
through the inertia Of what presume they
consider "innocuous desuetude" permit it
to be kept up by others. With the general
sentiment so favorable it is important that
this alliance should invetigate closely the
conditions and, if possible, remove the caus-
es that have produced this feeling ofapathy.
My observation convinces me that it pro-
ceeds from the alliance in both its local and
general application. Absence Of direct and
immediate local benefits is prevalent cause
of apathy. In contrast, it is notable that
those alliances that continue strong in senti-
ment and membership have achieved local
benefits by the application Of business meth
DDS to the letter and spirit of our constitu-
ton. Failure and disintegration can be
traced extensively to financial losses from
disregard of business principles. There are
on our rolls whose loyalty to the
high purposes of the alliance has risen above
personal consideration. Their example
challenges our admiration, and their expe-
rience cannot fail in the future to be source
of profit. Any sub-alliance IN the State can
by intelligent cooperation be productive Of
fnacial local benefits sufficient to hold the
together. The moral and in
development that results from or
ganization and regular meetings cannot be
overestimated. The isolated lives we lead.
the meagrs opportunities for reading and
study, and the natural feeling of indepen-
dence inculcated by farm life initiate against
social and intellectual progress. The inertia
of stagnation can best be overcome by or
ganization, and our lecturers can render no
more effective service than to impress upon
our farmer the individual responsibility that
rests upon them to organize. Every farmer
who is good citizen should be member Of
the Farmars's Alliance.
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