The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-06-10
Of GENERAL Interest.
What President Keitt Says of the
Alliance and Its Conditions.
THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING.
You're Not a Member Unless Your
retary's Book.

Since the last meeting of the State
Alliance last summer very little has
been heard of the organization. The
time is rapidly approachingfor the an
nual meeting this year. 1t will be held
in Columbia in July and no doubt there
will be full attendance of the mem
bers representing all the counties OF
the State. At the last meeting the AL
lance perfected its State exchange and
it is said that the members have been
greatly benefited through the opera
tions of the exchange. They also took
action in regard to the fight against the
fiat cotton tie trust, with the result that
this year all the fat ties desired can be
had cheaper than ever before.
In card to The Cotton Plant, the
organ of the Alliance, which is now
edited by Mr.. W. T. Crews, President
Keitt has this to say about the Alliance,
it's conditions and so on: after referring
to and endorsing recent editorial In
The Cotton Plant:
"Unfortunately too mauy do not
discriminate between non-politlcal and
non-partisan. No one is authorized to
say that the Alliance is non political,
for its first declaration of its organic
law is the purpose to teach the science
of economical government. How far
reaching the educational work has been
is apparent to the close observer. The
political conflict projected by the Alli-
ance has for the most part been trans
ferred to political parties. The Alll-
ance organization has suffered much
from division of political sentiment
respecting parties. This should not
have been. A proper appreciation and
observance of its non-partlsan char
acter should have prevented it. Those
who have withdrawn from the organ
iZation for this reason are culpable-
not the Alliance.
"While it is gratifying for me to note
that some of the counties have increased
their membership this year, too many
are apparently Indifferent. The names
of many heretofore prominent IN the
organization are not enrolled on the
book of the State secretary.
"As an organization to protect and
advance the agricultural interests, the
Alliance is as necessary now as 1t has
ever been, and to promote these inter-
ests, should appeal as strongly as ever
to the patriotic sentiments of every
farmer. 1t is a great mistake to sup
pose that the operations OF the Alliance
are confined to political discussions or
political actions. Its scope is almost
unlimited. The Alliance OF Newberry
county combined this year and pur-
chased fertilizer to a larger extent than
ever before. Combinations in other
business matters have proven very bene-
fetal in this county. Under the auspl-
ces of the Alliance we will have farm
ers' institute in Augurt. There is no
reason why the Alliance cannot be as
effective in other counties of the State.
There are many good . .-iaucemen IN
the State whose names do not appear
upon the roll. I wish to appeal to them
to enroll and renew their interest in the
organization. Make the Alliance what
it should be. If its psst has been merl-
torious why should We not go forward?
We must be progressive or retrogress-
i've. Which shall it be? l will ask the
last county officers in the counties not
enrolled to take the initiative In reor-
ganization. Where it is not done, |
will ask the officers of subs and indi-
viduals who wish to preserve their
membership, to communicate with the
State secretary. No one is member
of the Alliance unless his name Is en-
rolled on the book of the State secre'
tary?"