Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-08-24
PROGRESSIVE WHEAT MEN
MEET IN GREENWOOD AND DISCUSS THE
GREAT FOOD CROP. .t
A GEORGIA REPRESENTATIVE WAS PRESENT
And Made an Address---Hon. Z. E. Werner
Ably Represented Oconee. 81.

livered an address before the Conven-
tion of Wheat Growers ut Green
wood, S. c., last week. He spoke in
part as follows;
Mr.. President, Ladies' and Cen
tlemen: There is no occasion which
is to me moro enjoyable and no COM
plment which esteem more highly
than being with and talking to the
farmers of my country. In the dis
cussion Of those problems, the So
luton Of which is essential to pros
perity in our future farm work, q
subject is presented in which we are
now most vitality Interested. Con-
ditions which did not suggest them
selves decade ago are becoming
serious and formidable at tho pres
cnt time. While personally o
stranger to most of you feel
that my own interests are identical
with yours and that we are all en-
gagged in common cause.
In advocating revolution in our
farming methods, shall not suggest
the adoption of anything which has
not heretofore been successfully un-
dertakcn, and will give no advice
which is not capable of practical ap-
plication. 1t is quite apparent to
any casual observer that our system
of doing business is decidedly con-
trary to that which existed during
the days of our greatest prosperity
and consequent independence. There
was time, not 80 far back in the
past, when the farmers of the South
supplied the population of the towns
and cities with the necessaries of
life from the varied products Of their
farms. At the present time large
majority of our farming classes are
helplessly dependent upon the mer-
chants for supplies, not only for
themselves, but for their stock as
well. The heavy staple supplies
which the merchants handle are
grown in the far West, and the pro-
ceeds of the cotton crop Of the South,
which should represent the surplus
money crop of the farm, is paid out
to the far ncrs Of the West. We
are enriching not only these pro-
ducers, but the railroads, wholesale
and retail dealers through whose
hands these goods must pass before
reaching us, and who charge full
commission all along the line. The
crop out of which we are expected
to pay for these supplies is sold ut a
figure below the cost of production,
and there can be but one result to US
from the continuance of such sys-
TEN of doing business.
a GREAT AGRICULTURAL STATE.
The great State Of South Carolina
possesses as great a degree Of diver
siied resources AZ any State III the
Union. There is not farm in your
State which cannot by a proper
method of diversified planting, un-
der an intensive system Of culture,
be made sclf-supporting. The farm
ers of your State must realize that
every pound of supplies which they
purchase in tho open markets is pro-
duccd by other farmers in distant
sections of the country who labor
under greater difficulties than those
with which we have to contend.
When Southern farms were self
sustaining open accounts were the
ONLY evidences of Indebtedness, and
farmers word was as good as gold.
Sharp, shrewd business men of the
world soon saw that there were for
tunes to be made out Of the cotton
crop if the farmer could be induced
to produce it in large quantities.
The Western people saw an OPP
portunity for building granaries and
packing houses to supply the South
WIFI loOti Ill VIC COulU De induced TO
turn our attention entirely to grow
ing cotton. The big railroad mag
mates saw grand opportunity to in
crease dividends, multiply their roll
ing stock and otherwise fatten on
the frcights to be obtained by trans
porting heavy and costly supplies
from the West for the Southern cot,
ton grower during the spring and
summer. In the fall millions of cot.
ton bales would be turned over to
them for carriage to the seaports or
Northern markets, and a second
whack had at the great Southern in.
dustry.
The stock raiscrs Of Kentucky and
Tenncssce> were pleased at the bright
prospect of Supplying for tho future
that beautiful Southland, whore al
that was needed to make q man rich