The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-12
THE NEEDS OF TIE SOUTHERN
FARMER.
Southern CuItivator.


9ia State Agricultural Society was Il
remarkable meeting in several respects. |
The pcrsonel of the convention was |
quite remarkable. The attendance was |
large, and composed of many of the |
brainiesL men in the State. They |
were men capable of handling great |
questions.
This session was notable from the |
fact that the entire session was devoted |
to the discussion of the single qucs-
ton, "Thc needs of the Southern
farmer" Not Of the Georgia farmer,
but of the Southern farmer Hence
we think this subject will interest all
OF our readers. The Southern farmer
is just now very important character.
Upon his prosperity depends very much
the prosperity of the entire country.
And upon his success largely depends
the continuance and full development
of the wonderful tide OF wealth now
attracting the eyes of all economists.
Never was The cotton crop of such
commercial Importance as now. Add
TO this the enormous possibilities of our
cattle, cane, rice, turpenune, lumber,
iron and manufacturing industries and
you have vista that is truly over
whclming and dazzling. OF all these
and hundred more lines of wealth
producing cmploymcnts, the Southern
farmer is the foundation
\ PECULIAR SITUATION.
Every speaker for the two fun days
discussions was assigned the sclf-samc
i subject. But when we examine the
program, W, find only one actual "bona
tde" farmers name, and he was to
speak upon "The Cotton Growers
] Protective Association" AS a matter
of fact one farmer did speak on the
( leading subject, but his name was
omitted from the printed program.
: Many farmers took part in the dis
d cusslons, limited to five minute
/ speeches. SO we had lengthy and ably
written papers from all sorts Of
sources.
The farmers were muchly advised as
TO their needs. They were cnumcr.
ated in full catalogue and reiterated
with repeated emphasis. His life was
made TO look blue and his hopes blucr
He was told that he was poor and
growing poorer, tha: he was mean and
growing mcancr, that he was idle and
getting idlcr. That he was victim
and often vlctimized. He was told
that he was ignorant, and needed
sense. That most of his woes were
due to the fact that he didn't keep
books. That he was in debt, mort
gagged, and did not treat his wife right.
That he lacked independence, and
needed every man to stand for him
self. That he needed, above all things
organization, every man to lean on
every other man, and thus combine
agains. all The combines and form a
trust 10 fight against all the trusts. lie
was told that he was very needy and
getting to he rather sccdy. He was
warned against the negro. lie was
told that he could not get along with
out the negro, that the negro was Il
better laborcr than the white man, but
that the negro was blood-sucker and
} bound to live upon him, honestly Oh
dishonesty. In short, he was in q
} hole and and could not see out, but
would be shut in if he did not csaw
out.
He was advised and advised until h,
really needed some good advice
He was told of his ''necds" from tn,
immigration agents standpoint, from
The editorial standpoint, from the cx
pcrimcntal standpoint, from the office
holders standpoint, from the chcmca
standpoint and from the agricultural
standpoint. lie was muchly viewed
a SINGULAR OMISSION.
After enjoying to the full the an
swer to Burns prayer;
"Oh, wad some power the gifue gle us
To see ourselves as others see us"
He was left with his mouth wide oper
and hls appetite full whctted to learn
what he must do. Very little was said
along this line. He was left largely tc
find out for himself how he could sun
ply his many needs. Perhaps this was
we'll Perhaps ue will find a better
solution for himself lie is rapidly do
ing this already, and this discussion
will help him.
WHAT OF IT ALL.
Very much every way. That an en-
tire5meeling should have been gwen to
this subject means II good deal. 1t
will do US good to know how the out
slider looks at us. We can now think
for ourselves. We can find out why
the Southern farmer is so different
from all other farmers. We can awake
to the truo situation and seeing our op.
portnnlties go vigorously to work to
make the most of them.
We can convince the world that we,
the farmers, know more about our
"needs' than anybody else. The best
way to do this is TO press along to pros
perity by studying our profession
learning our business, taking pride IN
our calling and rearing our children to
be proud that they are the sons and
daughters OF farmers and successful
farmers themselves. Diversity, Guilt
vatc, Educate. In these three lie un-
told possibilities.
When the farm boys and girls are as
well educated and dressed as the ci.y
boys and girls they will rank alongside
OF them in society and politics, and be
happy and cOnLcntcd at home on the
farm.
Pres. j. Pope Brown deserves the
thanks of Southern farmers for the
idea that he planned this convention.
For the ingo and outcome of this occa-
sion, it will do good.
The meeting was harm )nious, de-
lightful, profitable.
THE REAL STATE OF TIE CASE.
The "Needs of the Southern Farm
~ ~