Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-08-06
MEETING STATE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Annual Address OF the President-Fourteer
Counties We're Represented.

The State Alliance, the organization of
which so much was heard few years
back, particularly in campaign years. is
| still alive and doing we'll according to
President Efird, and he does not think
that its days of usefulness are over.
The organization met in Columbia last
night and begun its annual session,
reaching final adjournment about mid
night. There were fourteen of the forty
| odd counties in the State represented at
the gathering. The body met in the
State Supreme Court room.
At the opening of the session Presi-
dent d. F. Efird, of Lexington, pre-
sented his annual report as follows:
Brethren: We have assembled to hold
the fifteenth annual meeting of the Far
mers' Alliance of South Carolina.
One year ago plan was formulated
looking to the arousing of new interest
in our order. A committee was ap-
pointed consisting of Brother A. G.
Lyles, chairman of the Alliance ex-
change fund, Brother w. N. Elder, lee
turer and myself. We selected Brother
j. @. Wilbourn, reorganizer. We issued
circular entitled "a Real Necessity"
which we distributed over the State.
Upon invitation we visited Lancaster,
two points in Union, Laurens and sove-
raj points in Spartanburg. What we
have accomplished by our work let the
evidence here answer.
We have fourteen counties here repre-
sented.. Our enemies have from time to
time given notice of our death, and re-
joiced over the prediction of our burial.
We have stood as national organiZa-
ton for II years and in this State Is
years, battling for the rights of the op-
pressed. New conditions to-day CON
front us in the South. Labor and oapi-
tai should go hand in hand; there need
be no clash between them. Strikes are
more universal than ever in the history
of this country; like wars of times a
above tho man labor asserts her power.
The Transfers strike of Chicago almost
famished city of plenty. The Freight
Handlers Union going out on strike
has cost that city alone 81 900, 900 day.
The miners strike in the hard coal
fields of the Northwest is assuming
alarming proportions. We hear of labor
troubles in every quarter. Labor con-
tending for her rights against organized
capital.
This historic city has felt the influence
of organized labor in her workshops and
cotton mills. Even the newsboys here
asked for their rights through orgauiza-
ton.
Our fight is along different lines
call your attention to these few cases
to show you that we can win if we but
stand together. We have accomplished
much and have much yet to do. Our
demands have not stopped within tho
walls of our meeting places, but have
been made issues in the halls of State
and nation. We have educated the peo-
pie as no other organization has done.
we have come out victorious in several
nights with trusts. Let us strive to do
more good. Let us endeavor to correct
the evils of class legislation. Let us
have equal rights to all and special
privileges to nOne." If man filches
your purse he is tried and punished, but
manufacturer makes and sells for "all
wool and yard wide" that which j.
half cotton and 32 inches wide, thereby
robbing the world of thousands of dol
lars and nothing is said. A thief enters
your larder and donates to his own use
your steak for breakfast; You can i'm
prison him, but beef trust robs nation
OF millions and it is all right. A hungry
tramp feeds upon your "roasting ears .
you put him on the chain gang, but a
Gates" can corner all the corn of the
West, thereby donating to himself mil
lions of the peoples money and the laws
OF our land say not word.
Let us not become discouraged, let us
go on until we "emancipate the toling
masses from the grasp of organized
monopolies," remembering Gin things
essential unity, and in all things charty.'
L now commend to you the work be-
fore you.
The address was heard with copsidera-
BILE interest
The following appointments were
made for the present meeting:
Chaplain-Jas. A. Lewis.
Steward-J. r. Thompson.
Doork rkeeper-A. s. Frick.
Assistant doorkeeper-O. p. Goodwin.
The officers present were the follow
ing:
President--D. f. Efird.
Vice-president and lecturer-W. N.
Elder.
Secretary -treasurer-J. w. Reid.
Executive Committeemen--Dr. j. l..
Shuler, j. f. Nisbet and A. G. Lyles
Committee on Credentials-J. r.
Thompson James Il. Reid and w. N.
Campbell.
The following delegates from subordi-
nate alliances were in attendance:
Anderson. B. Douthit.
Barnwell--W. III. Duncan.
Cbester-S. II. McKeown.
Dorchester-W. N. Campbell
Horry-James A. Lewis.
Lancaster-J. II. Thompson.
Iaurens--O. p. Goodwin.
Lexington-J. w. Dreher.
Marion-E. G. Edwards.
Newberry-J. l.. Keitt.
Oconee-James II. Reid.
Pickens-W. w. Il. Bright.
Spartanburg-J. w. Reid.
Union-A. g. Lyles.
York;. II. Ashe.
Bounty Land-J. b. Pickett.
Ford-G. B. Wingard.
Ripbtwell--A g Erick