The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-09-02

Entered 1T the PoStofice at Manning as Sec
opd Class matter.
The Farmers Meeting.
A large crowd gathered in Manning
last Saturday in response to the call
for the farmers to take steps to organ
ize themselves into township clubs to
devise plans by which they might pro
tect themselves against the greed OF
trusts and other unholy combinations,
whether the same is capitalized by
foreign, or home robbers. The meet
ing from point of numbers was very
gratifying, but as is always the case
whenever the farmers have under
taken anything for their benefit or pro
lection there was floating about IN the
crowd class of booU-licks for the
monied men, trying to throw wet
blanket on the proceedlngs.>wlth ON.
this is nothing but an electloneerng
scheme TO boost some fellow into Office
and this is a humbug." and one smart
Aleck with knowing wink IN his eye,
sucking ore end of a cheroot which was
given to him by a stock-holder OF an
oil mill, structed up to a group OF gen.
tlemen and remarked, Il 90 not pro-
pose to join this project, it is nothing
but political dodge which Applet has
brought about to have himself elected
to the legislature. The poor fool
whose breeches-seat needed patching,
and whose children, we have no doubE,
would hail with delight good square
meal that IS cooked at home, need not
let such thought fret him one instant.
and for the benefit of this measly
creature, also those who gave him the
little speech to say, Appelt has no idea
of being a candidate, nor will he be q
candidate in the next primary and
could not be induced to be, R5J even if
every man, woman and child in Claren-
don county were TO yEge it. We sug-
gested this meeting and we earnestly
pray that great good will result to a
class Of people who are the prey OF
every devlS& that human agencies and
the DeEi<can devise; everything and
must depend on the farmer,
and yet they get less from their weary
toll than any.other class. It they got
lust treatment there would be no COM
plaint, but all kinds OF schemes are in
vented and concocted to fleece the tlller
of the soil. becau he will not take the
same intelligent interest in his own
welfare, as other avocations take. We
are not urging the organization OF the
farmers to make unreasonable demands,
but we are. and we thank God for the
ability to urge them for their own
sake and for the sake of their children
to get together aud call a halt upon
these greedy wolves who take advan-
tage of their unorganized condition to
take their products for a much less
price than it is worth, and return 1t to
them in manufactured form at an out
ragously enormous profit.
On account of the court house under
going repairs, the meeting was opened
on the square" and Dr.. |. NJ. Woods
one OF the committee called the meet
ing to order and proceeded to state its
object. He was evidently well pre-
pared to Ere heavy gun, because IN
explaining the object, and telling his
audience, this was no time for speech
es. action was wanted" IN very eS-
tended manner he went into the sub
iect OF trusts, until Mr.. W. NJ. Plowden
another member of the committee IN
terrupted, and nominated Mr.. E. D..
Hodge for temporary chairman and Mr..
James Reaves secretary, Mr.. Reaves
however declined, ard Mr.. J. Grier
White was made secretary. Mr.. Hodge
on assuming the chair, explained why
it was that he did not attend the COM
mittee meeting, stating that he was in
the upper part of the State at the time,
but he was in full accord with the
effort to organize, and he believed the
farmers by organization can accomplish
good for themselves. 1t was suggested
that Hon. Eli D. Smith of Lynchburg
was present and that he be invited to ad-
dress the crowd, and it was evident
the suggestion was not very palatable
to at least one man whose wind mechan-
ism was in good working condition, and
if not allowed to bring it into action
the pain would be intense, but the
crowd wanted to hear MIR. Smith, and
he was introduced. His speech was at
tentivelv listened to. and 1t struck
right home to his hearers, as the great
truths came from his lips. He showed
what is being done by the trusts in gen
eral, but especially the tobacco, fertilizer
and oil trusts. He endeavored to make
plain what could be accomplished by
Organization, that capital was organ
ize6, and by that organization it was
enabled to make vassals Of the unor-
ganized farmer. His illustrations, and
his comparisons were not only appro-
pirate but rnagniiciently put together.
He told his hearers that ne was a
farmer from choice, and that he pro-
posed to 60 out and devote his time and
talents TO the effort to educate the
farmer to combine to meet combina-
tions, and not to depend upon a rene
dy from legislative action. He referred
to the farce comedy enacted by a former
attorney general in his fight against
the Observation-Disclosures trust.
We regret we are not enabled to give
his speech in full but some of its sa-
iient points are as follows:
want to state here and now what
believe to be the explanation of the
condition we are in, and that is this.
When merchant goes into business
he counts up all the cash, Insurance,
house rent, cost OF goods, clerk hire
and his family support, then Is, 20 or
80 per cent for him and when you get
his goods you pay his price, whereas
Mr.. farmer with his business methods
comes creeping into town with a bale
of cotton and asks ''what'n you give
me for this::" and the merchant names
the price and then the farmer goes
into the store and asks the merchant
what'll he take for so and so. Don't
you see the merchant has both ends Of
the rope and he is fool if he don't
make money Did YOU ever think Of
it, the merchant weighs and measures
both the stuff he buys and the stuff he
sells and we 60 around wondering what
is the matter anyhow. If any other
business on Gods earth was run on the
same plan as the farmer runs his, it
would "bust" in week.
All other business is organized and
the farmer is his legitimate prey.
The cotton mills. which were looked
upon as a probable blessing 10 the
South have combined, 20 of them with
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