The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-19
GO Slabs" Runinations.
Editor The Manning Times:

Editor The Manning Times:
In my last ruminations, I said some
thing about big gun that had been
fired up North somewhere, and how
heavy that gun must have been loaded,
from the great number of people it had
hit and wounded. We'll sir, | tried
hard to describe that gun. but didn't
half way do it, and I don't believe any
body but them fellows that shot 1t can
do it. There has been more groans.
grunts and growls in the tobacco ware
houses in South Carolina this year,
caused from the firing of that everlast
ing tobacco trust gun. than ever any
living man could count And | tell YOU
Mr.. Editor, if was the man manlpuia-
TING that trust, | wouldn't consle2"
South Carolina a safe place to live IN
lust now. And if the tobacco men in
South Carolina were to give a big bar
becue dinner and invite the head trust
man down here as an honored guest, TO
make big speech and explain to Us
wool-hatters why it's necessary to
squeeze the very gall out of US, just
bet YOU a quarter he wouldent come.
No sir he wouldent come, if we was to
pay his way on the railroad. just
tell you what's fact sir, it amt right
for those men just because they have
the money, to run the bull over US that
way. And tell you something else,
they have sure run the bull, the COW,
the calf and whole drove Of helfers
over us this year, but my mind tells me
they won't need near as big drove OF
bulls to do the job next year as it took
this wear. No sir: if things goes on
this way it won't take but a mighty lit
tie drove of small yearlings to do do the
lob next year. I look for that English
American tobacco trust to sell out and
Quit the bushes after this year, and II
they don't, they will be the biggest set
of fools that ever fed on green grass.
Mr.. Editor, you reckon they amt got
sense enough to see that they are kill
ing the very old goose that's been laying
so many golden eggs for 'em so long.
They are stealing q mighty big lot OF
hard earned dollars il South Carolina.
They may cailit business now, but when
they appear before old Peter, | don't
believe their idea of business and oid
Peters idea is going to agree exactly.
Now. Mr.. Editor, I can't believe the
warehouse men are doing what they
might to help the farmer. They too
are helping to kill the goose that lays
the eggs. The warehouse men are
right here among US, and many OF these
are. or used to be tobacco farmers and
know what it takes to raise a crop OF
tobacco. Knowing this, 1t does scS2
like when the trust runs the price away
down below the cost of production that
the warehouse men might help US to
bear at least part OF the burden.
They know, and we farmers know that
thew charge us too much for selling our
tobacco. But the law allows them that
much ald of course they waut it. BY
showing something like liberal give
and take spirit and share the burden
with the farmer by cutting OF at least
traction of the expense attached TO
marketing the weed they would not
only foster the tobacco industry, but
would show the farmer that they were
on our side, and wasn't taking sides
with the trust. AS il stands now 1t
looks like the warehousemen and the
trust have locked horns to clean up the
tobacco farmer But as | lntlmated
before that's the end of the bushes:
However, as kind OF warning note l
would say that a tobacco warehouse
wouldent do it's BASES much good with
out tobacco to sell on their floors; and
the tobacco trust men, no matter no"
much more they have got can't make
merchantable quality OF tobacco out OF
oak leaves. alright. The tobacco TAR
mer Just simply cannot raise tobacco at
the present prices. And that just
means that somebody is going to run
out of Job if things don't improve.
'You can fool some men sometimes but
YOU can't fool all the people all the
time.' That's true as gospel. Now q
word or two to the merchants OF Clar-
en6on county and if the merchants out
side of Clarendon want to listen, .. X:
Merchants, whose side are you on:
Where do you stand? Are you with
the men that gives you your meat ana
bread, and keeps something on your
backs, or are you with the trust: There
amt any halfway ground, you must be
somewhere. You may snife and turn
up YOUR noses at the idea of a poor wool
hat cuss keeping your business running,
but kill the farmer and where will you
stand. If you are on our side stand for
US and show your appreciation OF past
patronage by simply cutting loose IRON
the trust. You, the merchants of the
Uuited States can kill the American
Tobacco Company as dead as a herring.
How can YOU do it? By simply steering
clear of it and not bnying a pound OF
their tobacco; unless they treat the far
mer right. We farmers are an amlc Gle
set OF fellows and wouldent hurt the
hair of a cat unnecessarily. We don't
want to hurt the American Tobacco CO.,
if they will tote fair, and don't want the
merchants to do it if they can avoid 1t,
which they can. The merchants are
organized and if they would officially
noJifv the American Tobacco Co., that
they would have to deal fair or loose
their patronage the dog would be dead.
Merchants, YOU can do it. Won't you
do it? For the sake OF the suffering i'll
treated farmer, who is always Four
friend, won't you come TO his rescue in
this his time of need?
II some young and energetic set OF
business men were: to open up tobacco
store in Manning and let it be widely
known that they would not handle trust
goods. and would deal fair and square,
It would take IS clerks to keep the Gus
toners satisfied. Chewing and slnok-
inc tobacco can be bought outside OF
the trust, and why don't somebody try
it?
Mr.. Editor, Uncle John is chock full
of this thing but for fear of the waste
basket. will desist: but more soon.
JOHN SLAB.
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Eat All You Want