The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-11-06
j., NEWTON HATHAWAY, M. D.
THE FERTILIZER TRUST
VIII Squeeze the Farmers Next Year
-Four Dollars Per Ton.

Not satisfied with the reports that
the Fertilizer Trust will raise the
price OF its manufactured product
next year, leading farmers Of Laurens
county have calle meeting ut which
they Will endeavor to suggest some
plan by which they will not be forced
to submit. Practically the entire
business is controlled by the trust.
When 1t met with financial difficulties
two months ago the impression went
forth that In time the farmer would
have to make up the deficiency, and If
What the Laurens people believe is
true that is exactly what will happen.
lt is said that the ra ties will be in
creased about four dollars ton.
which will cut deeply into the revenue
OF the agricultural class and will en-
tail hardships which will be unfortun-
ate to say the least
Eleven OF the most prominent plant
ers In the county issued the call for
the meeting to be held on November
q, and II they find that the old tariff
will not be continued they will urge
their brethren OF the field not to buy.
Ii is not d boycott. Heretofore the
planters have been helpless. They
had every reason to express the most
genuine regret when all OF the plants
in this and other States, with a few
exceptions, passed under the control
OF the combine, and when the stock
was watered and thrown on the mar
ket every man with common sense
realized that Specula tors would try to
get rich at the expense of the impoy-
erished element in the South. Among
other things the farmers say:
We are informed that this in
creased price is not based on any
claim that these concerns are going to
give US higher grade Of goods nor do
thcy rely upon the argument made
upon the occasion of a former raise In
prices, that it is On account uf the
raise IN the prices or cost of the MATE
rial used in the manufacture Of their
goods, but solely on the ground thai
they are selling their goods too cheap
NOW are we not already paying high
price for guano? Would it not be bet,-
ter to farm without guanu than to
give more than we are already paying?
Shall we sit idle and let these concerns
go ahead and arhi, rarily tix the price
of everything we sell and everything
we buy without even a mild protest 2,
In commenting on the proposed ac-
tion OF the Laurens farmers the
Grecnyille News says:
The matter is of vital interest to
every farmer in South Carolina. This
year they are being paiG more for
their cotton, but it will not help them
to any extent If they are required to
give up exhorbitant sums for fertiliz
ers. Just how they can meet the cri-
sis, should develop, is not an easy
problem, but If they unite, and will
stand together, refusing to purchase
the manufactured article at excessiv-
rates, the trust will find that it can
not afford to squeeze when there are
Few planters to buy. 1t may be that
something practical will be suggested
at the Laurcns meeting, 10 which case
it will doubtless meet with the hearty
support and 'co-operation Of the mass
es on whom we depend for our livinp.n
What is the. farmers of Orangeburg
County going to do about the matter?