The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-09-06
Statement to The Public.

AL q lleetllS OF the OOaIQ OF Q1-
rectors of the Farmers Oil Mill, held
September 3rd., the undersigned as
chairman, was directed to make the
following statement to the stock
holders and general public.
The Farmers Oil Mill was not built
to break down existing industries OF
! like kind. 1t was built to protect the
| cotton growers and the consumers
Of cotton seed products against Ger
tain abuses and wrongs with which
the public is familiar. Had It not
been for these abuses the mill would
never have been thought of. 1t was
built by home people to protect home
people. 1t was built almost entirely
by cotton growers. No stockholder
has more than $500 in stock but there
are many hundreds of smaller share
holders. This was not accidental but
the result of a we'll defined purpose.
1t was felt that every producer and
consumer should have share in cor
recting the evil from which all were
suffering.
The mill is nearing completion. but
before a wheel has turned the trust
has reduced the price of ginning here
80 and one third per cent. This means
one or two things, either the price
was too high heretofore or else it is
sought to break down our mill. If
the price was too high. why did not
the trust reduce it when it had things
its own way. Can it be that the far
mers are asked to sacrifice $4,000
worth of property for the sake of rs
cents per bale of cotton ginned here?
At the rate of 5000 bales a year it
would take 55 years to repay the $780,
600 to say nothing of the interest.
And what guarantee have the farmers
that this price for ginning will last
ior s. years? Is the trust willing to
give bond to keep down the price?
And what about lulls and meal?
What guarantee have the consumers
that the trust is now able to keep the
hulls from getting into the meal?
1t will be remembered that the trust
has had great difficulty in this mat
ter. Will the trust now give bond
along with the Is cents bale?
Let no one ne deceived trust
h9s OF reduced the price for ginning,
neither will it make pure metal, be-
cause Of any love it may have for the
farmer or consumer. 1t has shown
what kind OF love it had in the
past. Let all realize that
whatever sop it may throw
to the farmer, OF TO the consumer, Or
t.. the Sin owne1', It is throw" l., IL
.,wn :c!:i:l 1rposes. It i - .:pl y
trying { :rt rid Of com ...:1ir:,.
When CONF. -,tion is go1i" we viii
h..e The :al1e old cond;t; ~. Thi>
method OF breaking down competition
t., trusts is 20 new one. il i a."
same old trick that has been played
II! NY :; tine At one time !: "kvd
VIII a. he people took t. b..
i,rt i, Is TOO cid now. \. sno1; =:
people see it they know it. The iute
trust tried it once and where is the
jute trust now. 1t robbed the farm
ers to the full limit until the farmers
found a substitute for jutc. then
the trust threw ont its little bait. re-
Gucing the price Of jute below the cost
OF the cotton substitute But the
great majority OF the farmers refused
20 bite; they simply stood pat. paid
little more for the cotton wrapping
and the trust in due time 'busted." "
Now the farmer makes from 400 to
500 per cent on the bagging he uses.
In the present fight let it not be said
that single farmer, consumer or gin
ner, for the sake of a few cents
thrown to him by the, trusts, failed to
stand to his fellows.
The Farmers Oil Mill has an up
to-date plant. and will be run by eN-