The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-01-13
A Good Convention.

The convention of farmers which me-
in Manning last Friday, was made W
of representative men from every sec
rion of the county who are determined
to do all in their power to fight off any
thing like oppression. These men are
not alarmists, nor do they belong Il
the class who are constantly urging
something for nothing, these men are
conservative in their views, and liberia
in their propositions. They are organ
lied for the protection OF themselve:
against the greed OF an unscrupulou:
trust, whether it be an oil mill or fer
tilizel, factory, and they are also organ
lied to make an endeavor to get advan'
tage from buying fertilizers IN large
quantity, believing that IN doing so,
they will save considerably by 1t.
The convention was presided over by
Hon. E. r. Plowden, the county presl.
dent, and when Secretary Richboure
called the roll Of delegates, 1t was
found that the New Zion club had what
may be termed q contestlng Delegation,
the contester being DR.. l. N. Woods
who claimed that he was appointed a
delegate. Objection was raised to the
seating of DR.. Woods by County Lect.
urer D. J. Bradham, who in a vigorous
speech set forth the fact that the or
canization had decided DR.. Woods Inc.
licible to membership in the organlza-
tion. and therefore he could not De a
delegate. DR.. Woods made several at
tempts to make a speech, but each time
he was called down by the president,
and when at last he realized he would
not be permitted to annoy the body, he
picked up his hat and went out OF the
door muttering words not to be found
in the Psalms. AS soon as the conven-
tion had rid itself of this incident it got
down to business.
Captain D. J. Bradham made an ad-
dress, taking for his theme the lien
law, its demoralizing tendency. and its
damaging results. He advocated It's
abolition. He discussed the labor ques-
zion, and attributed much Of its present
condition to present easy facilities to
procure credit. He also discussed the
cotton seed condition, and related what
passed between the management OF the
oil mill and himself over the phone with
regard to the price, and as is usual with
him he told q war story.
Rev. r. A. Sublett of Summerton,
who was present by invitation was IN
troduced, and his address was indeed
very instructing: every farmer IN the
county would have been amply paid fcr
his trip had he been present and heard
the discourse. Mr.. Sub!ett discussed
the fertilizer question from the stand
point OF g practical scientific farmer,
one who knows the value OF the ingred-
tents which 60 to make up Fertilizers,
and he demonstrated the commercial
value of the fertilizer in q manner SIM
liar to a demonstrator in a chemistry
class. During Mr.. Sublett's remarks
ali eyes We're rivited upon him, and
every man present feels that he has
gained Important knowledge from him:
The speaker urged the combination OF
the farmers to make their fertilizer
purchases, and offered to 60 to Charles
ton at his own expense to see what
could be done to save money. He salo
he was personally interested to the eX-
tent of about ITO tons, and if his fellow
farmers would join with him he be
lieves there would be a considerable
save &c showed the analysis of the
various guanos, and demonstrated their
respective commercial values, and
what the companies were asking and
compared the prices with last year,
showing an advance of from 81 to S. per
ton, without there being any material
rise in the cost of the material which is
compounded in the product. This ad-
vance according to the speaker is largely
to the companies being IN
in combination. There are some con-
Germs that claim to be independent, but
their quotations are Identical with the
trust they are all in the com.
bine, or arrange their prices at the die
tation of the Trust. Mr.. Sublett urged
the farmers to not make any unreason-
able demands, at the same time resist
like eXtortion even to the eN-
tent of letting the manufacturers keep
their goods. He took up the Peruvian
guano now on the market, gave to his
hearers its component parts and Its
commercial value, and recommended
its use. He welcomed its coming IN
and if it could be delivered in sufficient
quantities he believed it would act as
check upon the trust. The farmers, he
said, can make the trust fair PROPOSE
ton for their goods allowing them reas-
enable profit, and if it is not accepted
he would advise the use of the Peruvian
or to go one year without any CONNER
ciaI fertilizel at all. At the conclusion
of his most excellent and instructive ad-
dress the convention gave him a vote
of thanks and appointed him a commit
to visit Charleston to confer with the
factories, and report the result of his
to President Plowden, who
will issue call for another convention
to deal with the grades and prices Mr..
Sublett brings back.
There was some disappointment eX-
pressed at the non-appearance OF the
county's representatives. An invita-
ton was extended to them through the
press, but only one made his appear
ance. This body of citizens had a
right to expect a more courteous treat
ment from their representatives these