The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-08-23
ORGANIZATION OF
AGRICULTURALISTS
THE NECESSITY FOR SUCH AN
ORGANIZATION.
Argument of a Correspondent Out
lining a Plan For a Defensive
Organization.

writing this article | am sensible Of
the fact that many similar articles
have been penned and published with
out resulting in great benefit to those
for whose profit they were intended,
viz, the agricultural population. Nor
90 I enter upon this discussion with
out painful sense of my inability to
do Justice to this subject which I
consider one of the very first impor
tance to those whom it most con-
Germs. The subject referred to is
the organization of that great and
important industrial class the agri
.culuturists. In interest and vital con-
sequence to the world. this factor, in
the conservation OF all that tends to
uplifting and ecnobllng its civilization
is the most powerful and precedes I'll
others. II is the foundation upon
which rests all other superstructu-es.
But this is we'll understood.
What I most desire to emphasize in
this article is the latent power for
good which resides in subdivision of
the worlds great social and industrial
fabric. Conditions in natures economy
are such, that much of this power
will. and should remain dormant.
THE poor ye have with you always"
This is a necessity. But it does
not follow that this power should
not be aroused and maintained to
the extent of demanding an equality
OF privileges, rights and benefits. Is
this the condition Of things at pres
ent? No thinking mind holds this
opinion. While they have unity
of interests, there is no unity in their
efforts to subserve those interests.
They are powerless to resist any i'm
position directed especially against
them. For instance, "bagging
trust" Who is to be burthened
with responsibility for this inequality
and helplessness: 1t surely rests
with those Immediately concerned.
While this is true, it is no less true
that there are some serious obstacles
in the way Of removing these in
eeualities.
Among these may be mentioned the
difficulty of procuring efficient or
panizers and leaders from the ranks
of those whose sole interest is in this
industrial branch. AS rule, those
VINO undertake to organize and lead
these people have 'Eaxes to grind,
and while some may see those who
turn the grindstone and those who
hold the axes, it has generally been
their lot, heretofore, to fall under the
wheel and be crushed.
Again, the changes wrought in the
industrial problem by the issues OF
the war. especially in the south, have
not rendered easier proper adjust
nent of these inequalities. The Dig
nifty and respect once accorded to the
agricultural community, have been
dethroned by these changes and ben
ehcial organized effort trammelled.
Another serious trouble is the fact
that so manv efforts in this direction
have failed that it seems almost i'm
possible to get the attention OF far
mers to anything that bears on this
subject. Nevertheless there is i'm
perative necessity. for combined ef-
fort.
It would have smack of staleness
and take up unnecessary time and
space to recapitulate here the reasons
for this necessity They have often
been rehearsed. Ii there is any good
reason for organization anywhere,
surely it is nowhere more than here.
The efforts OF any one who sincere
" desires to see these people organ
lied. and who is willing to work un-
.selhshly to that end, should be dl-