The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-17
FARMERS AT CLEMSON
They Heard Many Speeches on q
Variety Of Topics.
THE ATTENDANCE NOT LARGE

IKE ALIEN UaNCG NU1 LAoVG.
United States Senators Tillman and
Latimer Made Speeches.. Many
Interesting Matters Discussed
by Other Speakers.
A special dispatch from Clemson
College to The State says there were
about three times as many farmers at
the institute last year as there are
this year. The political campaign,
the rains and the fact that all could
not be comfortably accommodated
last year are the reasons assigned for
the smaller attendance.
THE EXPERIENCE MEETING.
About 300 farmers held an expert
ence meeting in the auditorium Tues
day afternoon. Col. Newman presid,
ed and Senator Latimer occupied
seat on the stage.
Mr.. E. D. Smith Of Sumter told OF
his experience in marketing crops. In
few Introductory remarks he Illus
trated the need ct dealing with all
matters in a practical way and Of ap-
plying mind to matter. This princi-
pie was not applied by farmers in
marketing their crops. They were
the only producers in the world who
cid not set the price on their pro-
ducts. All producers would calculate
how much it est to make their goods
and adding to this a fair profit would
offer IL for sale at price to cover
these items. The farmers made their
crops and then asked the purchaser tc
fix the price. While the southern
cotton farmer has a monopoly Of
great product yet he had made nc
effort to control the price of his pro-
duct. He had no representative on
the cotton exchange or elsewhere, but
in the past had been content to let
the balance of the world fix the price
of cotton. II they continued in this
way they would show themselves tc
be great fools.
He explained a plan he had used at
Lynchbarg, his home. A number OF
farmers in the neighborhood had form
ed an organization and had made him
their sales agent. A charge Of 25
cents bale was made to cover the
expenses. The farmers would bring
their cotton to town in such lots as
would be convenient to them. Mr..
Smith would then telegraph to vari.
Gus exporters and the cotton pur-
chaSers asking for bids for so much
cotton. BE kept informed Of the
prize at Liverpool, New York, and
other points, and If the price offered
was satisfactory he would sell the
cotton the members of the organiza-
ton had brought to town that day.
By so acting the members Of the Or
ganization had made about s6, 900 on
5000 bales of cotton more than they
would have made if the organization
hal not existed. He believed if SINH
lar organizations were formed
throughout the country the price OF
cotton could be regulated, and the
bulls and bears would not control the
situation. II the organization could
be further perfected so as to regulate
the acreage the condition Of the cot
ton farmer would be much improved.
The. southern farmer had a good
enough thing in cotton raising and If
he would just mix brains with his
business he would lead very happy
existence.
Mr., Smith drew a very amusing pic
ture Of the present manner Of selling
cotton by the average farmer. He
made the farmer cut TO be man lack
ing in self respect unless his face be-
lied his feelings and made him out to
be ridiculous figure tramping around
town in the cold ard rain trying to
sell his bale of cotton from a sample
to noodle-headed men who did not
have the natural ability Of the farmer.
The only hope OF the farmer was to
folm organizations such as were to be
found in all callings and until such
organizations as he had indicated were
formed to fix the price Of cotton the
farmers of the south would be beggarS
on their own doorSteps. They had
natural monopoly and If they did not
take advantage OF their opportunities
they were mOnStrouS fools.
GOOD ROADS.
Prof. Newman then introduced Sena-
tor Latimer who spoke OF his good
roads bill. He said that before the
farmers could market their crop profit
ably they must have good roads, and
bis bill provided for the building Of
good roads without it's costing the peo-
pie one cent more than now. 1t
was unfair to make the farmers bear
all the expense Of building roads. 1t
was just as reasonable to make the
hackmen Of a city keep up the streets
of a city. Therefore every one in the
country should assist and his bill
simply provided for this: making the
federal government spend sum on
the roads equal to that expended by
the State.
He explained in detail the features
of his bill, which has been given be-
fore in The State. He was well receiV-
ed and given close attention.
At the conclusion OF Senator Lat1.
mer'S address he asked all who favored
the bill to stand up. Every man, wo-
man and child in the audience stood
up.
The afternoon exercises were con-
cluded by an address by Prof. Earle,
associate professor Of mechanical en-
Without dealing teo much
in technicaliUieS he gave interesting
and valuable advice on the care Of
steam engines. He explained the cauS-
es Of boiler explosions and the means
Of preventing them, commended most
bighly gasoline engines in preference
to steam engines and also spoke favor
ably of wind mills.