The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-01-25
Farmers Convention.

Farmers Convention.
The farmers met in convention last
Saturday in the court house. The at
tendance was not as full as it should
have been, but this is accounted for by
the short notlce given to organizers to
organize the townships, and the short
notice was not the fault of the officers
either, the blame was assumed by THE
TINES editor. who stated that when the
names of the organizers were brought
TO him, he was busy at the time and
did not know THESE names were IN the
package Of papers sent TO him. ana ne
told the bearer OF the papers that ne
would not need the matter he brought.
as he had already gotten what was
necessary to publish.
What interest is being taken III the
farmers movement IS evident oy the
fact that large portion OF the county
was represented in the attendance. II
not bv regularly appointed delegates,
and we may say that the disposition Is
is to organize for relief, whether 1t be
the reduction OF acreage ana 1ertlllZers
or what. remains 10 be seen after the
the action of the New Orleans Conven-
ton. The meeting also showed a dis
position on the part OF a number not TO
pledge TO Il reduction Of acreage. be-
cause they claim 70 have reduced al
ready. or in Other words, they do not
plant over to 10 acres to the plow,
and they could not reduce below that.
In some instances only about one-third
of the horse power is utilized tor the
cotton crop, and is now below in cot
ton acreage, those who have pledged
themselves TO reduce 25 per cent.
President Hodge ruled that the main
object OF the meeting was to select a
delegate to New Orleans. and IN the
discussion of that matter anything
which would develop the sentiment OF
the farmers, or that would give the
meeting information with regard to
what action would be taken would pe
in order. Rev r. Y. SubletJ stated
that the colored people OF his section
were disposed to aid in the enterprise,
and had gone 10 work in that direction.
and would have a report TO submit TO
this convention. if this body would re-
ceive it. He then made 4 very sensible
plea that there should not be any color
line drawn in this movement, as 1t was
nota social. but business organization:
the colored people being the ralsers OF
60 per cent. of the cotton. and their
help is necessary TO accomplish results.
There were several colored men in the
court house. among them very thrifty
farmer. c.. L. Nelson, of Davis. who
asked the President what was expected
of the negroes. The President replied
that they were expected to organize.
and work in harmony with the whites,
but to be in separate organizations. and
TO submit their reports 20 the white
convention. Nelson then wanted to
know. if they organized into separate
and submitted their re-
ports to the white convention, would
they have representation and voice IN
said convention. The answer was. mo,
the reports would be received as infor-
nation. and the negroes would have no
voice in the deliberations. Nelson and
the rest of the colored spectators then
quietly withdrew.
In our opinion, it is a grave mistake
to inject the race question IN q matter
of this sort. and Mr.. Sublett is eminent
" correct when he urges his brethern
not to do it. We Will go further and
say. that unless the negro cotton grow
ers are also organized the present
effort to seek relief is an abortion. How
can any relief come to those seeking
remedy from over production. when
they ignore and drive away over SO per
cent, OF those growing the staple. 1t is
a suicidal policy. The negroes who
raise cotton are willing to join their
white neighbors in an effort to better
the condition of all, there is no socla!
question in it, no political or religious
question, not thing but,a plain, blunt
business proposition, the same as when
the dam of a mill breaks, everybody IN
the neighborhood, white and black, is
called out to repair the damage. In
this case the country is flooded with
cotton. forcing prices down below the
cost of production, white and black
alike effected, and to be saved from
this condition all who raise cotton are
called upon to take concerted action to
prevent repetition of the flood. It is
shown by reducing the supply, the de-
NaQC Will Oe SteaIef duo dS Gu0 w
mand increases the price increases with
it.
The colored farmers, in our opinion,
should be urged and encouraged to or
ganize, and this they will not do if
they are to be rebutfed at the very
and unless they are organ
lied and will work in harmony with
the whites, the sponge might as well
be thrown up, that we might go on
with the dog-in-the-manger-spirit, and
fool ourselves into the belief that we
are guarding our social conditions.
Rev. r. 4. Sublett was unanimously
chosen the delegate to represent Clar-
endon at New Orleans, and he respond
ed to the compliment in a very feeling
and appropriate speech. At the sug-
gestion of one OF the delegates volun-
tary contributions were made to defray
the expenses of the delegate. 1t was
ascertaiued that it would take about s35.
of this amout $3.50 was contributed by
those present, who would have made
up the rest, but it was suggested to ap-