Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-02-08
STATE FERTILIZER FACTORY.
Senator Earle in Defence Of Scheme to
Launch Stale Fertilizer Business.

[August Kohn in News and Courier.]
Senator Earle fears that there has been
Misunderstanding relative to the bill
to establish fertilizer factory for this
State and he has made the following
statements:
The reasons that prompted the Senate
committee to recommend the establish
ment of a fertilizer factory by the State
are based upon facts and conditions that
are facing the people of this State. The
State is not justified in entering the
various ramifications of business as a
matter'of speculation, but only when it
is necessary to defend itself against a
great public enemy. The State is only
an aggregation of individuals and when
individual life is threatened or endan-
gered it is the business of the Govern
ment to interfere if it can by practical
means. There is no question about the
States having sufficient phosphate de-
posits to furnish three hundred thousand
tons year to her citizens, for many
years to come. There is plenty of
convict labor to turn out this fertili-
zer at considerable less cost than
hired labor. The State already hav-
ing these important factors, is it
good business Judgment or states
manship to stand and see the trust pilfer
the citizens pockets. The price of COM
mercial fertilizers has steadily advanced
for the past five years until now they are
five dollars per ton higher without one
cent of increased valne. These are facts
in the mind of every farmer in the State.
There were sold last year 426, 600 tons of
fertilizers in the State. You can readily
see that the advance in price cost the peo-
pie of the State, who are the State, over
$2,OO0,OO0. There were many inde-
pendent guano companies doing a pros
porous business in this State under the
former prices, and the only justification
for the advances is the great community
interests.
This statement is not made to provoke
controversy or in reply to adverse criti-
cism, but to give some of the bald facts
that are staring us in the face. The State
is to-day using its convict labor in the
manufacture of hosiery in competition
with the commercial world. She is rails
ing cotton and corn in competition with
the best interests of her citizens. Then
why not utilize her convict labor in re-
pelling q public enemy but little less
devastating than was Sherman's army.
MORALS, NOT MONEY!
The amendment that was offered to
the dispensary law by Senator Earle, of
Oconee, that was designed to repristi-
nate, (restore to its original condition.
the dispensary sytem, and make it a
moral measure, is as follows: Before
selling or delivering any Intoxicating Ii
quor to any person, every dispenser shall
require II written or printed request,
dated of the true date, stating that he
or she is of ,age,s the residence of the
signer, and when for another persOp the
residence of such other for whom it is
required, and that the liquor is not to
be used as beverage, but that it is de-
sired for medicinal, family or scientific
use. Any dispenser who shall sell or de-
liver any Intoxicating lirnor without
such request signed by the person to
whom delivered shall be guilty of mis-
dem eanor, and upon conviction shall be
punished in the discretion of the Court.
Any person who shall make any false or
ficticious statement in or sign any fic-
titious name to such request, shall be
guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction shall be punished in the discre-
tion of the Court.