The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-05
THE FARMERS UNION.
Meeting in Observation-Disclosures by
State President o. P. Goodwin
Fair Attendance.

The attendance of farmers at thc
meeting on last Wednesday was not
not as large as it would have been
had the weather not been so inclc-
mcnt. AT intervals during the morn
ing there were alternate showers and
sunshine. Considering the weather
and the horrid muddy roads the num-
Ter was pretty fair, which may b.
taken as an indication Of the inter
est our country friends take in mat
/ .crS which concern them. Hon. Q: 2.
Goodwin, OF Laurens, President Of
the South Carolina Farmers Union
made the first address. He emphasize
cd the necessity and advantages Of
c"-opcration and concert Of action in
buying farm supplies and belongings
and in selling the various crops pro-
duccd by the farmers. He stated
that ii was by the cooperation of
The farmers few years. ago that the
price Of cotton was advanced from
: cents to IL cents. lie had just re-
turned from the meeting of the Ma
tinnal Union at Tcxarkana, Texas,
where great interest and enthusiasm
were manifest on every side. Re-
ports from $4,000 local Unions from,
every section Of Texas. representa-"
membership of nearly 100000, in
dicatcd great and incalculablc de-
t"ri"rati"n in the cotton crop. Many
members reported that in August in
some parts of Texas the prospects
seemed to Indicate bale to a bale
and a half to the acre. now the indi-
cation painted to nnl v about onc-halt
bale to the acre. The boil weevi has
played havoc with the crops in many
sections Of the state and what i, Stat
"d about Texas is equally true as to
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and
ether cotton growing states, with the
l'"SSible exception of Oklahoma, and
this state does not produce much cot
ION.
Mr.. G"odwin sail the law Of supply
and demand does not seem to cut
much figure with the cotton crop
that when the price was down to 5
cents. the cotton spectators cried
"nt "Supply and dcmand,' and il
was the same thing when cotton was
at seven cents and nine cents and
twelve cents and even when it reach
q sixteen cents, it was that same in
Flexible law Of supply and demand.
lie argued that this law so-caled
seemed not to effect the farmer in
The sale "i his staple crops.
The speaker discussed the action OF
the ba%ging trust and cotton tie men
in advancing the price of covering for
cotton. Pieccd bagging had advanced
from 4 3-S cents yard in the early
spring to something like or 10
cents now. Why the mills had done
this he was unable to explain, but he
believed the farmers should take tho
matter in hand and not continue to
pay and cXhorbitunt tribute to mills
and ha2gin% and tie men. He urged
cooperation among the producers of
cotton in the purchase of their bag
ging and ties.
The matter Of fertilizers was also
discussed. He said that state geolo-
INST Earle Sloan, in his report to
the legislature few years ago, as to
the comparative cost Of manufactur-
IN: acid phosphate and ammoniatcd
Fertilizers. said that acid phosphate
l0-l could be placed f. q. b. ears in
Columbia for $3.4S ton after paying
all expenses in preparation, all the
work to be performed by convict la
Dor, IT the work is done by free labor
it would cost not over $6.35 a ton on
ears in Columbia. He said the cost
OF the rock before it is ground is $2.-
go a ton. He further said that am
moniated fertilizers g. 1922 could be
manufactured and placed on the cars
in Columbia at cost not exceeding
$l0.75. In commenting on this re-
port of Prof. Sloan, Mr.. Goodwin urg-
ed the farmers to buy their own in
"redients, muriatc OF potash sui
phuric acid, am ..""'a in blood or fish
scrap or cotton seed meal and mix
the ingredients themselves. He had
found that from actual experience
that this plan worked well and paid
him handsomely.
Mr.. Goodwin 5 address was inter-
estmg and was heartily enjoyed by
all present.
NJ. a Mahaffpy State Oroon;z