The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-07-10
Era DAY At LEEsvILLE.


and Enthusiastic Audience of the
Sturdy Sons Of Toll on Monday Last
Organization Formed.
d The farmers meeting at Leesville
Monday was well attended by the
sturdy sons Of toll, but owing to the
fact that this is a very busy season OF
the yeara time when days work
son the farm counts far more than at
any other period mot as many farm
ers were present as would have other
wise been. But, while the meeting
was not so large, it was an enthus-
iastic gathering, and many ladies
spraced the occasion by their presence.
Mr.. Smith won the hearts of his hear
ers. as he usually does, by his earnest
ness of speech and magnificent TOW
of words. He is indeed, an entertain
ing speaker and knows his subject
well.
The meeting was held in the college
auditorium and DR.. D. NJ. Crosson,
himself large farmer and entertain
ing speaker, presided over the meet
inc and introduced Hon. E.. D. Smith.
Right here we might mention that
ON account of pressing business Messrs.
HYATT and Weston could not be pres
ent.
/ x Mr.. Shnith began his interesting adj
dress by relating an incident in which
he presented medal to charming
Young lady of Leesville college for
voice culture at the last commence
ment exercises, and assuring the peo-
ple of Leesyille that he was glad to
again meet with them. The subject
for his address was the great impor-
! tance of the farmer, merchant and
banker getting closer together in their
business relations, and especially SO
in dealing with cotton. That the
& farmer should not sell his cotton for
mere song; that the price OF the
staple was governed altogether by the
sway it is marketed. Farmers should
stand together. They should form an
alliance for their own protection and
for the betterment of the whole coun-
try. Cotton is king of the South and
upon this one product the whole
nation prospers. Millions could be
made By unity of action on che part
of the farmer. If we form an alliance
and work together we are bound to
succeed. Farmers Of the South can't
compete with the great West In the
nroduction of meat and grain, but
they can raise their own supplies, and
by SO doing, enable themselves to
hold cotton for their own price. Cot
+ ton should be sold by degrees-not all
at once. The buyer represents the
capital Of the country; it is his pur-
pose to buy as much distress cotton
as possible that is the cotton that
the average farmer has to sell early
In the fall to meet his obligations to
the merchant who furnished him with
guano and other supplies during the
summer, and the proft-Whatever il
might be-is all his. The purpose OF
the farmers, organization is to build
warehouses and to buy this distress
cotton, thus giving the profits to the
farmer instead Of the speculator who
stays in New York and never sees
this cotton, and the whole. OF the
commercial world is against this class
OF farmers. The strong should pro-
tect the weak, and this can only be
done by organization and unity OF
action.
The mills send out agents early in
the season with instructions to buy at
fancy prices and the farmer sells.
When enough cotton is had to run the
mills for good, long period, they let
the price drop and the farmer is the
loser every time. He advised the
farmers to guard against these ''catch
prices" and to place their cotton in
the warehouse; that $40 could be Sc
cured on every bale of cotton and in
this way the farmer can finance his
own product, the same as the mer-
chant and banker does now. This is
the main object of the Southern Cot
ton association. As it stands now
the farmer and laborers are their own
enemies. Mr.. Smith related how the
North, right after the war, forced the
South to raise six cent cotton; how
the men came home disheartened,
and in pathetic words-words that
touched the hearts of all present-told
how the dear women of the South
worked with their husbands on the
farm to rebuild their wasted and de.
stroyed homes. But the situation has
changed and now the South is in full
control of the situation, and will con
tinue to be long as the farmers
stick together.
He ridiculed the government re.
ports on cotton. The government
sends out agents to see how much
cotton is made, but not once will they
tell YOU how much cotton is needed
to snpply the demand.
Let us meet the conditions; we car
do it. The mill men and the farmers
viii never get together. Hold yom
cotton and dictate the price.
After Mr.. Smiths address farm
ers' organization was formed with the
following officers: DR.. D. N. Cros'
son, president; D. A. Quattlebaum
secretary; 81. A. Meetze, treasurer.
Altogether the meeting was one Of
the best ever held and results are
bound to follow.
There is quite q lot of sickness now:
The doctors have all they can do ano
oAt A nnfnhQT ri