The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-07-28
PRESIDENT HARRIS SPEAKS.
At Farmers Union Barbecue at Po-
maria-Good Advice to Farm
ers.

Mr.. IS. Harris, President OF the State
Farmers union was present and
spoke to the farmers. After dinner
an address was delivered by Mr.. Nc
haffey. Mr.. Harris was introduced
by Mr.. Wcdaman, secretary Of the
Pomaria union.
Mr.. Harris spoke on those ques-
tions which interest the farmer. He
said that this year especially, there
was much speaking in all parts of the
country by men, who were asking the
farmers to do something for them.
He did not ask anything for himself.
but he hoped to say something and do
something which would be of bcne-
fit to the farmers. He said he was
boy during the war and had no
chance to secure ali education, and
therefore made no pretense at ora
tory, but he felt he had message
which he was compelled to deliver to
the farmers of his State, and that If
he failed in doing so, he would be held
to account for such failure
Mr.. Harris said he had three planlSs
in his platform, which he thought
were broad enough and strong
enough to hold any nan. His first
plank WIS organization. His second
plank was cooperation, and his third
plank was diversification of crops.
lie said every farmer should and
could make his home SCI" sustaining,
and that he ought to have done so
Forty years ago, and he was sony
that he had to ut this day, plead for
It
Mr.. Harris said that there wa:
nothing that confronted the farmers
today, which should interest them
more. than the Farmers Cooperative
and Educational Union. 1t embodied
everything, and he hoped that those
present had come to tire mc,tin" wlti
a purpose. and if they had, they
would be benefited, but if they had
come simply to get Il good barbecue
dinner they would receive but little
benefit.
Few men know what organization
is, and what it will do. If we had
graspcd the power of organization for
ty years ago, we would have been
kings today instead Of slaves as we
are. Organization has given power
to those on tho other side. We have
in the southland, the gran'cst coun-
try on earth and still the farmers are
livin" in poverty and slavery. The
trouble is with the farmer himself,
and the blame should fall where it is.
So long as the farmer blamcs some
body else for what he should do him
self, conditions will aor change.
Mr.. Harris said if he were to ask
any one present what he Is going to
get for his cotton he would say he
did not know. Aren't YOU the big
gcst fools in the world, producing Il
product which the world has got to
have, and Of which YOU have mon
opoly without knowing what you are
going TO Get for it IF YOU had stu
died Your business as boot blacks do,
you would be getting twenty-five
cents per pound for your cotton to-
day. The boot black knows what he
is going to GET for shining your shoes
before he begins, and You 90 on pro-
durm" the greatest staple in the
world, without KNOWN" what If costs
You for If and what YOU are. going to
get for il.
The Farmers Union durin" the
past four years has saved to the
South and the cotton producer $3.50
per bale, which amounts to about
eighty million dollars added to the
wealth. of South Carolina in four
years. The Farmers Union has adj
dcd this. Can YOU see any. benefit ?
The farmers are improving their
homes, educating them children, and
even the panic which came last fall
did not hurt the people It was intcnd-
ed to hurr.
Mr.. Harris gave several illustra-
tions to slow that when the price was
fixed at fifteen cents it was not too
high, and If the farmers would only
organize, they could secure any rca-
sonabl price they would ask. Capital
had been the cause of every labor or
ganization in the world. Organiza-
iton was accessory in order to self
protection, and self preservation. We
should all cndcavor to make the world
better. You arc either making it bet
for Or W0rSE Thnrn * 10 snch ihino