The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-08
The Farmers Union.

trary. we believe that the Iarmer
should organize and make themsel
YES felt along Industrial lines as vel
as political lines, by voting only fol
sucn candidates for the Legislature
and Congress as will vote for meas
ures that willqbenefit the agricultu
raj interests of the country. The
farmers, along with the balance Of
US. are robbed of millions Of dollars
each year by the operations OF the
theiving tariff put in force by the
Republican party for the benefit OF
the trusts. This is only one OF the
ways that the farmers are robbed,
but it is one Of the greatest, and il
they can organize and break it W
they will benefit nine-tenths Of the
people Of this country. Feeling this
way we welcome the Farmers Union
to Orangeburg County and wish il
God speed.
!, The Union has a membership OF
nearly two million farmers accord,
ing to the latest figures made public
.by its officers. This membership is
distributed among all the agricultu.
raj States Of the West and South
It is an oath bound organization.
that is, the meetings of its local
Unions are secret, and its pledges,
such as agreeing not to sell cotton
or grain below a certain fixed price,
are taken under oath. That part Of
the Union which has to do with cot
ton is strongest in Texas, Arkansas,
Mississippi and Alabanaa, although
it has a fairly large membership
throughout Georgia and tive Caro-
linas.
Not only is the Union strong IN
numbers, but it has developed ip or.
ginization from the State association
down to the district. county and 10.
cal bodies, each having its, charter to
do business in the name Of the Un.
ion. Every State has a business
agent, whose duties are as we'll de-
fined as the duties Of State audi
tor. The idea underlying the whole
organization is elimination OF the
rniddleman and a saving to the far'
mers Of the commissions usually Sc
cured by him. II the Union ear
succeed in perfect!ng its plan to sch
directly to the consumer as it hopes
to do, it will save millions Of dollars
TO the farmers Of the South and
West, We hope they will succeed II
this noble work. @'..' - ':-.'',.A
The Union also seeks to regulate
4; speculation and establish more uni
form prices FOR. ~conamodiess from
wear TO year. It is,also' desired to
prevent the violent fluctuations thai
occur in the Autumn and Spring
The Autumn movement usually IS 9
decline caused by the fact that Sc
many farmers are forced to sell
their crop the minute it Is harvest
Cd in order to pay OF bills that have
!; ACCUMULATED during the growing
period. The Spring, huctuation, is
usually an advance due TO tbs eos'
nering Of the product during the
period when the farmers are sold
out or are too busy with their new
crop to haul their surplus to mar
ket.
In order to accomplish these OBJ
ieets the Union plans to distribute
the products more evenly through
out the year. and with that object
in view it is establishing warehouses
in all parts of the country. About
three years ago it began to build
these warehouses for cotton and
there are now from 600 to 800 Of
them in actual use. They have ca
pacity Of from 500 to $500 bales Of
cottya each. Farmers depositing II
these wsrehous can raise money OF
warehouse receipts and have their
cotton sold at any time they desire
But they are pledged not to accep'
less than the minimum price estab'
lished at e convention Of the Union
It is now admitted that the Union
is accomplishing great good for the
farmers and is securing them mil
lions of dollars more than they for
rnerly got for their crops. The sys
TEN employed by the Union has
worked we'll in the past, and there
is no reason Why it should not bt
more successful in. the future if the
farmers will all join the Union ane
stick to its rules. The Union ii
growing rapidly, and with it gigan
tie organization it will make itself
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