Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-04-29
The Ring of the True Metal.

luS lsiNS VI NlGIaI.
This voice, from a good, solid Far
mers' Union member, has in 1t ring
of the true metal:
At strong county Farmers I'm
ion meeting, few days back, the
question of releasing member from
his obligation to hold his cotton for
the minimum Of Is cents, was up for
discussion, when one Of the "old war
horses" Of that class of plain living
and high thinking farmers got the
floor and made the fur fly thick and
fast. He said in part as follows:
Brethren, remember that hen you
break ranks by selling cotton for less
than the minimum price, when you
are not absolutely Obliged to do 50,
that you are selling out your faith
in yourself and brethren, as we'll as
your personal character and reputa-
tion, of the most powerful organiza-
ton of farmers that has ever existed.
You are selling out all your trophies
OF victory that you have gained by
hard fighting and privation in sue
cessful campaign of the last three
years.
And more, you may be selling out
the freedom and liberty Of your pos
terity by your continuation Of tamely
shrinking away to the rear from the
very aggressive forward march Of
combines that are organized to op-
press the farmer.
If your condition Is so that you
cannot arrange to hold yoNr cotton
longer, you have made the mistake
in trying to hold cotton that did not
belong to you. I congratulate you
on your grit and stiff backbone, but
/ doubt your wisdom in trying to
hold down bale of cotton with only
rhe sweat ard hard labor Of last sum-
mer pitted against the hard cash that
the other man put into your cotton
The wear of time, winter rains, sleet
or snow, has tendency to fade away
your claim of hard labor and sweat,
while the good, ink on papers you
gave to the other fellow for his dol
lars in your cotton refuse to fade
out. Moral, raise some cotton of
your own and quit being slave to
debt and king cotton.
These are times of storm and
stress when mems hearts fail them
for fear"
Producers of cotton and the buy
ers and organized spectators In cot
ton are living in war relations.
No great victory was ever won
without correslo ending hand-fought
battle. The leading members Of the
Farmers Union, who are now out
facing the firing line, or in the thick
Of the storm Of combinations against
organized farmers, are the targets
for the enemies shots, as well as
the fire from their own ranks. The
most abused men in the union are
the ones that are doing the most
hard work and sending hot shot into
our enemies line that count for
something.
When you see a nerson barking at
anu DoooCooCu VI III
fluence, you may know that like a
dog at the foot Of tree, he barks
because he cannot climb
The Farmers Union Is straight
out organized body of farmers who
: are up against all that class who are
, organized to pull the farmer.
When farmers organizations have
aised the lid off that held down
prices on his products, then money
will be plentiful in the country.
When there is money coming into
the farmers pocket freely, then all
others who are dependent upon the
farmer for patronage will get good
trade.
If the farmer has no profit In his
!'u' 'nn$c be has no money to spend.
Who is 1t that smiles at you when
cotton is low, and looks serious
when pirces are soaring high?
Watch out now for friends and foe,
the enemies Of the farmers move