The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-18

the farmer and the wheels OF progress are
Through his Intelligent effort all life is sus.
tanned. by his honest toll, through the sweat
OF his brow all the earth is given 1000 ana
raiment. These truths being established,
fixed; the question very naturally arises, why
IL life upon the farm becoming 80 undesirable
Why 's II that so many of our very best Gu.
zenS are deserving their farms ana moving
into the already crowded towns ana cltlgs o.!
the State. and into the cotton mliihI why
does not agriculture, the one essential, Keep
pace in the great march OF progress WILD
the others branches of Industry? why | ask
should the producer ofthe raw material tne
basis of wealth not enjoy remuneratlVe pro-
fits from his labors, while those VINO trafhc
In the products Of his labor grow rich? 49,.
These are the question, MIR: Chairlnans, that
the Farmers Union of this County, State and
Nation are called upon 10 answer. THESE are
the.problems that we are TO force and solve.
IL is the great mission, the God given mfr
sion OF the Farmers Union through It's great
organization to determine the causes OF these
evils and remove them.
We nave the numerical strength. the man.
hood and Intelligence, and we can and must
accomplish the great work. This meeting
was called today, Mr., Chairman and gentle
men, for the purpose OF discussing these very
issues, and assist In every way posslole In tne
great fight for fhe advancement OF agrlcul.
ture, ard through 1t the promotion tof all
other interests OF our common country. Inc
Union takes up the fight my friends where
the Grange and Alliance lett u. ihete once
PTeHI WOio -
enemies, and went after strange GODS ana
died worshipirg al the altar OF the false Prop,
bets, 1t Ia not necessary 10 discuss IN oetali
the causes which lead To the overthrow OF lhe
orSanizations, II is efficient TO note that
they disintergrated before ccomplish1ng the
great purpose for which they are formed,
namely, the emancipation OF Inc FARMERS
from financial bondage and oppression, we
who are members OF the Union have q very
great in that we have seen
the shoals in which these organlzaIlons
went 10 pieces. and we nave sumcient in.elio,
these breaker We may be assured OF the
fact my friends. that II we observe our consti-
tuition, and adhere strictly TO our great decla-
| ratiorS OF purpose, that the Farmers Union
will go until II has accomplished lis great pur
pose, has won It's great fight, and her i've on
to enjoy the fruits OF its victory aud TO de-
fend and protect the right and liberties whlch
II has restored to our people,.
The Unions work as ! conceive IL MI. Chair
man, is twofold IN It's nature; u bas destrnc-
tive as we'll as constructive mission. Inc
authorities In the agricultural department az
Clemson College will tell you, and all lntell'
gent farmers, those who have bad experience
know that there are,!nsect which hasten them
selves upon the growing crops, ana Wltnoue
intelligent cultivation and fertilization 10
destroy the parasites or supply q proper ANIL
dote 10 counteract the ravages ofthese pesks
that crops must suffer great II jury ana q cor.
responding reduction In yield will NECESSARY.
~ follow, But there is a greater enemy and
more Injurious agency TO the farmers lnterest
than the insensible parasite and II Is me
human parasite that I5eys upon ,h bae
have been harvested. These lunar monster
these depraved animals are TO be found not
only In Wall Street, but In allthe great COM
mercial cepters OF the country, and they
shoa d and must be destroyed and II lie one
OF The great missions OF the farmers union 10
do the work.
prof perity that 1t should, and the farmers
attain 10 bis natural, bis rightfnl position OF
indep tndence and have that influence IN the
commercial world that bis importance DE,
mards, while the great laws OF supply and
demand are abIogsted are destroy ed by Inc
| SPECTATORS and gem whenever IL sults
there purpose 10 DO 10, ,
There are laws against the negro craps
gambler and gamblers OF all classes with
cards, but these spectators In, and gamblers
upon the pecesssaries OF life. are allowod 10 go
SCOT free. and continue their neiarious prac'
tices while the country suffers, II is q natlons
shame hat IL Ia true.
It is impossible to determine. MIR. Chair
man the millions OF dollars that are Tossed 10
the agricultural Interests OF ms County,
offsets Of this speculation IN the prodpcts OF
the f. rm by these leeches, these gamblers. ,.
This legalized robbery IL not only pefmliteo
BY the Congress OF the United States, but 1t
has deve!opsd that lis hidels and abetlors
have been found in the very cabinet Of the
President himself. IL was a hundred years
presently constructed before the great agri-
cultural classes Of America received any rec
ignition whatever, In the adminlstratlVe de-
| partment OF the government, although, the
greater part OF our population ls engagea ~
Horticultural pursuits, and the greater part OF
the Nations wealth Ia invested In mat great
industry. This bureau OF agriculture was
established In the Interests OF The farmer,
this taIdy recognition was given on account
of the importance, the greatness In Volved,
and yet not q half dozen years bad elapsed
after the Gre alton OF this department at Wash
ington before these human leeches had got.
ten control OF the Bureau OF Information
were sending out false reports that hsd for
their purpose the depressing OF the prices OF
farm products. and the fleeing OF our people.
Through bis scheme the farmers were de-
frauded out OF millions Of hard earned dollars
before the Farmers Union and the Farmer
Association detected the fraud, and through
their organization brought such pressure 10
bet r that the rascals were turned out.
The farmer my iriep de, has long been the
easy, the natural prey OF the other profession
Of lie, and II will continue just 80 long as
there is meek submission upon one part.
There Is q remedy, MIR. Chairman and broth
ef iarmers, If we will only display the proper
intelligence and determination 10 adopt ano
apply It. We can secure relief rom these
evils, these pernicious Influences IL We only
act upon our God given right and declare
openly and boldly, that through organization
and cooperation that we will tWage eternal
warfare upon all our M De they nalpr.
are secured, and the reign OF special privilege
is abolished apd eptiI ely Destroyed.
The farmers only relief Is TO be found In CO.
S %Ri.bout e DIt Ms tSn'T The work OF oGrsanizs.
tion should be pressed by the Union In The
United States. The agitation, the education
should be vigorously continued until every
farmer shall be made 10 see, that II ID Tor his
Individual interest as well as for the advanc-
ment OF our interest collectively that the
Union was organized.
We must demonstrate the great good that
| - - a a 4 ly honn apnnm nliEhEn WHILE WR Ia h0r
for greater conquest in the future.
Ireconize the fact, MIR. Chairman that 1t is
q difficult matter to organize the farmers,ano
hold them In compact and effective working
bodies. The causes for this are evident 10
every thinking mind. II Is on account OF
their great numbers and peculiar situation
living as they do In most instances miles
apart, II Is also on account OF the farmers
value independence OF thought ard action
bred in him, and cultivated from bis In Infancy
by bis circumstances and environ ment,
1t has been said in q haunting, sneeripg
manner by our enemies that the farmer can
not be organised and held together even for
his own interests. But this IL untrue, and q
reflection upon bis manhood and lntelligepce
for all history susiains the statement that
there is no CLASS Of cltlZeuR upon Gods green
earth Uho are more patriotic and deteruln-
ed, or who will respond with more uDanmity
and Iesdinees when the occasion demands
and they become convinced OF its necessity,
l believe The TAI mers are confronted by q
great crises, and that they will continue 10
come INTO The Uuion by thousands II they are
given the opportunity,
Now, what are some OF the advantages to
be derived from organization, from unapmity
OF purpose and sclior? In the first place 1t Is
only through organization that we can revo-
utiopize our present day methods OF tanning
spd marketing. We all realize Mr.. Chair
man that these two main essentiaIe, must
pre- vail II we are 10 1ptc ct I rosperity upon
the fal NJ. Intelligent farming, and the incl
ligent Opposition and marketing OF the crops
ailer they have been inside must be done
through education, and you cannot educate
without ORGANIZATION. The State and Nation