Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-10
The Farmers Union.

In an editorial last Tuesday, we ad-
vised the Farmers of York county to
reorganiZe their Union, which they
have allowed to become more or less
dormant, and we want to repeat that
advice in a little more detail and with
a little more emphasis.
We are quite we'll aware Of the fact
that the farmers themselves are luke
warm on this subject, and that there
is pretty general feeling Of hostility
the idea Of a strong organization
among the farmers; but we insist, that
If the farmers want to safeguard their
own best interest in all that pertains
to their best welfare, it is absolutely
necessary that they maintain strong
organization, and in our opinion the
Union is by far the best thing in sight.
There is more or less organization
in every business, every industry and
in every profession. The reason Of it is,
because the experiences Of ages have
taught men of intelligence and dis
cernment that more can be accom-
plished in any given direction by
united effort than by individual effort.
This applies to operations, both Of Of
fense and defense, and it applies as
much to the farmer as to the follower
of any other occupation.
We take no stock in the rot that is
so freely dealt in by demagogues and
other mischief makers about the down
trodden and oppressed farmer. II
there are any in this country who are
down trodden and oppressed, it is
largely their own fault Maybe it Is
because of ignorance or lack Of knowl-
edge as how to take care of them
selves; but nevertheless their own
fault, or misfortune. We do not think
that everybody is out cunning for the
farmer We know they are not. But
still there are plenty Of good reasons
why the farmer should have a good,
strong organization, and in their fall
ure to maintain such an organization
they are heavy losers.
While everybody is not out cunning
for the farmer, there are some that
prey upon his inability to take care of
himself. There are people who would
just as lief skin a farmer as anybody
else, and there are people who make
a business of this kind of thing. The
people who do the skinning, however,
are the exception, and the farmers who
allow themselves to be skinned are the
exception. We are very well aware
that the percentage Of farmers who
are able to take care Of themselves, is
just as large as Is the percentage in
any other class that is able to do the
same thing; but that is not altogether
the point.
1t is the duty of people who are able
to take care Of themselves to lend a
hand in helping to take care of others.
1t is the duty Of the strong to stand
by the weak, and as easy as it may
seem, there is no better or more eff
fective way to help anybody than to
show him the way he should go. The
strong farmers, therefore need to help
the weak ones, first, because it is right,
and second as a matter of foresight
against the time when positions
change, and those who are now strong
may have become weak and need the
help of the weak, who may have be-
come strong.
In this world of wickedness and
strife, it often happens that good, hon
est men are imposed upon just because
they are not able to help themselves.
These include farmers. The unfair
and unjust men who do the imposing
are generally sneaking towards, who
would not dare act as they do, if they
thought their victims could help them
selves. A good, strong organization,
founded upon principles of right. like
the Farmers Union, and dominated by
men of character and ability, such as
are numerous among the farmers, is