Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-01
THE FILBERT PICNIC.

camp, "OOuIIleH VI TIE "OElu, Was
held at Filbert last Friday. The larg-
est crowd in the history Of the picnic
was present. A conservative estimate
placed the crowd at between 5000 and
1000. The people came from all sec
tions of York county and there were
quite few from Chester.
The day was bright and clear and
was everything that could be wished
for picnic day. The picnic was held
in the grove to the left of the station.
The band and the speakers stand as
well as several refreshment stands had
been built in the grove. The picture
man and the 'one time-one cigar"
man were also present. The large
crowd was In good humor and there
was no trouble to mar the pleasures
of the day.
The principal attraction Of the day
was the speaking. The committee had
invited several prominent men to
make addresses. The speaking began
at about 1890 o'clock. Senator w. H.
Stewart of Rock Hill, presided. In q
few we'll chosen remarks he welcomed
the people to the picnic and stating
that no meeting should open with
out asking Gods blessing upon it, ask
ed all present to rise and stand un-
covered while Mr.. ]. G. Conner Of
Yorkville offered a prayer. Senator
Stewart then introduced as the first
speaker, Col. Tom. c. Hamer Of Ben
nettsville, the head consul of the
Woodmen in this state.
The subject Of Mr.. Hamer's address
was 'Woodcraft." He opened by say
ing that this was the first time that he
had ever been in York county, but Il
feel at home just the same" Mr.
Hamer told Of the beginning Of Wood
craft and it's growth to the present
time. He discussed the insurance
feature and the purpose of the order
and urged the sovereigns to work to
bring good, new material into the
Forest" Mr.. Hamer made an inter-
esting talk and was well received.
The next speaker was Major John G.
Richards Of Kershaw county, who was
a candidate for governor last year, and
is now one of the railroad commission
ers. He thanked the people who voted
nothing but the kindest feelings for
those who saw fit to vote against him.
The subject Of Mr.. Richards address
was the Farmers Union" He told
how all other classes of business were
organized and therefore were protect
ed. 1t Is necessary for the farmers to
get together to protect their interests
and the Farmers Union Is the place
for them to get together. He referred
to the Manufacturers association, re-
solving to curtail the output of their
mills thereby curtailing the use of the
raw cotton and also the "edict" Of the
association limiting the amount Of
bagging to be put on bale Of cotton
to six yards. All of this was done to
force down the price of cotton. Told
Of how he had seen farmers in Lam
caster and Kershaw counties forced
by cotton buyers to cut off part Of the
bagging on their cotton when they Of
fered it for sale. He said the actions
of the Manufacturers association was
an insult to the farmer and they must
organize to protect themselves against
such insults. In the Farmers Union,
he said, lay the hope and salvation of
the farmers and he urged the farmers
Of York county to get into the Union
and help to build 1t up. Mr.. Richards
made an earnest address, which was
we'll received throughout.
Senator Stewart then announced
that the chairman of the committee in
charge of the picnic had just had a
telephone message from Governor
Blease stating that it would be impos-
sible for him to be present, because of
unforeseen circumstances that would
keep him in Columbia. This announce
ment was a severe disappointment to
majority Of the crowd, which had
came principally because of the prom
ise of the opportunity to hear Govern
or Blease.
Senator Stewart then introduced ex-
Governor John Gary Evans of Spar
tanburg. Mr.. Evans thanked the peo-
pie for their invitation. He had been
trying to get here for five or six years;
but heretofore something had always
turned up to keep him away. Mr..
Evans discussed the great organization
of the state and said the people should
be careful to choose good men for pub
lie officers. He thought it was time
too, for southern man to be president
OF the United States. He told how
Washington, Jefferson and a host Of
other southern men had started the
great United States government and
of the work they did. He discussed the
reciprocity bill just passed by congress
and gave his idea of what it means to
us. Next he told of the work Champ
Clark, o. w. Underwood and John
Sharp Williams, all southern men, are
now doing in congress. He talked on
lIC ulSSOlullOIl VI Tic DlS
what effect it would have upon us.
He said the time had come when the
farmers must diversity their crops.
Said he had seen a cotton picker at
work out west where the land was
level and as it would not work on
hill, he feared that the farmers of this
section could not afford to raise cotton
and compete with the farmers of the
west. Told of the great manufacturing
interests of the Piedmont section and
told the farmers to encourage them
rather than fight them. Told of Jerry
Moore and the wonderful work he had
done in advertising the state, stressed
the Importance of education and urged
the people to uphold the school teach
er and the preacher. Mr.. Evans closed
by saying that he was not candidate
for any office, that he was now out Of
politics and expected to stay out. Mr..
Evans made a strong speech, which
was enjoyed by all the crowd.