The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1911-08-02
LEXINGTON, S. C.. WEDNESDAY AUGUST l91
by December the farmerwould have
to give his cotton away.


to give his cotton away.
Mr.. Holloway opened the eyes OF his
hearers when he made the statement
that rs per cent of the cotton raised in
South Carolina is raised by negroes,
and that 81 per cent of the farms in
the state are owned and worked by
negroes. These are deplorable condi-
tions and should not be, be said.
Speaking to the negroes in the andi-
ence Mr.. Holloway said:
"You are here as an industrial being
but when you get above your positions
we are going to crush you out. Auy
other race who attempts to arrogate
themselves In power above the white
people, that race will be crushed out "
He scored the negro organizations
the various societies-and declared
that most of them had as their object
the detriment of the white race. Mr..
Holloway said that in many Of the
counties he has visited every negro
school house has second floor which
is used as "society" hall and, since
the negroes are in the majority in
South Carolina, the white people have
got to prepare for these negro organ
izations. These statements we're
made, however, to show the trend OF
events, and not to cause prejudice
against the negro.
''In ten years you will have to deal
with the negro organized" declared
the speaker, and the object Of the
Faemers' Union is to mobilize 80 that
the white people may be able and pre-
pared to face any move made by the
negroes. The merchants are organ
lied, the doctors are organized, the
lawyers are organized, the bankers
are organized-every other profession
has an organization, while the farmers
are only working for their health"
be saiG.
The cotton mill merger was heavily
scored by the speaker. Mr.. Holloway
laid particular stress on the Parker
mill merger, He declared that Mr..
smythe has planned to let all of his
sons-in-law, cousins and other kindred
into the merger. and run the several
mills to suit himself.
Mr.. Holloway said that one cotton
mill alone in South Carolina had paid,
in one year, the sum of $S4, 600 to SELL
ing agents, and yet turned into the
treasury of the mill in dividends $751;
600 for its stockholders. "It is a pity
that the Southern cotton mills are
operated by capital from the North,"
said be. "and there is something rot
ten up the creek.' He ri6iculed the
statements of the merger people, and
declared that the mills are combining
for the purpose of controlling the price
of the raw material and in an effort to
secure cotton for 10 cents a pound
this fall.
The Standard Oil combine, the Steel
Trust and other combinations were
assailed by the speaker who attempted
to show how they we're all W. rking
against the masses-the great band of
farmers. The success of every COM
mercial and financial Institution de-
pends upon the price of cotton, he
said, and when the price Of cotton is
high there is general prosperity. The
farmers put their money in the banks
and the corporations use it to their
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The merchants
and manufacturers use it, he declared.
1T is right for the banks to organize,
but it is not right for them to organize
against the farmers.''
Mr.. Holloway closed by urging the
farmers to join the Union; to organize
and make use of the golden opportu-
mites now lying before them. The
farmers are the uncrowned kings of
this country, and is time they we're
coming unto their own.
Mr.. Holloway made an earnest and
strong appeal, and was literally ap-
plauded.
The meeting came to close with an
address by Mr.. Sharpe, in which he
urged the people to, turn out and vote
in the school election.
It was big day for Edmund and
for tie lower section Of the county,
and will doubtless bring results in the
years to come.