The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-06-06
Farmers Union VS.. Mill Merger.

the Farmers union, was in Edgeheld
last Saturday. coming for the purpose
of rehabilitating and reViving interest
in the order. It is known fact that
it is a herculean task to organize the
farmers for any purpose, save it be-
political, and still more difficult to
hold them together, due very largely
to scattered habitation and diversity
of opinion. At one time the Farmers
union was a potent factor IN this
county, doing a splendid work, but
of latter years interest has abated and
apathy has crept in. Then again the
planters are at present reaping their
grain, demanding personal supervis-
ion, and for these reasons very few
greeted Mr.. Holloway, too few to JUS
tify an address, Mr.. Holloway has
canvassed large part of the State,
and at our solicitation briefly outlined
what he has been saying to his broth
er farmers; and without undertaking
to quote him literally, We shall pre-
sent some of the excellent advice he
is giving. At the outset he ippresses
one. and is man of education, broad
views, and catholic spirit, possessed
Of a conservative; sane common sense
that constitutes him a safe leader and
at once dissipates any idea of the
demagogue or anarchist. In the first
place, said he, my mission is one Of
education and to encourage and rem
der hope of a better life and better
conditions to those who cultivate the
soil of this our great State.
1t is true that the dawn of a new
era is upon us and thot today there
are farmers who are riding the waves
of prosperity, and even living in af-
fuence, but these are conspicuous ex-
ceptions to the general rule, the truth
being that the average farmer is he'd
ged in by the unbending laws of pow
erty, and have desperate struggle to
make ends meet. AS an amelioration
to the condition, persistently preach
the oft told but little needed lesson
of raising their supplies at home, and
having cotton as a surplus crop. A
simple remedy, but the fundamental
keynote to the success OF the aver
/ age farmer. You know that the I'm
ion stands for those old time Jefrer-
sonian cardinal principles of "equal
rights for all and special privileges
for none," and We are against the
trusts and special Interests that seem
to be more powerful than the govern
ment ITSELF; and this leads me to re-
mark that am dead against the pro-
posed mill merger and I do not hesi-
tate to tell my people so. In doing
this I absolutely eschew politics and
how it will effect the mill employers.
The promoters Of, this move assign
among others the following reasons
in justification for the step; that it. is
desired to economic by the curtail-
ment of the number of officers, cleri-
cal force and expense, and to cut out
the selling commissioners, so far so
good No organization or man would
desire to cripple or impede the prog
ress of the mills or other developers
of the country land the employment of
any reasonable business methods to
advance their Interest is perfectly le-
gitimate, but when it is proclaimed
that one of the purposes of the mer-
ger is to cheaper the price of cotton,
| then there arises a divergence be-
tween the interests of the mills and
! the farmers for which neither I or
the order I represent can stand. I
believe that if effectuated the merger
will sooner or later bring about such
a result. Not only so but that the
things they sell the farmer will in
crease in price. A monopoly of this
kind will shut out all competition
and put it beyond the power of inde-
pendent or local enterprises Of
similar nature to exist. It will ncs
do to say that the merger can not so
share matters as to effect the price
of cotton. Possibly not at once, or
if the merger be confined to the mills
of this State; but the apprehension
is, and no one is hardly so blind that
he can foresee that it will widen and
widen until it not only incorporates
| the mills of the State and South. but
of the nation, and where is the limit
! to so powerful a financial combine?
You know that the Standard Oil COM
pany first started upon a small scale,
hut