The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-07

of the generals gained fame for say
ing that while one must put his trust
in Providence, ne must at the same
time keep his powder dry. And that
is what the American people, as a
people, are doing. If they are deter
mined to see that each and every class
| gets what is coming to it, the more
intelligent see. with no less sureness,
that there is but one way to mater
ialiZe that dOctrine-and that is
through organization and eternal vigil
| lance.
The shipper, as an illustration, has
made up his mind to demand that
the railroads give him square deal
in the way Of freight rates, and the
railroads have made up their minds
that they are going to demand a
commissions and the interstate COM
merce commission.
But they do not let the resolution
! stop there. Both the shipper and
the railroad organize to the end Of in
suring the maintenance and the fur
| rherance Of their rights.
Business of every class, whether it
| is the big trust, the small corporation
| or the individual trading on his own
hook. all follow the same general
principal Of concentration and organ
| izatiOn.
In this great era Of readjustment
that has already been some years in
progress the farmer cannot afford to
| be an exception from the standpoint
| of organization.
We may think that the country-at-
large. congress. whether democratic
or republican, and the president re-
gardless of the parties or the in
f1uence that put him in the White
House, will not overlook. the world
wide tendency toward equalization
and that, therefore, the rights of the
farmer will be secure.
That sort of thinking is putting
ones trust in Providence; but it is
not keeping powder dry.
A certain amount Of confidence in
the other fellow is indispensable to
prosperity and development for. af-
ter all, We are in the same boat.
But if, as conditions in this coun-
try. whether as regards the tariff or
the cost of living, gradually readjust
themselves and the farmer does not
get exactly what is his duet will
he the fault of the farmer.
/ The boy who knows he is entitled
to certain-sized slice Of pie when
the pie is being cut, Is foolish to stay
away from the cutting process. He
must be Tgrt there when the knife
gets busy and h. must have ready q
vigorous protest if me knife: deiibs.-
ately or acc.dentalIy sips ir the ii
reo..on o. cutting down his portion.
The only manner in which the far
mer can get his share of pie in this
country is through organization, not
ramby pamby organization, but in
telligent, aggressive organization.
With every class organizing and
planning to enforce the demands Of
what it regards as it's rights, it is in
cumbent upon the farmer to pursue
the same course. We need not expect
the nation to voluntarily accord us
all that is our due, unless we indi-
tate by actions rather than words
that we are in deadly earnest. And
when the country does find out that
We, are determined to exact what are
cur rights-no sless. no more--it will
very quickly accord those rights.
Take politics as you take business,
coolly, without .prejudice. already al
ways to ignore the politician who has
betrayed in the past and to put in his
place the candidate whose words have
not been merely empty promises
| need not tell the, men assembled
here before me, that there is little
use for widespread pessimism, or
| broadside denunciation. I'm the past,
too many Of our members have been
given to viewing, with alarm or to
following the fellow who makes the
| largest noise.
We are getting out of that habit
rapidly. and you men before me, who
mites, can be of material aid in
greater progress in the right direc-
| tiOn by discOuraging allegiance t0 the
promises everything, but who qeay re-
| deem nothing.