The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-10-03
farmers union PICNIC
A NOTABLE OCCASION.
SPEECHES BY PRESIDENT DABBS
AND COMMISSIONERS WATSON
ENTERTAIN AND INSTRUCT.

> ENTERTAIN AND INSTRUCT.
One of the most enjoyable and in
teresting public meetings held under
the auspices of the Williamsburg
Farmers Union was that which took
place Saturday afternoon in the
beautiful pine grove surrounding the
home of Mr. Jno S Fulton, about one
and a half miles from Kingstree.
The occasion had been previously ad-
vertised in The Record and circulars
distributed inviting everybody toat-
tenn and enjoy the big barbecue and
6iafc, and in view of the earnest ef-
forts put forth by the officers and a
few members of the local union to
ma@ the meeting a success in every
particular, we were surprised to See
so few Williamsburg farmers pres
ent, the gathering being largely COM
posed of business men from Kings
l tree, and ladies and children. How
lever, as above stated, the occasion
Mas highly interesting and enjoyable
3to every one present.
The weather was cool and pleasant
and by 2 o'clock the crowd had ali
assembled. The first speaker, Mr.
E w Dabbs, president OF the
State Farmers Union, was introduc-
ed by Mr. w D Daniel, president of
. the local union. Mr. Dabbs spoke
from the hurricane deck of a
farm wagon, giving his hearers facts
and logical argument as to how the
local union can and should promote
cooperation, especially in marketing
their farm products, if they would
reap the best results from their or
panization. He illustrated his talk
by citing several instances which had
come under his personal observation
wherein union farmers had been
greatly benefited by the co-opera-
tive movement. His entire discourse
was we'll received.
Commissioner of Agriculture E J
Watson was next introduced, and
spoke most instructively for half an
hour. Mr. Watson was under the
impression that our farmers devoted
too much time and energy to cotton
production, which they were often
forced to sell at sacrifice in order
to pay fertilizer bills and purchase
nShe necessaries of life, paying out an
taly $4,000, 900 for -four and Sl3,-
FOOGA pO for Western meat, whereas
sucSfood products could easily be
raised at home, cheaper and better.
Again, said Mr. Watson, you go down
in your jeans every year and take
out of your cotton money hunk
amounting to S6,000,000 and hand
it over to the Western farmers for
cheap grade of hay that they would
not use themselves. whereas, in South
Carolina hay, choice Bermuda grass
hay. equal to the best Of timothy,
nan be raised in abundance without
cost and without effort, as 1t is a
natsral growth upon our lands, but
instead of encouraging its growth
and maturity you fight it to get rid
of it and then turn around and pay
S1S to S25 ton for a Western ref
use called hay.
Eleven million dollars is the size
of the hunk you shell out annually
and send out to Missouri or some
OTTER place for mules that are not
one half as we'll adapted to condi-
tons here as our own pessel tails.
MIR Watson said he could tell Mis-
souri, mule by his grunt and ne had
heard several on his way out to the
grove. This S1l,OOO,000 our farm
ers bay for Missouri mules is taken
out of their cotton money. and so
on with most everything you use.
even down to canned blackOerrles.
Why, there was forty-seven bush
els of wheat raised in South Carolina
this wear. said the speaker and you
send away $50, 100000 of your cot
ton money for flour.
Mr. Watson said it has been clear
ly demonstrated that we can produce