The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-12
FARMERS MEETING PLANNED


To the Farmers OF South Carolina:
As the time draws nearer for the
annua meeting OF the state Farmers
union at the isle Of Palms, July 23-
-. must again ask you what steps
are you taking to make that meeting
OF real service to yourselves and the
great state OF South Carolina? The
ofscers OF the Farmers union have
invited you land that means YOU,
Brother Farmer. not your neighbor)
To meet with us on July 23d I'm an
open meeting to discuss two subjects
upon which depends much that stands
Tor the prosperity OF the state, viz:
The marketing OF cotton, and the use,
misuse and purchase OF commercial
fertilizer. We have the promise of
4'r. Bradford Knapp and Mr.. C. ].
Brand Of Washington and Col. e. ].
Watson and Mr.. w. w. Long of South
Carolina. to address us on this occa-
sion. The first two on cotton market
ing. the two latter on fertilizers and
how To buy and use them properly.
Now we know without your telling
Us 20. that four addresses without
any 'back-talx" VIII be too much for
any audience this hot weather, no
matter how refreshing the breezes of
old ocean may fan us Therefore, we
want YOU. not your neighbor. to 20
To this meeting cooked. primed and
loaded. to make IL your meeting. Ask
questions. tell your experiences, and
let no phase OF these subjects escape
your notice. Then we will have n
meeting that will make 1919 epochal
I'm the history OF farming In South
Carolina
So much to the farmers of the State
generally. Below you will find the last
letter from National President Bar
rett i want the members and off,
GERS OF the Farmers union TO read IL
and ponder well the Thoughts he ex-
presses. I wish could burn into your
brains the words OF the fifth para
graph OF his letter-"Your emancipa-
ton. your freedm. your right. 80.
Must come from your own efforts,
your own organization through plans
formulated within your own ranks
and I believe through the Farmers
union"--"Stand by your guns" Bro.
Reid has sent me list OF the unions
that are alive In the State, and one
OF those that have fallen by the way
side because the road was 'long and
stumpy." Are you going TO quit be-
cause OF some discouragements? The
most idolized as well as the most
hated man In South Carolina said he
had "a lone and stumpy road TO trav-
el" before he could be governor Of the
State. 1. he had given up as you have
done tmany OF you his devoted fol.
lowers). would he have ever been
governor? Would he have ever
reached the honorable place in the
United states senate which ne now
hoids7 My friends. you have forgot
ten your own history of but yesterday.
Surely surely the men who have bat
tied on both sides so valiantly for the
good OF South Carolina politically
since '7s. will not fail In this contest
for economic and social and business
freedom which is the rallying cry OF
the goth century.
Two weeks remain In which you
can reorganlze your feeble locals and
have your counties adequately repre-
sented at the annual meeting. You
do not need TO have some outsider or
even deputized organizer. IL you wish
Go be In the greatest movement for
economic reform. get In now, and do
a mans. yes and woman's part.
Most OF you know that the good wo-
men are eligible To membership. bring
them I'm. and see how much more In
teresting your meetings will be.
r. W. Dabbs.
President South Carolina Farmers
Union.