The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-30
A Farmers Views

A
| Dear Sir:
While it rains to day and the wealth.
er is looking dark and gloomy, and
| with the future looking still darker,
my mind wonders back TO the horried
war between the States. To carefully
review the past sixty years.
We find that in eighteen and sixty
fve the hand of fate, signed sealed
and delivered, the Southern farmer 10
serve deceptive greed, and to worship
King Cotton, he has held his job down
we'll this far. AS I will attempt to
show the young reader IF the editor
OF The Times. will kindly, give me q
little space.
Previous to the civil war, the farmers
of this lovely country of ours held their
own. BY the way. this writer believes
that many of those that advocated the
cause of freedom of the negroes, did it
more for the purpose OF disposesslng the
Southern farmer of his envied position
than 10 mercy for the negroes, at least,
we know full well that some of the q
were among the first to seek to place
and to Keep the unfortunate farmer in
to condition servitude that can only
be surpassed by chattled slavery itself,
and too, without regard, as to race,
color or seq. But when the civil war
ended, a good majority of our people
were bank rupt farmers, and must re-
main such for while at least, during
the absence of more profitable employ
nents regardless Of the fact. that these
slaves, money, aud the commercial val
ue OF their real estate had been swept
away by the war, no means whatever
to cultivate their crops with except to
borrow Indirectly from these enemies,
the national government as run by the
republicans, positively Disseminated
against all the people and especially
the farmer It has taken up much
time, carefully bringing trusts up to
huge monopolies until ofllate, they have
attempted to take charge of the en-
tire business. It disclouded National
Banks to loan money to the farmer on
the best security that could be- give,
the money. II claimed TO place into
circulation for the support of moving
the crops, were placed in the hands OF
the Spectators themselves to use as
they saw proper.
This state of affairs opened up one OF
the brightest opportunities for the big
gest scamps, please pardon me for u.s.
ing the word, that trod the American
soil, to come to the front and fatten on
the people, and they did it in style,
however, we had q good number OF To-
cal merchants we are proud to say, that
were willing to assist the farmer, but
they themselves, must have help, and
too often indeed it was that the only
assistance they could get was from the
blood-sucker. No merchant could give
twelve per cent interest for money and
pledge himself to ship all the cotton
that he handled to the blood-sucker or
his agent, for them TO use for the pur-
pose of depressing the price and to take
out OF the proceeds, the amount he
himself may deem right and proper for
his service, and at the same time. do
any more for the farmer than To assist
him through with a hard years work
for a near existence, and still leave the
farmer iu debt, which will sweep away
his home in the near future.
During those dark days the farmers
SSNClA al IIUSIakOo w ~
themselves for mutual protection
against deceptive greed and inpostess,
and to make farm lie more profitable,
and attractive, but they did not receive
| the encouragement aud assistance
that the consuming people depending
upon them for substance could have
given, and failure was the result, the
consumin. public may passify Them
selves with the thought that thy could
not assist the farmer, but its Il we'll
known fact, that they made no attempt
whatever TO do so until they them
/ selves began to partake of The bitter
fruits, (high cost of livingl caused by
the oppressed condition of the farmer,
word to our Representatives and Sen
a,ors. The Governor has called you to
meet in extra session to give the peo'
pie much needed relief iii this trying
time, are you going to give US the re-
lief, you must give US the relief need
ed. We will accept no excuse for moi
doing so. 1t is not optional with you
now lisa crying necessity, our recently
bright sunny South is al shrouded ii
gloom, pinching poverty threatens oul
home. yes disturbing hunger is abou
to invade our peaceful homes. We ask
you for no extremes for one extreme Is
about as bad as another, but we have
right TO insist that you cut by enactlne
some prohibitory law in next years cot
ton crop to at least fifty or more pei
cent below the present crop, you mus
fnd a way to do so. To be continued
| W. A. B.