The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-01

limits) can dictate the price of the
crop. 1t is done now and would be
done still more effectively under the
management Of Mr.. Duke He CON
trolled the price Of tobacco to such an
extent that after years of litigation
the company was dissolved by the
courts. 1t would be far easier TO die
tate the price Of cotton, because it
is natural monopoly while tobacco
is worldwide product.
There is no way for the producers
of cotton to get the value Of their
product, except to carry the surplus
| themselves and hold it off the market
when the price Is too low. The credit
OF the state and the prosperity Of the
people depends almost entirely on the
cotton crop.
All share In the prosperity of the
farmers and not business in the state
or professional man but feels the
pinch when we have such a year as
| 1911. Nothing will get the state on
her feet quicker than an administra-
! ton which will develop and encour-
age agriculture.
If | am elected with a legislature
in sympathy with me, Shall cndcavor
to make Of South Carolina u model
| for all states to copy in progressive
agricultural methods
Last But Not Least.
| come now to the last, and what I
regret to say will in all probability
be one, If not the paramount. issue
In the campaign. | had hoped that
our people would get together and
that there would be no personal or
| factional issues in the contest, but
| that time Las not come and whether
| 1t Will in the future or not depends
upon the self-control and spirit of
tolerance both sides exercise in this
campaign.
There has never been time in
the history Of our State when good
policy, charity and tolerance were
more needed than now. Since 1890,
we have had two political factions,
more bitterly hostile than exists be-
tween parties in other states.
The movement in 1890 was aimed
at the social and political systems, but
the Alliance element which was its
backbone was largely inspired by the
hope of bcttering industrial condi-
tions. The purely political got in
the asccndency and gradually the
industrial element, headed by Norris,
Stackhousc and others became quics-
cent.
The Inauguration Of the state dis
| Densary strengthened the political
forces, but after a few years the state
dispcnsary, with its era Of graft and
greed, passed away. Then Cole l..
Blcasc took up the fight of the people
for wider voice in their own affairs
Just where 1T had been lying dormant
ever since Gov. Tillman dencctcd it
from it's true course by putting the
state into the liquor business. The
present movement headed by Gov.
Blcase is nothing but a continuation
Of the political movement begun by
Tillman in 1890. The divisions are just
as they were then with the exception
that Blease has not the strong follow
ing Of an industrial organization like
the Farmers Alliance.
The cry for restriction Of suffrage
in the primary is from those who do
not believe in the rule Of a majority,
but In the rule OF privilege and
power.
No thoughtful man can for one mo-
ment believe that there are not
forces at work outside of mere person
ality. The abuse and misrepresenta-
ton heaped upon Tillman was just as
great as now showered upon Blease.
Let any man go to the newspaper files
from 1890 to 1895 and see for him
self. Social and business pressure was
as great in 1890 as now against a
sound lawyer who dared take Till
mans side. The idea seemed to be
then that If Tillman could be defeat
ed that the movement would be dead
What a mistake! Some unseen force
deep down has kept the fires alive, and
Will keep them alive until the purpose
for which they were kindled has been
accomplished. AS long as there Is an
oligarcy which seeks to subject the
majority to the will of minority,