The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-09
Good Advice to Farmers.

Editor The Tmes:-lti is interesting
to read the many suggestions made
and advice given the farmers these
| days. It is also amusing to hear the
farmers say what they expect to do
under the circumstances. Now l am
not an educated man versed in the
law, etc., but profess to have a little
common sense and believe that know
about what 1t does cost to market g
bale OF cotton, and the condition that a
majority of the farmers in this section
are in.
First, let Us see what our National
government has done for the farmer,
nothing you may say, why, because
the President and congress knows that
the south will vote the Democrat ticket
regardless of consequences. Oh. they
say the government is willing to let
farmer have seventy-6ve per cent on
his cotton, of course, but Just see what
it is valued at eight cents per pound
middling, besides this money comes to
the farmer through gracious knows
the number of banks. Our State de-
partment of agriculture and those who
claim to be greatly interested in she
welfare OF the farmers just now see
that there are too many things tied TO
this and by time the rent is paid there
will be- precious little left for Mr.. mer-
chant, banker and fertilizer companies.
/ would certainly like to read some OF
the letters Commissioner Watson, DR..
Stackhouse and Senator Smith have
received from the men they apparently
represent. Anyone that can read be-
tween the lines can see that the farmer
is not considered in the after at ell,
he knows full we'll that the entire loss
will fall upon his shoulders, the poor
fellow is tied hand and foot and can't
help himself and that u y know 1t.
They are now figuring how to help
the merchant, banker and fertilizer
companies from losing ANYTHING, we'll
here is what they propose to do, pass a
law to keep US from planting any cotton
at all another year; why they say II
such a law is passed cotton will 60 to
is cents pound at once, grant that 1t
would, but how would the farmer pay
his rent another year? A great many
farmers rent their lands for so much
cotton, the merchant and banks lend
money on a mortgage OF so many acres
of cotton; how will the farmer be able
to pay rent, and get advances on q
grain crop and little tobacco with no
| experience. Then too, some lands
won't make it in many sections OF the
state. Common Sense ought to tell our
MIR. Watson that such law is uncon'
stitutional and would amount to the
same thing the dispensary law does in
Charleston. 1t is very plain the mon
eyed man is going TO be protected, they
are not going to any expense or rue
auy risk whatever, as long as they
have the legislature in their favor
but the poor deluded farmer must bea'
all the loss, he must take less than II
cost to make it, but the merchant must
have his SO to 100 per cent, the banks
their to Is per cent, the fertilizer
| companies their 25 per cent.
we all know it takes fertilizer t
make cotton; why not pass law tc
prohibit the fertilizer companies IRON
selling any another year, Oh, no, this
would iniure one OF US besides, look a.
the tax or revenue. This would ot
equal rights Ifnust say but Mr.. Farmei
VINO is TO blame? No one but yourself
when a good farmer comes before yo'
for Office, you vote for a corporation
lawyer in preference, so now take YOU
medicine like man. No big crop cal
be made without liberal use OF fer
tilizer, next year it will be high an'
many will not use it at all.
It cost 10 cents q pound 10 max
cotton and I do not want To be torcet
to give up my cotton for less. l an
willing under the circumstances t
lose all profit, my advice to the farmer
is this-If the state doesn't make ar
rangements to get US sufficient none.
to pay our debts at low rate OF inter
est (without taking our constitutional
rights away until the war is over, tax
your cotton TO your creditors and otfe
it to them at ten cents per pound, !
they refuse to accept it at that prize
take it home and keep it the best yo
can ct their risk When they see yo
are not bluffng and mean bushes
they will take it at ten cents | believe
1 do not believe jury could be draw