Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-09-18
miscellaneous Reaaing.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD AID
Why Federal Power Should Come to
Help of the Farmers.

To the American People:
During the ten years that 1 have
been representing the National Farm
ers Union, in every question which
have discussed, dealing with the in
terests of the farmers, and therefore
contributory to the interest of all
the people, l have always striven
with my utmost strength to tell the
exact truth.
During the arduous ten years l
from the newspapers Of the country
in my work, and desire now to express
my gratitude to them for the loyal
support I have received from the
great majority, even though at times
here and there, some timid editor has
been fearful that 1 would go too far.
At times, it has been my duty to call
the farmers attention to the fact that
his business interests were affected,
in large measure, by legislation at
Washington; and in 80 doing, have
been compelled to criticise some Of
the measures Of past administrations.
have not hesitated, when the truth
demanded it, to say that efforts were
Intentionally made to deceive the
farmers.
A new occasion has arisen which
imperatively demands from me that
shall tell you the exact truth, in 50
far as l am able. One-third Of the
farmers Of the United States, living in
the C, on and tobacco belts, are face
to face today with bankruptcy through
no fault of their own. They have rails
ed normal crops, and for several years
past these normal crops have been
easily taken care Of by the world, If
not at big prices, at least at prices
which have enabled the farmer to
live. The great cataclysm Of war,
which has involved the greater part
Of Europe, in one day entirely dis
located the business Of the world, and
has placed these cotton and tobacco
farmers in a condition of the extrem-
ist peril which has threatened them
in fifty years With the renewal Of
and the urgent need Of foodstuffs,
our farmers who are producers Of
foodstuffs can look forward to ad-
equate relief in the near future. Not
so with the cotton and tobacco grow
ers. All Of the working capital and
the credit Of these two classes have
| been invested in the seasons crops,
and they are confronted with the to-
to sell at any price; and the inability
to secure such measure of relief from
| credit agencies as will tide them over.
In all our history there has been
no like situation-therefore our great
| financial authorities, our treasury de-
partment and our government (Which
seems unable to move unless 1t can
| find a precedenD are at sea. There
Is but one power in this country
which can relieve the situation ade-
quately, and if the congress had been
big enough and wise enough to grasp
the gravity Of this situation, and it's
meaning to the future welfare Of our
people, it would have instantly utiliz-
ed the credit Of the American govern
ment to the extent of at least three
hundred million dollars, and taken off
| the market a sufficient amount Of cot
ton to be held until conditions become
normal in Europe. This would have
steadied the situation so that the re-
mainder would have been sold in
American markets, If not at a re-
munerative price, at least at cost
price.
/ do not want to make this letter
| too long. I want to call your atten-
ton, however, most earnestly, to this
situation; to the failure of our gov
ernment to come to the relief Of these
producers in their extremity. Time
and again, when Wall street has been
Of the treasury hasten to New York
and put behind the gamblers in that
city the strength of the government.
in order that disaster might be avert
ed. Time and again, the government
has found money for every sort Of
thing and scheme but never for the
producers. / could fill columns, If 1t
was necessary, recounting things
which the government has done along
the line Of finding money for all
sorts of schemes and schemers. But
1t is not necessary, you know 1t to be
true. The annals of the country for
the last fifty years are full Of illus
trations. But at this moment, when
the great producing class, which has
been the main contributor to the
funds which the government has used
so lavishly and in so many directions,
are in an extremity, the same govern
ment cannot find any money or any
precedent for helping the people who
have been paying the biggest part Of
the bills all these years.
Do not misunderstood me. None Of
the American farmers, whatever their
particular specially may be have ever
called for charity from the govern
ment. When l use the word held"
here l mean that government can
furnish the resources which will tide
these men over a critical situation,
and the government will receive back
it's money with interest.
What is to be said of a government
which, faced by the situation of this
kind, can do nothing to relieve it ex-
cept flood Of talk deceptive prom
.ses, and an inadequate dribble Of dol
lars put out through the medium Of
middle men, who must have their
toll, and a liberal toll at that, before
even that inadequate dribble can be
used.
leave the matter with you. / can
only hope that the hardships through
which we are doomed to pass in the
near future will awaken our produc-
ers to closer investigation and great
er watchfulness than they have ex-
ercised in the past, and will not pin
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