Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-09

and water works for the benefit Of
their citizens and on every hand 1t
has become q recognized principle that
the government should do for the peo-
pie what they are unable to do for
themselves. We have tried for twenty
five years to organize a warehouse sys-
tenn and to develop a proper method
Of handling and marketing u cot
ton, and in the very nature Of the
case it Is something that 1t is impos-
sible to do without government aid.
| We have seen Brazil go into the coffee
business and raise the price from
four cents a pound to twenty five.
I will say to these good, old-fash-
toned Democrats, for whom I have
the utmost respect, that whether
they like 1t or not, governments every
where are seeking to curb the strong
and protect the weak, and, for veal
or woe. our salvation Is to be worked
out through these means. Some call
it socialism. I say, No, 1t Is nothing
but Justice; 1t Is trying to equalize be-
tween the corporate interests and the
individuals. In the fierce race Of life,
what chance have the individual
farmers 30, 900, 900 Of them-scat-
tered over thirteen states-against the
4 COHlplleu pIeliils dHo Iho LAoAey VI tiio
world.
The cotton crop Of the south Is
our greatest national asset, and the
conservation OF Its profits Ito those
who produce) demands the attention
Of our wisest craftsmanship. It Is not
only a function, but a solemn duty
to every southern state, to do for
the cotton farmers, that which they
are unable to do for themselves.
Senator McLaurin, then discussed
the question Of selling direct to for
eign mills where the price Of cotton
is fixed, and referred to the enormous
profits made this year buying six
cent cotton and selling 1t at 20 to 70
cents in Europe. He said the legis-
lature was so busy abusing him. that
after extending his power to make
these sales, they must have for
gotten, that 1t took money to go to
| Europe. as they did not give him a
however to make bricks without
straw"
1 have been identified for more
than twenty-five years with every
farmers organization that has been
in existance, and I am struck with
one singular fact-the newspapers,
the press, and all classes Of society
unite in encouraging the farmers to
organize, and there Is now going on
q propaganda by the government for
the benefit Of the farmers; and yet
when we propose q concrete n prac-
teal plan Of reform, these same have
always arrayed themselves in bitter
opposition to whatever Is attempted.
So long as it Is confined to mere talk,
they approve, but that talk crystal
Lies into action, then the fight be-
gins. The reason Of this Is very plain.
II one of US was engaged in some
line Of business where u profits de-
products, of the soil, we would oppose
any change which interfered.
II there is any class Of men In
the United States whom I honor and
respect, above all others, 1t Is the men
that for rs or 80 years have stood at
the head of these farmers organiza-
ton and fought the fight without re-
ward and without the hope OF re-
ward. Take the early days Of the
Alliance, with such men as Polk.
Macune, PETER, Sockless Jerry Sim
son, and Tom Watson Of Georgia,
and think of the ridicule and abuse
under which they were either driven
from public life or put In their
6IdNCS. AL ySI Ao "eS
were advocating, except the policies
which have now become a part Of the
platform Of every political party that
Is striving for success? The state
warehouse bill in South Carolina.
Louisiana and Texas, and the Federal
warehouse bill that congress has Just
passed, and which has been signed
by a Democratic president-where
did the thought underlying these
great measures come from, except
from the hated and despised sub
treasury plan Of the Alliance? What
was that? Nothing In the world ex,
cept that this government should
lend money upon standard agricul-
tural products to the farmers Of this
country. And what is this new cur
rency law except a step in that d.
rection? Here we have the secretary
Of the treasury saying that ware
house receipts for cotton shall be &C
cepted for discount at four and one
half per cent All that o would
have to do to make 1t the sub-trea-
sury plan Of the Alliance would be
to cut out the member bank that
stands between you and the govern.
ment in Washington, and II you Will
send to congress true representatives
of the agricultural interests Of this
country you will soon see that barrier
removed and money issued direct to
the people on the products Of the soil.
Why, when wal broke out, and the
cry was raised that there would be no
market for cotton, who was 1t In this
country that met together and Oh.
fered us the only practical plan OF
relief? 1t was the Farmers Union
that met in Dallas, Texas, and sent
a committee, headed by the president
Of the South Carolina state Farmers
Union, MI. Dabbs, to Washington, to
insist that it was the duty Of the
Treasury Department Of the United
States to come to the relief OF n
cotton planters Of the south. There
was nothing else that they could have
done which would nave been abso-
lutely effective. How quick again was
the same old cry raised against Bar
rett, Dabbs and others, that we ear
twenty-five years ago about Polk,
Macune, and Ben Terrell. 1t was de-
nounced as the rankest socialism.
And yet what do we find? The great
financiers Of this country, take the
British government as their model
in financial affairs-and what did
England do? Why, she did, to protect
the cotton planters Of Egypt and
India, exactly what Dabbs and Bar
rett were trying to get this Federal
government to do for the cotton
planters Of the south. Just as soon as
war was declared, the British gov
eminent, by ruling from the chan
cellor Of the exchequer, told the cot
ton planters of Egypt and India that
the government would lend them
what would be the equivalent Of eight
cents a pound for American cotton,
or If they preferred, the govern
ment would give them ten cents a
pound and buy the cotton. Now, II
England could do that for the cotton
planters Of Egypt and India, why
could not the Federal government
have done it for the cotton planters