The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-05-05
Petition State Convention
For Campaign of Education

nSQL mdue against Cue OCot0 Noi
Ecuse System It's business success
an admitted fact wherever operated
the opposition united in an endeaVor
to defeat my reelection, by ceEtrelns
their strength behind a cotton buyer
The attempt to draw factional lines,
be it said to the everlasting credit
CT the legislature, proved miserable
failure. Then they tried the subtle
Plan of cutting the appropriation,
ard not permitting the use of the rev.
enue derived from the system for its
further development. Half-backed
young lawyers were the mouth-piece
of the opposition, but the agricultur-
al committee rallied the business and
farming element, and took the legis-
lation away from the ways and means
and judiciary committees, thereby de-
/; feating their plan
Human greed is a powerful incen-
tive, and interests preying upon the
producer will ever fight any change
which fnterferes with middle-men's
profits. AS usual, the big interests
combined. have never seen such a
lobby as they had here to prevent a
licensed graders bill and insurance
legislation.
These people nave the power Of
! money behind them. They control
the big, daily papers, and act as a
unit.
We are not waging war on individ-
uals. I'VE are lighting to reform an
unjust economic system; yet the at
tack is centred on me personally.
While we are not responsible for in
surance legislation, yet the State sys-
tenn must bear the burden Of the
fight. and assume the task cf de-
Tending it.
1t is a business question, not politi-
cal nor class, and I pity the man
whose contracted soul does rot con-
slider it of greater Importance to
South Carolina, than his individual
calling, or the particular political
faction to which he belongs. The COM
ing campaign will reyolve around the
State warehouse system, and it is our
duty to let the people know who is
serving them. to what end, and for
whose benefit.
In the insurance matter, l advo-
cate an amendment to the warehouse
law permitting the commissioner, un-
der proper restrictions, TO carry
porticl of the risk and re-insure the
balance, as l am now doing. l have
paid out over fifty thousand dollars
in premiums, and had less than
twelve hundred dollars of losses. BY
a proper distribution of risks, we
carry State cotton, and in few years
have reserve fund sufficient to
make the cost of insurance almost
nominal.
The conspiracy in Columbia which
fomeuted the withdrawal Of the
companies should be fully exposed,
aud can be, from the records in my
hands. The federal government reg
uiates interest rates, banks, railroads
and telegraph companies, and if it
hasn't the power to compel the in
sLrance companies to do business in
South Carolina, or quit doing bust
i.ess in the United States, then we
had better get some new members
Of congress.
The State warehouse is not the So
luton, it is only the means. We must
have sufficient warehouse room to
carry the surplus in each county. The
county should be the unit in auanc-
ing and marketing the crop, with all
the county houses federated into a
Statewide system. Little can be ac-
complished in marketing until the
farmers are aroused to the necessity
of cooperation. We are now the easy
prey of unscrupulous money lenders,
insurance trust, fertilizer trust, ex-
rorters, and all Of the other parasites
that grow fat on the manipulation Of
farm products.
The Lord helps those who help
themselves. WE have the foundation
il the State warehouse for the or
ganization Of farm insurance, rural
credit unions, and a farmers bank
operating under the federal reserve
system. We must have licensed grad
ers and force the buyers to purchase