The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-12-25
Why il is Essential for the Farmers
Bankers and Business Men
to Organize.

ly existing barely making enough
each year to pay the expenses incur
red. Several years ago men who op-
Grated large farm or store in the
south were working for the middle
man, as the profits derived were not
more than sufficient to feed and
clothe his family. Today the man that
I is satisfied with that amount of pro-
fit from his business is not treating
his children nor his fellowman just
ily. Our demands are greater each
! year, and if we sit down and do not
increase our income we will simply
60 backward. You will find that our
own state stands next 10 the bottom
in illiteracy, which is very de-
plorable condition and should be rem
edied, If money can do it. Our school
teachers are underpaid, and it Is very
essential that We employ the best tai
ent to teach our children to become
true and honest citizens, for upon
them lies great responsibility, and
you can not obtain the kind of teach
er needed unless they are better
pad
The church is one of the greatest
assets to a community, and neither
can we have just the right kind of
man in this work unless he is provid-
ed with the comforts and convenien-
ces of these modern days. Without
the church in community you do
not find true and upright citizens.
Good roads are essential to the
life and happiness of the people.
| Where we have good roads the mer-
chants and farmers live in elbow
reach of each other. and transporta-
ton becomes very easy matter.
With all of these necessities up to the
best standard, cur banks would 4.,e
plenty sF money. and this scc.'on
would be the gi"atest place Gu earth
to live i. Vt has been ai1 Where
there is ution there is strength" F"
with the merchants. farmers and bank
ers all Joined hands, determined to
bring about certain changes in our
marketing conditions. we are sure to
succeed. If you will stop and think
for moment and see what could the
coal operators, shipbuilders, steel
plants, oil mills, meat packers and
cotton spinners do without organiza-
tion. don't hope to see the South
ern people organized so as to work
any hardship on any class of people,
but do think it is high time that
We should do something to Keep the
other fellow from working hardships
on US. Just for an example, you take
the method in which the farmers
were forced to dispose of their cotton
seed this past spring. We were SIM
ply at the mercy of the oil mills and
could not sell them except as their
needs demanded. If you stop to think,
you will readily see where we need
to try to correct some of the evils.
We will hear some of our people say:
"0h, / have no faith in the farmers
organizing neither will you help the
cause if you stand on the outside and
make such remarks. The farmers and
their business friends have shown
the people that they can own and op-
crate tobacco warehouses in this sec
tion to more profit than the visitor" /"
whose only purpose is to come down
here for few months to obtain what
money they can out Of the profits Of
operating the warehouse, and carry it
out of the state. The same rule ap-
plies to the Gotten business If the cot
ton exporters and factors can live in
fine houses built from the vast
amount of money obtained from buy
ing the cotton from the farmer as
cheap as he can and selling it as high
as possible, why can't some of our
own men get together, from an or
ganization, just as sound, and market
our own cotton. If we fail to show
to the world that we are capable of
handling our own affairs, we shall
forever have our hands tied to our
backs. If our merchants go to the
northern markets to buy goods they
ask: What can l buy cotton articles
for?" and when we poor farmers car
ry our produce to town we have to
ask: "What are you willing to give
me today?" AS hard as the farmer
works and then have to go and ask
the other fellow to name the price Of
his produce, do you think that is
good business? If we do not live to
see it (but I think we WILLY this re-
versal of condition shall not prevail
for all time. When the people be-
come aroused so that they are going
to demand a square deal, then such
market conditions are going to about
face.
When we have won, you are going
to, see better churches, schools, roads,
homes, and best Of all, better living
conditions for the man on the farm.
These are some of the few things
that the men behind the American
Cotton Association are striving to &C
complish. AS citizen from your
county, 1 am going to ask your CO.
operation. A. V. BETHEA.
instant at the home of bride in