The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-11-10
An Appeal to Farmers.
Editor County Record:

My fellow farmer Of South Caro-
lima, do you possibly realize the bur-
ders of responsibility that we are
face to face with for the next year
and years to come? Shall we face
them as brave men under the leader
ship of the great God Of nations or
shall We become disgruntled, discour-
aged, demoralized and giveup and
surrender to evil forces and infuen-
ces? l don't believe word of it..
Such is not the history Of our people.
1t seems that in every grave and
disastrous crisis that the farmer is
the under-dog and is the great burden
bearer. He has toiled like g slave,
has had to sting his women and chill
dren almost to starvation point and
in a great many instances his children
have been reared in gross ignorance.
No greater sacrifices were ever made
by the Serfs of Russia than by our
farm women and children, and yet as
individuals without organization we
have achieved wonders. After every
disaster we have come back and gone
to heights never dreamed of, but to
say that the agricultural people of
this State are satisfied with their con-
dition would be stating an untruth;
so my fellow farmer herein lies our
great responsibility. We are face to
face with an economic breakdown,
and the eyes of the state are turned
upon the tillers of the soil. The farm
er today is regarded as the bulwark of
the state as has always been the case;
but he is without the sympathy and
appreciation that he should have and
this is because he has failed to Or
ganize and demand his rights. The
scheming politician doesn't want the
farmers organized in the farmers be-
half but if he can get the farmer
torn to pieces to further his cause
he is satisfied. No doubt the farming
class has been frightfully discrim-
mated against in taxation. There
comes a time when everything the
farmer produces, fails to make him
any profit and there is nothing with
which to pay taxes; yet great pro-
portion of the profit producing class
escapes taxes entirely but the farmer
never escapes his. The question that
the farmers have got to ask them
selves is, can and will the old line pol
itician whether in the General Assem-
bly, or as Governor make any attempt
to change these conditions? l think
not, hence the imperative necessity
of cleaning out old liners and putting
in a farmer for governor and gener-
al assembly of farmers and business
men who would give all the people
a just and fair deal, without strife and
disgraceful contention as has SO often
characterized political affairs in South
Carolina before.
Who can measure the responsible
ity of the old staid farmer from day
to day as he goes over the hills and
through the valleys communing with
Natures God?
Our minds look over into next years
campaign and we shudder, we stand
aghast, our blood runs cold; because
we see the vile demagogue politician
with the tongues of a serpent, with
lying SANDER upon his lips sowing
discord, enmity and hatred all over
South Carolina. A devil incarnate.
We see evidences of a very strong
probability of dragging the prohibi-
ton or liquor question in the next
campaign. My fellow countrymen,
did you know that the bootleggers
and the illicit distillers could and
would raise 100000 or more if nee
essary to elect liquor governor of
this state? There is no doubt of it
and do you believe there is man
in South Carolina who would be gov
ernor on such a platform if he could?
1 do. Not in the campaign would he
avow himself a liquor candidate but
after his election he would show you
what he would do. Who is to save
the state from the possibilities of
such disaster? Can we look to the
towns and cities and politicians to
save us? l fear not; because their
force of resistance is too weak to do
US much good. Who is to suffer most
from tax enforcement of the liquor
laws? The farmer in the handling
of his labor will suffer most and the
poor women and children living in
the country whose very lives are COR
stantly in fear and dread of some
frightful calamity overtaking them.
You Indifferent and unthinking citizen,
man or woman of South Carolina,
what an appallinp condition could be