The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-10-28
us all be "boosters' of the Red Cross.
Jno. B. Settler,
Commander.

NV fellow farmers of South Caro-
lima, do you possibly realize the bur-
dens of responsibility that we are
face to face with for the next year
and years to come? Shall we meet
them as brave men under the leader
ship of the great God of nations or
shall we become disgruntled, discou-
ragged, demoralized and give up and
surrender to evil forces and influ-
ences? l don't believe word of 1t.
Such is not the history of our people.
1t seems that in every grave and
disastrous crisis that the farmer is
the urler-dog and is the great burden
bearer. He has toiled like a slave, has
had to stint his women and children
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 stare are satisfied with their con-
d;tson would be stating an untruth; so
nay fellow farmer, herein lies our
great responsibility. We are face to
face with an economic breakdown,
and the eyes of the state are turned
towards the tiller of the soil. The
farmer today is regarded as the bull
wark of the state as has always been
the case; but he is without the SYM
pathy and appreciation that he should
have and this is because he has failed
to organize and demand his rights.
The sehening politician doesn't want
the farmers organized in the farmers
behalf but if he can get the farmer
torn to pieces to further his cause ne
is satisfied. No doubt the farming
class has been frightfully discriminat-
ed against in taxatian. There comes
a time when everything the farmer
produces fails to make him any proht;
there is nothing with which to pay
taxes; yet, a great proportion OF the
profit producing class escapes taxes
entirely but the farmer never escapes
his. The question that the sfarmers
have got to ask thmselves is, can ana
will the old line politician whether In
the general assembly or as governor
make any attempts to change these
conditions? ] think not; hence the
imperative necessity of cleaning out
the old liners and putting in a farm
er for governor and a general assem-
bly of farmers and business men who
would give all the people just ana
fair deal, without strife and disgrace
full contention as has so often char
acterized political affairs In South
Carolina before.
Who can measure the responsibility
of the 'old staid farmer rs from day
to day. he goes over the hills and
through the valleys communing with
natures God?
Our minds look over into the next
wears campaign and we shudder, We
stand aghast, our blood runs cold;' be-
cause we see the vile demagogue poi
itician with the tongue Of a serpent,
with lying SANDER upon his lips SOW
ing discord, enn1ity and hatred all
over South Carolina. A devil incar-
nate, we see evidences Of a very
strong probability of dragging the
prohibition or liquor question in the
next campaign. My fellow country
men, did you know that the bootleg
gers and the Illicit distilleries could
and would raise 100000 or more If
necessary to elect a liquor governor
of this state? There is no doubt OF
it and do you believe there is man
in South Carolina who would be geV-
ernor on such platform if he could?
! do. Not in the campaign would he
avow himself liquor candidate but
after his election he would show you
what he would do. Who is to save
the state from tie possibilities of such
a disaster? Can we look to the towns
and cities and politicians to save US!
fear not; because their force OF
resistance is too weak to do US much
good. Who is to suffer most from lax
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