The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-06

nor novel aud have been made in one
form OF aoosber, by various persons for
several consecutive years The fact
that C4mdeu cotton buyers have 10
former years paid more for cotton than
Sumter buyers. is too we'll established
to be contradicted, aud there is
neither rbyme nor reason 10 getting
angry because the fact happens to be
published 10 newspaper. Ii it were
possible to keep the public from learn.
Jog the facts there might be some rea.
son for suppressiog communications
such as Mr.. keardon has in to-day g
issue, but as i. is we'll known, ouly
news is published, and news is simply
Information pertaining to those topics
that are of common report among the
public il the relative and compare
tive price Of cottoo 10 Camden and
Sumter is not matter Of conmoo re-
port. nothing is. How the Camden
buyers are able to pay more for cotton
than buyers iu this city We have never
been able to ascertain, although it has
been asserted that they obtaio lower
freight rates to Liverpool aud receive
rebates from the railroads. having these
advantages resulsiog from COM
pesing lines of railroads aud a
water route via the Wateree river.
The old explanation tha: Camden
buyers grade the cotton closely and buy
strictly on grade, paying the top of the
market for. the best grades and the bot
tom price for the inferior cotton. while
Sumter buyers do not grade closely aud
pay an average price taat is higher
than the Camden average. is familiar to
ali and it is not worth while repeating it..
1t can be said, however. that If this
expla6ation is the true one. it is high
time that the Sumter buyers adopted
the plan Of the Camden cotton men
They would save money for themselves
by paying aalower average price and,
at the came time. win the reputation
for Sumter Of paying high prices and
being good market
The charge that We are endeavoripg
to injure the trade of Sumter and are
srying to give the local cotton market a
black eye is the most abomi-
nable rot we have heard 10
many q day and is as foolish
as false. Anyone with three grains Of
sense knows that no business or enter.
prise is more dependent upon the
prosperity of q town than a newspa.
per and it is not probable that we
would delibsrally make the effort to
injure ourself. A newspaper pub
fishes the news. however, and we have
endeavored at all times to give all
the news-without favor or prejudice.
as well as work for the good of the
city Of Sumter, and in this connection
we would call to the attention of our
readers to the fact that newspaper
cannot boom q place successfully un-
less there are facts at hand to be used
as ammunition. This observation is
merely by the way; and. as we have
digressed somewhat from the topic
we set out to discuss, we will return
| to it, aud as briefly as possible con
clude.
Mr.. Resrdon's contention that he
| was not .misinformed concerning the
| price paid for cotton in Sumter on
Sept 2Sth, is matter between him and
the buyers. We have the assurance
from several regular buyers and mer.
chants who buy cotton that the aver.
age price paid on that day was 5 u
TO 5 78. while the highest was 85
and the lowest 5 IS, except in the
case of storm cotton, which was
bought at lower prices. The cotton
books of these gentlemen are open
! to inspection at any time in proof ol
their statements, which we accept
without question Mr. Reardon evi