The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-01-11
THE FARMERS CONVENTION.
THE FARMERS ARE IN EARNEST
AND MERIT SUPPORT.

Business Men, Bankers, The Press
and All Other People Whose Inter-
ests are Allied With the Cotton
Growers Should Back the
Movement.
Hogood, Jan. -sstagnation is
DEATH
you are not going to accomplish
anything
We hope to but not by lying supine-
ly upon our backs, and hugging the de-
lusive phantorn OF hope
Our farmers need the encourage
ment and help of all other industries,
especially the bankers and merchants
Of this Southland-more especially the
newspapers. Let the newspapers Of
our Southland throw wide their col
unns for discussion Of this vital ques-
ton, let them do more: let them in
vite discussion and more STILL let them
discuss it in editorials, the best pro-
Educt OF their brain; not something
carelessly thrown off, once and again,
as often as is needful. I do not say to
one, but to every newspaper in the
land, Champion this noble cause;
give the best that is in you TO it and
it will return to you in four-fold value
not only in peace and satisfaction, but.
n the support Of the yeomanry of our
good Southland We may expect op-
position, discouragement, possibly the
turn 60 bring in an evil report, but un-
dismayed by these, with faith in our
selves, in one another, in our cause,
above all faith in the Great Good
let us go on to that perfection Of or
ganizstion which IN itself is formida-
Bile, so armed and fortified as to be
inpregnable. No interest ever suffers
at our hands that is lawful and honest,
but when we prosper all the
rest prosper, when we fail to
perform our functions all the rest pine
and die. I have long since regarded
the relationship Of the agricultural
element to the rest Of human society
as being the same identically as that
of the stomach to the rest Of the body.
It may seem strange to say so, but
it is nevertheless a truth, that il this
movement succeeds it must have op-
position. 4 dead calm at sea was once
regarded as a Calamity. Anything to
be at all must have opposition. So I
say to all friends Of this movement,
don't grow appalled, at what confronts.
or appears to confront you. Many of
the difficulties and the troubles of life
are the creatures of imagination. John
Bunyan's lion which menaced his way
was chained.
There is set would speak to par
ticularly who are friends to the move
ment, but who may do it incalculabie
harm-the men :ho have no faith in
what we are attempting. Let me ask
such a few plain questions, which I
trust they will answer to themselves
soberiy and dispassionately
Do you believe the success of this
movement would ceneft you?
You answer, "I do
You would hate to see it hindered-
crippled, fail?
You answer, Certainly
Is your conduct calculated to help
or hinder the cause?
Answer that question without equiv.
ocation. Brother, many a good cars':
has come to grief in the house Of its
friends.
It was certainly gratifying to have
some Of the leading merchants Of Sum-
ter in active co-ct Grafton with us. aid
irg with presence and voice believe
we have as large souled, broas.-niinded
and capable a lot of merchants as are
to be found, all of whom are ready to
lend hand to this great cause. be-e
make TIE suggestion that ;:iey come
out in a card pledging the mcv.:n":'-t
their hearty support and co-oi'erata'n
I do hope they viii. Those resolutions
offered by Mr.. O'Donnell were sur
prise, coming from & merchant, but
were proper.
Let every farmer reduce his cotton
acreage with :. corresponding reduc-
ton in fertilizer. This does not mean
that if he used four hundred pounds
last wear that he use three this, but
that If he used four tons last year, he