The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-11
(ly;22IEgII T.
DeLorme's Pharmacy, Sumter, S c.

BY the ORRlNE CO., Inc, washington,
D. c., or sold in this city by 50
DeLorme's Pharmacy, Sumter, S G.
Labor Too Scarce for Big Crops.
The Wilmington Star says:
We said something the other day
about the obstacles in the way as well
as unwisdom Of putting in big cot
ton crop this year. One Of the obsta-
cles referred to was the scarcity and
high price of labor. The Manufactur-
ers' Record gives us something along
that line and also has something to
say Of the justification Of the move
ment to prevent over production. Our
esteemed Baltimore contemporary
says:
Through the consular service Of
the United States continue to seep re-
ports of alleged success of European
countries in growing cotton ALI such
reports have more or less reference to
the attitude of European manufactur-
ers toward the American cotton grow
ers; the assumption that the growers,
without regard to themselves, should
furnish the manufacturers all the cot
ton they require at the prices fixed
by the latter. Such one-sided philo-
sophy has support in the cotton mar
kets from individuals who never actu-
ally handle a bale of cotton, and who
in the past have fattened themselves
in speculation upon the necessities Of
the growers. To that class may usual
ly be traced reports at vital periods
in the cotton season that there is to
be a great enlargement in cotton acre
age on one hand or on the other; that
the crop is far beyond conservative es-
Inmates. Just at present is the time
f2s talk of increase N acreage. rot
;,.ia caT::2aa5elI by Suggestions about
the :sacess.ty ~ st.cn - irusestS2. Guc
c,.e TAX COS no carry ~ r1l:c:I weight
Is IL u.sed 70 ao. aaa ::ee grower. are
no longer thrown into panic by reports
about success in cotton-growing in
new fields, even though such reports
may have the semblance of authority.
coming through government channels.
The past two years have taugh- the
growers to know their own strength
and have tended to steel them against
the once normal inclination to plant
a greater acreage in a season follow
ing good prices. There are those,
however, who might be unable to learn
wisdom from experience, or who might
in experience fail to perceive that
what was unbusinesslike in every 9TH
e- line Of human endeavcr is also un-
business1ike in cotton growing, and
who, consequently, might be tempted
u plant more cotton than they can
proGtably cultivate and market. It be-
gins TO 1ppear that any mistake made
BY such short-sighted growers, threat
nn:ne to undo and make Of no effect
the splendid results of cooperation
during the past year of southern bank
ers. growers and others interested IN
cotton under wise and pract;cal lead
ership. is likely to be corrected, only
TO the detriment Of the shortsighted
ones.
~ dispatch from Chicago states
that the de,ran. for labor in all parts
OF the west has almost reached fam
inc intensity, and that from St Louis,
Kansas City and San Francisco. par
t.culariy, are coming urgent calls for
mechanics and skilled laborers that
cannot be met. 1t is calculated that
at least $4,000 additional men are
needed now in building operations in
the northwest and southwest, and that
before midsummer $4,000 men will
DE called for in railroad building. This
has been felt, too. for many
months in the south, and as railroad
building operations and
other such operations pay higher
wages than farm work a shortage of
the after may reasonably be looked
for That is a factor which must be
considered in all calculations about
the acreage in cotton this season and
the size Of the crop.