The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-21
"Made I'm Atlanta"

Orr Shoe Co., held at the Hotel Ara
gon, On June 21 and 22nd, celebrat-
ing their Anniversary. Here we saw
800 merchants from all parts of the
South called together as patrons of
this firm. We do not write this ar
ticle to boost the j. X. Orr Shoe
Company, nor as an indirect adver-
tiserent, but we want to use the sue
cess of this concern as q timely OBJ
ject lesson to our farming class. The
Mayor of Atlanta in his address of
welcome said: twenty-five years ago
we held the Cotton Exposition here in
Atlanta, and I was impressed with
the possibilities in the manufacturing
of cotton and thought of embarking
in this line Of business, but on con-
sulting Mr.. Edward Atkinson he told
me that the South could not compete
with the Northeastern States and
their skilled labOr-so 1 abandoned
the idea of going into the cotton mill
business. Others, however, were not
SO easily deferred as was 1, and they
went ahead and today the South is
holding Eer own in competition with
New England and England in the
manufacturing of our staple into
cloth. The ]. X. Orr Shoe Company
had much less showing for success in
the manufacturing of shoes, but with
indomitable energy and with eternal
perseverance, they have kept at work
making good article, appealing to
OUR people TO patronize a home insti-
tuition, until they have now an envia-
BILE success, and do a business whose
volume would do credit to any North
-rn business concern. Taking up the
S'.agan--"Ma ade in Atlanta" they have
made this a household word in. all
cotton growing States. other manu-
featuring enterprises seeing their sue.
cess have been encouraged To start
up until the recent panic Of 1907 has
been robbed Of half of it's venom"
( and disaster so far as the State of
Georgia was concerned, by the people
kemployed and the money retained in
the South through these home manu-
featuring institutions. We have nc
| fight against foreign institutions-but
we are heart and soul for Southern
development-andt this can only come
In The degree that it should through
the patronizing Of home industries
and the sending abroad of Southern
products. We glory in the made in
Atlanta" spirit. This spirit should
not confine itself to the cities or The
factories. We need it upon every
farm. Each farm should be named
and should send forth some product
! to the consuming world stamped as
the "Red Seal Shoes" with the name
of this farm and carrying with 1t the
guarantee OF high-class workmanship
and an individuality peculiarly it's
own. We are glad too of the reputa-
ton the Georgia peach and the Geor-
gia melon enjoys abroad. These an
nually bring millions of dollars into
circulation in our borders. We couol
grow othe: crps equally remunera-
tive. We want to do all In our power
to encourage the individual farmer to
take a pride in sending forth into the
markets Of the world some product
Of the highest class, bearing his
stamp as grown upon his farm or
raised upon his farm. We have al
most an endless variety to choose
from. There is the. breeding of
horses. mules, cattle, hogs. sheep and
chickens. Then you can grow corn,
wheat. rye. barley, hay. cottonseed,
peaches apples. figs grapes, berries,
melons, cantaloupes and peas for seed
or sale. Then you can make cream,
butter, honey. canned goods and pick
les. We need not name them all. The
farm need not be simply a cotton
patch or a produce of cheap, raw pro-
ducts. The finer the product the bet
ter the price. The finished article
must always sell for more than the
unfinished one. The farm can also
be factory and send forth products
commanding two profits-that on pro-
duction and that on manufacturing.
We need waking up along this line.
Our conception Of farming is too low.
Our skill upon the farm is entirety
inadequate We need more ambition
among our farmers to-. Produce a
higher class of products. 2. 20 pro-
dVcc greater variety; and 3. "a
feel pride in sending it out to ma =
ktt as our very own, stamped wi IN
cur ,abor, our skill and our indivi1-
uality. Tile editor fee ls a special pr,'le