The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-08-04

| Some Random Thoughts.
In my selections from other papers
I do not always agree with the views
Of the writer's. but reproduce them
because they contain food for thought
In every article some ideas are sure
to be advapced that are not in accord
| with the pre-conceived notions Of some
reader, but that is no reason why
valuable information Is not contained
in the article. nor why 1t may not
stimulate study.
There are some inspiring ideas in
the two selections for this issue. 1t is
the time when these matters should
be studied and discussed, and the
school programme mapped out for
the next term.
L Children are educated as much ny
environment as by text books--nay
are educated more by environment
and associations than by any train
ing Of the text books--hence the
necessity Of better and more attrac-
tive school houses. better homes. bet
ter roads. While many great men
came out Of log school houses, 1t was
In spite of and not because of, the
log school house.
I believe that where there IL the
least culture in the homes Of the
people there, especially. should the
school house be made most attrac-
tive. II school term should have
to be omitted to build comfortable
house. better by far do 80. than have
children and teacher half sheltered
In . building not At for q stable.
These remarks may not seem ap.
propriate to the farmers columns Of 9
paper. but II there II anything farm.
ers need more than another Il 10 ED
UCATION. and the Union nesds &C
lay more stress upon education than
any other feature Of It's work. II I,
would bring about diversihcation and
cooperation. There will never be Z
financing Of the cotton crop. BY farm
ers and for farmers. until the rank
and file Of de are better educated
There may be some Improvement In
our condition by standard warehouses
and bond and trust eompanies fol
cheaper money. but 90 long - they
are organized ana owned by outsiders
1t will be case Of financing the cot
ton by speculators and for specuia-
tors.
We as a Union can not finance the
cotton crop from the top downward
but We can finance II from the erouno
inward. We can DO as we have plan
ned to do in Sumter County and q
the farmers of Lancaster County have
done. And where we have shown our
ability to finance our own farms, to
successfully conduct a small cooper
ative business. then We can undertake
these larger things. for then we will
have the trained men to manage
them. and larger enterprises will be
the natural growth.
Some people seem to think the Far.
mers' Union can be Standard OF
Company or a U. s. Steel Corporation
in day just by passing resolutions t.
that effect. They forget that thes,
immense businesses are the SLOW
growth of a generation of continuou,
effort by as smart men as the worlt
ever saw.
!, was truly glad to see In the meet
, ing of the State Union last week tha
this idea Of growth is gaining strength
, and there is less disposition to financ
/ and control cotton by long rage reso
, lutions. When We have got down I
sane business basis we will hear les
about farmers sticking. They wi
, stick all right when there is some
} thing business-like to stick to, bu
, will never stick to impossible resolu
tions. f.. w. d.