The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-10

county and State affairs, but it should
keep in touch with our members Of
Congress, and the occasion might ar
rive when such a committee could be
of immense service to our interests
and the county at large by appearing
before some committee of Congress
to give it at first hand our views on
pending legislation.
But time would fail to detail all
that the union has done. 1t hes had
Standard Cotton Samples put where
every grower of cotton can study
them and compare with his own cot
ton. 1t was the pioneer in this coun-
ty in the Boys Corn contest. 1t has
worked for better facilities for hand
ling and weighing cotton. In con-
nectiOn with Clemson College and the
United States Department of Agricul.
ture, it, the union, provided this past
summer more information on i'm
proved farming methods, and car
rled that information into more
neighbOrhoods than has ever before
been done. There is no excuse for
even the most ignorant farmer, one
who cannot read, not to know some
of the fundamental principles OF
scientific and practical agriculture.
For it is very probable that no farm
er in the State was more than 10
miles from some institute last sum
mer. And the speakers used no high
flown language but in simplest words
went into all the details of what ever
truth they were trying to impart to
their hearers. And every man was
Tree to ask as many questions as he
pleased. These meetings were ar
ranged for by officers Of the Farm
ers union. And they were made to
blush time and time again at u g
small number of farmers that availed
themselves of these privileges South
Carolina is getting it's full share of at
tention from the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture and | have
heard department officials say it is
because the Farmers Union in this
State has taken such a lively interest
in all that goes toward better farm
ing that the Washington officials ara
so prompt to send their best men to
us when ever we ask for them That
L have been slightly instrumental as
your President in this good work is
a source of pardonable pride. Back
or all national development we trust
there is growing a spirit of neighbor-
Illness and good will among our farm
ers as result of these bi-weekly or
monthly meetings Of the local unions
that is worth more to us as a peo-
pie than all else combined. And the
union that has failed to develop this
spirit has failed in it's mission what
ever else it may have accomplished.
My friends of the Sumter County
Farmers Union I want to thank Won
one and all for your kindly support in
all that l have tried to do for the
cause that is dear to our hearts. the
uplift, the betterment in every way of
our farmers, for with their improve
ment In all that goes toward good
citizenship every trade and profession
and calling is benefited. We have
pegun gooc work and I trust the
ofhcers you elect today will carry for
ward that work more successfully
than we nave been able to do. And
let us not forget that without self
help and neighborly cooperation and
kindly feelings, all our schemes will
come to naught But with these
homely virtues dominating our lives.
Hod alone can measure or limit the
possibilities of the Farmers Union.