The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-18
What 1 Saw i'm the Middle West-IV
(By Clarence Poe.)

am still convinced that the bigges
lesson our Southern farmers can learr
is from what did not SEE. And foi
the purpose Of emphasizing this mega.
tive teaching of Western agriculture
l am going to repeat and emphasize
some of the things 1 have already
said that l did not see in this pro-
gressive and prosperous agricultural
section.
1t has come to my attention that
one Of my readers has objected to this
summary of things did not see as "a
reflection on the South" And this
leads me to say that there is hardly
| anything else in Southern life that
makes me so exceedingly weary as
just this attitude toward every frank
criticism of Southern conditions.
What I said about the criticism of
DR.. Stiles some months ago is as ap-
propriate as anything I could say in
reply to this critic of mine, and 1 am
graph published at that time:
1T is high time. anyhow, for the
South to get over this morbid and
oabyish sensitiveness about the publ
cation of every statistical fact that
doesn't please our passing fancy. The
true Southerner, is the man who looks
an unpleasant fact squarely in the
face and sets about getting a remedy.
In Heavens name, let's have done
with our quack, popularity-hunting
doctors and leaders who tell us there
Is nothing the matter with us, that we
are the greatest and happiest people
on earth, and that all we need to do
Is to keep on forever in our old ruts
or illiteracy, undeveloped resources.
and out-of-date farming methods. Let
us rather follow the doctor and the
leader who loves the South with all
his heart but who loves her too we'll
not to use the knife of criticism and
reform upon the cancers that are
sapping her economic life and general
well-being."
In love for the South yield to no
man living. If l have any master
passion, ii is the desire to make nv
life of some service to her and her
people. My father fought in her
armies and | pity the man who does
not respond To the patriotism Of Sem
ator Carmack's eloquent declaration.
Il was born of that land; I was nur
tured at her bosom. and to her every
drop OF my blood. every fiber of nv
Delng' every pulsation of my heart.
Is consecrated forever"
but now are we going to serve the
south? Certainly it will never be bv
playing the ostrich and hiding our
heads In the sand i'm order TO keep
from seeing facts as they are. The
miserable batteries that the Southern
people have tolerated so long i'm a
certain type Of politician and dema-
Sogue make me wonder sometimes If
Dante was not right after all I'm put-
t'hg Hatteriers i'm one of the lowest
hellS along with thieves and rorgcrs
~ YOU are going into training 70
struggle for the mastery with eo,no
powerful and muscular wrestler, that
man Is not your friend who fatters
You with thousand lulling commit
ments about your strength and vour
superiority over your opponent. and
now needless it is for YOU To fear on
position. Your real friend is the
man who tells YOU the exact truth
ah"ut the strength Of your rival who
tolls you how nccvcssarv il Is that
YOU put Yourself i'm tho very best nf
training ON tho very best of diet
ana VIII" urges YOU day after dav to
avoid cFcry weakening ana dcbilitat-
ing inilueu"c who ENCOURAGES Won. in
decd, for ovcrv Wcll-mcant effort Won
put forth, hut who never luis vo,
into sense Of case ana false gccur-
ity that would only ruin YOU in r,.
end.
Ii know my own hourt IL Is thi.
sort OF friend wish tp r. to our
southern farmer folk. and hone !
shall ai"'v, lc too true to them IN
utt'r thom. As one of our T.rr...
'"" "'rrc .pDud,uts said the other l.,,..
NV h.,rf fr,.- ,tt o. I d, 800