The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-23

ter Chamber OF Commerce, and vigor-
ously pushed by Senator Smith. to
force the Department Of Agriculture
TO obtain a true and honest report on
the condition of the cotton crop and
TO make 1t public at once, thereby
contradicting the exaggerated and
misleading estimates previously sent
out by the crop reporting bureau, is
tearing fruit more quickly than was
believed possible. In compliance with
a resolution introduced in the Senate
the morning after the telegram was
sent TO Senator Smith by the Sumter
Chamber OF Commerce. Secretary OF
Agriculture Wilson has called upon
the crop observers of the department
to make immediate reports on the
present condition of the crop and to
make special report on the deteri-
oration Of the crop since the last
regular report. II these reports are
not dectored to suit the purpose and
to serve the interests of the cotton
bears. as have been previous exagger-
ated estimates OF an enormous yield,
the cotton buyers Of the world will
learn that they have been misled
into believing that the crop this year
Will exceed fourteen million bales. If
the cotton farmers throughout the
South will lend support to the plan OF
the Farmers Union to market the
crops slowly and hold all cotton pos
sitle off the market when the price
Is unreasonably depressed. there Will
be no panic In the cotton market and
no cotton be sold for less than the cost
OF production. The farmers are in "a
position 30 practically dictate the
price Of cotton this year and II they
VIII stand up for their rights and moi
iet the mill men and spectators nX
the price Of cotton. next year they
will be still more Independent. IL
they surrender now and throw their
cotton on the market they will weak
en- ther strategical position and sap
their own financial strength so Sc
riously that they will again become
the helpless vassals of the lien mer-
chants and the sport OF the specula-
tors.
President Taft should include Ari-
zona In the itinerary of his speech
making tour. The people out there
will enjoy being told face to face that
they stamped themselves as a little
better than fools and anarchists by
Incorporating the recall of judges in
their Estate constitution.
The best remedy for bumper cot
ton crops and oft-repeated scare OF
prices below the cost Of production is
the old time prescription--more corn,
more hogs. more hay. more cattle.
This will give the South agricultural
health and make cotton a surplus
money crop and not the sole depend
ence.
The notion that some Of our peo-
pie have that the present price Of land
: in Sumter County Is too high to he
attractive to settlers from the North
and West Is unfounded. These peo-
pie are accustomed to land selling at
800 an acre and up. and all they need
to know about Sumter County land Is
that II will. with intelligent cultiva-
iCn, produce crops worth two or
three times as much as the higher
priced lands Of the section they wish
to leave. They are suspicious Of land
that sells for "A few dollars an acre.
believing that II Is valueless. We are
satisfied that II Will he easier To at
tract desirable class Of farmers from
the North and West now that our
lands cannot be bought for less than
$50 to $50 an acre than when 1t was
drag on the market at S5 to SO
Now Is the time To prosecute a vigor-
ous campaign for the best class Of
farmers who are seeking new homes
In "a section that has a better climate
more productive lands and greater OBJ.
portunitcs than the crowded North
/ and Middle West.
smith represents South Carolina
, particularly. hut in general ne Is tn,
/ representative Of the cotton farmer,
, of the entire South and car
Ice depended to look after their i'm.
q tcrests. tie Is doing good work right
, now i'm this matter of forcing the
crop reporting bureau to make q
truthful report of crop conditions