The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-22
STAND UP FOR RIGHTS
WATSON WILL AID IN TEE CAM.
PAIGN FOR THE FARMERS
Taking Steps to Help Them De-
n1and Justice and Get Full Price
For their Cotton.

naand Justice and Get o Full Price
For their Cotton.
Commissioner E. J. Watson, in
common with other Southern COM
missioners of agriculture, is press
ing The campaign for the proper
handling of the cotton crop and see
ing that every legitimate effort is
made towards getting a full price for
cotton.
The following correspondence ex-
| plains itself:
State of Georgia,
Department of Agriculture,
Atlanta, Ga. August 16, 1911,
Hon. E. j. Watson, Commissions
of Agriculture, Columbia, S. C.--Dea1
Sir: The impression has been Gre
ated throughout the country that
the cotton crop this year is going to
be the largest ever made. This i'm.
preston has already had the effect
OF lowering the price of cotton and
will carry it much lower, unless
something is done to put the world
on notice that the crop is not such a
large one as they would have you
think.
I know that the crop has deterio-
rated very much in the past month OF
six weeks, and, from what I hear,
the same is true in your State.
I think an effort should be made
at once to first disabuse the minds OF
the people about the size of the cot
ton crop and then get the farmers all
over the South to- hold sufficiency
of their cotton to prevent the price
from being forced down to where 1t
will mean starvation to the farmer
I believe that the Southern States
commissioners of agriculture should
meet at some convenient point with
In the next two weeks and ask all
farmers in the cotton States, espec-
tally the Farmers Union to join US
il this cause for a widespread move.
ment. I would be glad for you to
write to the President of the Asso.
| citation of Commissioners of Agri-
culture of the Southern States, at
once and ask him to confer with the
Farmers Union and other farmers,
with a view OF calling this meeting
at as early date as practicable, and
suggest in your letter that the Pres.
ident name the time and place OF
meeting, after conference with the
head OF the Farmers Union in the
cotton states.
| If this meets with your approval
which I am sure it will, I would be
glad for you not to delay in this mat.
ter, but take it up at once.
am this day writing similar let
ter to each of the commissioners OF
agriculture of the Southern States
Very truly yours,
CSigned) T. G. Hudson,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
Commissioner Watson's reply
reads:
August IS, 1911.
Hon. T. G. Hudson, Commissioner
of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga. My Dear
Sir: I am III receipt of yours Of Aug.
ust 16, and beg to say that under the
circumstances I think that your sug-
gestion for a joint meeting in regard
to this matter to be under the call
of the president of the Association OF
of the commissioners of Agriculture
for the Southern States, is an admira'
BILE one, and I am today writing the
president of the association endors'
ing the contents of your circular let
ter and the suggestion made therein
and urging that the matter be under
take Immediately. I thik we ought
taken go little further however and
notify warehousemen, and particular
ly presidents of local banks to partic-
ipate in this meeting, for with the
amount of money now in the local
banks of the South, which is largely
due to efforts of the Southern far
mer, to my mind, these banks ought
to Join hands with the farmer and
render him such material aid as will
enable him to hold his crop in the
warehouses and not be forced to rush
it to market with consequent demori-
lization of price.
In this matter the Southern people
will have to help themselves and for
the first time in history our banks
banks are in a position to render
most substantial aid in a matter that
involves their own future and pros
perity as we'll as that of the masses
of our people. Very truly yours,
E. J. Watson,
Commissioner
Other letters along the same line
and bearing on the cotton crop read:
Mr.. f. w. Dabbs, President, State
Farmers Union, Mayesville S. c. My
Dear Mr.. Dabbs: I beg to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your communica-
ton in reference to the cotton crop
situation and beg to say that it will
afford me great pleasure to do any
and everything in my power to aid in
the accomplishment of the result de-
sired. I trust that Senator Smith
will succeed in getting the depart
ment of agriculture to give an intel
ligent estimate of the crops condi-
ton and get it at once, in order that
mart of the damage that has been