Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-11-15
REVOLUTIONIZEF FARM FINANCE.
President Dabbs Urges Sensible Plan
Of Produce Exchanges.

| fAh eutloIldl Oh CulS SUBJECT III the
Watchman and Southron OF Novcm-
Der 8th, and the letter Of DR.. Walter
| Cheyne commenting on the same,
| gives good oppol unity to recall
some recent history-ancient history
in this rapid age. Anyway, it seems
to have been forC often, though not
| quite three years old
When elected president of the Sum-
ter County Farmers Union the wri-
ter said: eff we will finance our
farms from the 1st day OF January
to the 1st day OF September, the cot
ton crop will finance itself" We
were then confronted with Scents
cotton, and there was much planning
how to get on better basis, but
there was nothing like the epidemic
of plans as at present, for we had not
then tasted 12, 13, Ia and Is cents
cotton as steady diet.
| The writer then began campaign
for the establishment Of produce ex-
changes in every large town to dis
tribute the farmers surplus food
crops directly among the consumers.
At every opportunity, in season and
out of season, he stressed the need
of the farmers feeding at first hands
the dwellers Of the towns, the rail
road and factory people and their
live stock, and that it could only be
done properly by our own selling
agencies, and that Is was In the line
Of the only true solution Of the labor
problem and the cotton problem.
People listened and were pleased to
compliment the speaker, but very lit
tie was done. Why? Because the
price OF cotton was so attractive that
very few people could SEQ anything
| else. The few could make their own
supplies, but they could not build up
a systematic marketing for their sur
plus. Committees of the Farmers
union were appointed, but in no in
stance could they get subscriptions
TO the stock of sales agency. In
several counties we worked up stock
companies rs our buying agents. The
writer encouraged them because 1t
was the only way to secure co-opera-
ton and that training in business
methods that we need; but he con-,
stantly pictured the ultimate good to
De: The sale Of our own produce to
leed our own people, and the sale of
our great money crop, cotton.
through these same agents of ours.
There are number of enterprises
In the State, but the writer is more
familiar with the Union Brokerage
Company, Of Sumter, than any 9TH
ers, and would like to present some
VI me tea.ureS that commend 1t and
soi,lG VI the dllhcult1es under which
IL iapols;
i"s peei prohotlVe OF the spirit
VI ~ unIoi'isili III tifee counties.
IL mas saved thousands of dollars
&c ior lls customers on purchases, and
IN 10 na1,s, roio aoile,hlls lor lis patrons
No." ooun''S cureu meats, oats,
~ ~pe".' "lu S,up' put most OF the far
niers seem TO prefer "Dedding them
"'''' aS EheShe says ABOUT selling
bb"rS; ""' 'a'c'y pu' ahHIhpg IN the
n'n'"H 81 ~" halaSor, Wien they
,n,, ~ w II"IIliIs' because th@Y
| ~, 9i+,' ttt ,"",'h h'2N'nh' never &lNip& a
I,','.@ -. +" ."@ ."Nl Iud' IN thiS way
~ h,,.,, u..' NV ING NV boiiNinG up
| Sto"a', 'tht VII assure them
.o soH,, 1iai ., het lor all they can raise
W. o ne couhlry.
an t, aie I uoihs wohderfui business
M farnarS ,tH '"pi'ai - we nave persuaded the
h',;Il, "' eis ~ pul up But we cannot
pullu cola storage rooms. grain ele-
on ~ ',u passing plant Tor meat
mors orn,,,,,, .t W ne cotloh iar-
The forn,o,.s ,tI, 'm -, Ininss' aniess
sno;I;tian ..,,T no see Hhe neea OF these
,,.,' VIII subscribe STOCK IN pro-
] ~, e,ui. 20 lhGlr means and the
".,"'r' nnU, ~. o' sucn ctops they expect to
m,iii ,'iii NI.' n'u, ~ ls not fkely that others
VIII p"llu tnem 10 De used for one
o"non so" anu men De iale because the
cotton o" ~ ''''' 'ool-
|
othar lrorn,ors, 1Tn; 'pI"h lo' tne