The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-03-11
MIR. DABBS IN BARNWELL.
Made Strong Pleas for OrcaniZalicn--
Farmers Must Adopt Business
Methods or Lose Money.

'.
Barnwell, March "a small but
appreciative audience enioyed the
privilege of hearing two very inter-
esting, instructive and sound common
sense talks here today at the meeting
Of the farmers union, Of Barnwell
county.
Harry ID. Calhoun, president Of the
Home bank Of Barnwell, made a very
interesting talk on the needs Of this
section in the agricultural line and
called special attention to the neces-
sity for establishing a cotton ware
house at Barnwell for the proper mar
keting of what now promises to be a
bumper crop. He closed his remarks
with a fitting introduction to the
speaker Of the day, f. w. Dabbs, Of
Sumter, vice president of the State
farmers union.
Mr.. Dahbs began his address by
o"iNllS dNIeuNl non 10 the IOf9runnSrS
Of the present day farmers union.
the grange and the farmers alliance.
each Of which, he said. had played an
important part in the development
Of the farming interests Of the South.
He predicted that in time the union
would give place to another more
perfect and powerful organization.
as has been the case with its prede-
cessors Mr.. Dabbs pointed out the
unbusiness-like methods Of the farm
er in the marketing of his crops and
showed what the farmers Of Sumter,
Marlboro and Clarendon counties are
doing to remedy this by the organiza-
tion Of a produce exchange, which is
doing on a small scale what similar
stronger organizations are doing for
the truckers in eastern Maryland Mr..
Dabbs said that the famers must be-
gin at home to remedy the evil. other
wise the work of State conventions
and associations where much speak
ing is done, would be of absolutely no
use.
In his opinion one reason for the
Indifferent organization Of the unions
IS the present high price Of cotton.
and unless there is a proper method
devised to market the incoming crop
the price is bound to slump. He
strongly advocates engaging a COM
petent manager for an organization
with this purpose in view. p man who
VIII make it his business to get the
highest possible price for the farm
ers' products, instead Of allowing the
present sales agents. who are merely
representatives Of the buyers. to ham
mer down the prices to suit their
employers. Ignorance he said. is the
great trouble.
Mr.. Dabbs said that this is not
primarily a cotton country, although
cotton is made the money crop. He
pointed out the fact that the amount
Of money expended by the people Of
this State for necessaries Of life that
could be grown most profitably at
home is almost equal to the total
value of the cotton crop.
In conclusion be pleaded with the
farmers to make a beginning, no mat
ter how small--not to despise little
things. In time great results would
follow, perhaps not in this genera
ton, but that they would come.
Mr.. Dabbs made a most favorable
impression on his hearers, and
throughout he was accorded strict at
tenrion. Much good should come as
a result Of the seed sown at todays
meeting. 1t is to be regretted, how
ever, that a large number Of farmers
was not present.
After the above addresses the meet
ing devoted the balance Of its time TO
business of the union.