The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-11-15
HOLD FOR HIGHER PRICES.
j. G. DUNBAR OF DALZELL CON-
yIENTS ON COTTON STU
ALTON.
Believes in Organization and CO.
Operation; Individual Effort Counts
-Farmers Must Make Their Farms
Self-supporting; Reduce Acreage
and Raise Corn and Hogs.
Editor Daily Item:

Editor Daily Item:
have read with profound inter-
est the many suggestions on the cot
ton situation and some Of them sp-
pear to be very plausible.
The plan adopted at the convention
In Columbia during Fair week had
some very striking features whereby
the Southern cotton producers may
be benefited If the plan is adopted
throughout the cotton belt. think
the idea of reducing acreage is the
best scheme that has yet been ad-
yanced. If the acreage is not cut.
the average cotton farmer will be in
a hole next year with the big crop
now on. have as there will. / feel, be
a surplus to carry over. The cotton
bears have the sitnation in hand now
and. II there is not surplus from this
crop. he will put every effort for
ward to make it appear so to the
producer In consequence Of which
there will be another panic among
the producers next season.
We all know what a panic means
and. It does seem to any intelligent
man that, this great revolution in
price should be lesson not to be
forgotten.
Some will say, what are we 10 plant
our land in, If we cut the cotton acre
age? To those I will suggest that
they be sure to plant corn, oats and
other food crops for all purposes on
the farm and, after reducing the cot
ton area, let the balance Of the land
rest. This will curtail the fertilizer
bill. and the land itself will be In
better condition for crop another
year. when by rotation we can let
another piece rest But some one
will say that land is worth too much
to lie out even for a year. Well, sup
pose we take some Of that money we
are spending to enrich the fertilizer
companies and invest it in wire fenc-
ing which we can throw around that
land while It is resting and keep
bunch of hogs as well as some cat
tie which will bring a remunerative
price when put on the market or,
should we find prices unattractive,
we can use that kind Of produce In
paying of our labor.
The laborer has 10 live and by
raising the supplies on the farm to
feed him with we will not have to
go to the merchant once or. twice
Der month to get rations to feed him
with. We are up against a hard
proposition and if we do not adopt
new methods in operating the farm.
Il seems to me that the future will be
dark and dreary. beset with many
difficulties.
The warehouse scheme is a good
one, but we can not depend solely on
that. We must put our brains as well
as our muscles 10 work; depend up
on our Individual efforts. as well as
cooperation, in cutting the acreage
10 that per cent, whereby we can get
a profit on our investment and labor,
The union is a great organization and
every farmer should belong to it. He
that looks well to his own interest,
can not fail TO see that there is good
I'm organization and cooperation.
United we stand. divided we fall,
Is an adage that does not fail. Every
other class is organized and is try
ing to better its conditions. while the
average farmer is cropping his way in
the fumes of his self conceit, trusting
to luck that something may turn up
IN his favor. Business men do not do
that way. Until we quit it. as a class,
we will serve for the rest Of the
world. ]. c. DUNBAR.
Dalzell. Nov. 9.
cf 80 Tnladn