The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-13
STRAIGHT TALK.
DIAGNOSIS OF con-
DITIONs IN SUMTER.
The Chief ObSioc,e To the Legitimate
Growth OF This City Along Indus
trial Lines-Substantiai Cooper
ation and Intelligent Utilization OF
Opportunities for Self Help The
Need of the Hour.

y Need OF the Hour.
Editor Daily Item.
Your editorial regarding the
Chamber Of Commerce is certainly
timely and pertinent. In discussing
ehe proposed shoe factory with Mr.
SMELL today. mentioned the alb
surdity 90 the city raising s4.500 to
hire n SECRETARY and advertise the
city II the people ala not intend max
ing use OF the advantages offered us
through his efforts and that Of the
Arious committees. IL seems to me
that the present conditions Of trade
IN the city would certainly appeal to
tho selfiHhness OF the merchants. II
they have no public spirit. and make
Asm realize the necessity Of having
industrial enterprises to employ labor
10 purchase their stocks when the
farmers conditions are as now. what
are the conditions with the mer-
chants today The clothiers. dry
goors and shoe merchants are sell
Ing their stocks at cost and below
cost In the early part OF December.
xyhen they should be making a pro-
mt on their sales. Why? Every one
knows the answer. The price Of cot
ton. What are they going to do when
they get the small surplus that the
citixens who are not merchants. and
the farmers feel they must spend for
heir needs and they still have
considerable amount OF the stock on
hand that they bought. expecting lp
sell TO the community getting IL 20
Is cents for cotton? They will ha, 9
10 convert Il into cash at whatever
price they can get. or carry them over
- next fall when they viii not bring
1c6ss without anything being said Of
r@rre on the money invested IN
y ~ ~ time. a. they VIII
~ q date. Nor IL
Jz49@ What win The conditions he
ext fan As y now stands Sumter In
merely an agricultural city. am
Vr6Q<e1 70 say town. because It is
llsd 60 conceive OF city sitting down
( o1d waiting for the farmer to make
good and 10 obtain It's share OF pros
~ncr1ty from him. II Is true we have
few Industrial enterprises. but only
enough TO keep the merchants and
clerks too busy TO run to the front
door In summer as they used to do
when some wag would turn loose
rabbit or do some other such stunt
AfIf tho farmers cannot buy now. will
t>ey be able TO do so In the spring.
and while they may. by curtailing the
acreage OF cotton. put themselves In
better financial condition regarding
their obligations. will they have any
surplus money to buy these mer-
chants offerings next fall? The farm
- are rapidly awakening to the fact
that they must change their ways
and business methods and II these
merchants are wise they viii prepare
for this change by creating other
customers 20 supplement the changed
soniitions OF the farmers. both in
lling their products and supplying
their needs. Tho only way the mer-
chsnts can do this In by encourag-
Ing manufacturing establishments In
our city TO employ labor and the
onls' way to encourage them Is to In
nvestigate what IN offered and II 1t
does not appear good. turn II down.
bat II 10 appears sound and good
Invest money In n and watch Il and
help II to grow.
The committees I'm going around
among the merchants performing the
outy assigned them are frequently
asked how much did Mr.. So and So
subscribe and are told that they
ought to have made Mr.. So and 40
rive double or treble the amount.
hut when the committee asks our
advisors how much they will sub
scribe. the reply Is frequently. "Oh.
II can't give anything" IL would like
; Go. but I am going 10 do this and that
or have done H." II am satisfied II
IL one OF the best things that could
; ne started" 'Tt u sure To pay hand
soneIy and II the very thing we
nesd. but I am sorry 7 can not sub