The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-27
STATION SHOWS TEMPER.
THOMPsON's REPRESENTATIVE
ATTACKS NEWSPAPERS.
Capt. X. n. Kolb. Alabama Commits
sioncr of Agriculture, One OF Tr,is-
tees. Repudiates Syndicate Scheme.

New Orleans. Dec. 21.-Newspapers
OF the South which have criticised
Col Robert NJ. Thompson. the New
York cotton speculator, and his plan
for financing the surplus portion of
tho south's cotton crop. were bitterly
arraigncd tonight by William Fl.
Stayton. the personal representative
Of Col. Thompson In formulating this
plan. In a talk before an informal
gathering OF Representatives of the
cotton farming industry In the as
sembly room OF the Gruenwald hotel.
After Mr. stayton's remarks a
heated oolloauy ensued between him
and Capt r.. +. Kolb. commissioner
Of Alabama. Capt Kolb denounced
certain statements of Mr. stayton and
the meeting war abruptly adjourned.
Capt Kolb ann'.unced that he had
DOT only withdrawn his acceptance Of
. n'usteeship In the proposed organi-
sation TO carry into effect Col. Thomp-
sonp CLAN. bit had addressed the cot
ton planters Of Alabama and Of the
South AGAINST participating in the
oian.
This plan will not be acceptable to
fine farmers ,,f the South" declared
Capt. Koib. when accepted the
truseseship iid not know the details
of The plan. irnd anee learning them
and observins that the plan Is calcu-
lat>d TO do injury to the cotton plant
sr4 have undertaken to advise the
fhrmsrs Of Alabama against It."
Capt Koib denied Mt. stayton's as
asrtion that tho plan meets with the
Endorsement of Charles 8. Barrett.
president Of the National Farmers
union. and added that ne had Mr..
Barrett statement Of opposition to It
n writing. nt
In his address Mr.. stayton declared
that Col Thompson proposed hin
plan for financing . portion Of the
cotton crop at the earnest solicitation
Of Southern gentlemen" In congress,
IN businsss life and among farmera
And the thanks he is getting for his
unsslnsh encrts to aid the Southern
planters are expressed In columns OF
ebuss and SANDER In newspapers of
ere south
Southern newspapers have re-
ferred 70 Col Thompson" he said,
-as . ''trickster' and have iptimated
That he n attempting to hoodwink the
cotton farmers with his plan. In the
pa9t ! have returned to New York
-fson,+ tks-s,outh with words OF praise
Sor Southern hospitality. but This
time shah return with my head
bowed In shame. Southern hospita,-
fty be hangedi"
Mr.. Stayton remarked here that ne
was "a little warm" about the crit
soisms which had been hurled at Col.
Thompson. and desired II to be un-
dsrstood that he was speaking for
himself only.
He added; The measage which
Col Thompson would give to the
people OF the Southland now Is:
'Gentlemen. made my fortune
from speculating In your staple and
feei that II 10 my duty to see that
part Of II goes back to you. am
anxious TO help you. II the proposed
plan for financing the surplus part
- your crop is not satisfactory I am
sorry Come and tell me what is
wrong with the plan. and we will try
and amend u to your liking
"coi. Thompson is a friend Of the
Mouth. and he hates the New York
cotton exchange more perhaps than
do you people Of the South. wicker
sham is Northern attorney general.
Hh partner Is attorney for the New
York cotton exchange. and already
they baye- tried % send Col. Thomp-
son 70 all for helping the South in
his bull campaigns"
M. stayton defended the plan in
detail. and declared 10 put into op-
eration II would prove beneficial 10
the farmers and business interests OF
the South He admitted that II was
not holding movement" that It
provided for the absolute purchase OF
title TO every bale Of cotton turned
over TO the syndicate and that the
right to sell the cotton TO spinners at
any ime was reserved. He declared
that II would require s125.ooo. 900 10
finance the surplus part Of the crop
and tina, no syndicate could under
take this n the plan contemplated