The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-01-03
RUMORED CHANGE IN
7 AGRICULTURAL DEPT
Hlease will Give Watson the EPink
i Slip and put A.. Hudson In his Place
say the Wise Ones,

tent rumors regarding changes con-
templated in the State department of
agriculture. These reports have
caused much comment throughout the
State because of the great interest the
public takes in the work that has been
accomplished by the department of
agriculture under Commissioner Wat
son.
Some things are known; about 9th
ers there is conjecture and some in
ferences
The following seems to be the sit
uation:
Ira w. Williams, United States farm
demonstration agent for South Caro-
lima has been transferred from this
State 10 Georgia, supposedly because
OF opposition by the governor.
L. J. Watson is to he Gisp,accd
when his torm expires in March. Ills
place, offered to one or two others be-
fore is now offered to \. ID. Hudson
OF N,wbeyry
Ot all the departments ci the State
government there is more patronage
1ttachcd TO the Office o. the depart
menJ of aerienl,ure than any other
The state dopyr.mcnt OF agriculture is
constituted as follows and receives
the following appropriations:
Direct appropriation about $4,000
About 100000 is received from the
feed sturrs stamps. This work en-
ploys about ten men, including inspec-
tors and chemists.
The legislature appropriatcs SlO.-
GOO for the United States farm dem
onstration work and all additional ap-
preparation of $25 900 is received
from the national department of agri-
culture. The State aid is included in
the direct appropriations
There are employed in this feature
OF the work State agent, two dis
trict agents and more than 40 county
agents. The county agents come un-
der the direct supervision of the State
agent and also come in direct contact
with more people in the State than
any other class of representatives of
the State government.
For Corn Breeding.
There is also an appropriation of
$4,000 for corn breeding work, which
Is expended under the direct super
vision of the commissioner of agri-
culture and two other members of a
commission provided by the act.
During the past several weeks Com
missioner Watson has been very ac-
tive in his work to help the farmers
of the State and the South to devise
some plan or means whereby the sit
uation with reference to low priced
cotton might be relieved. Early in
the fall he attended meeting of the
cotton growers and business men in
Montgomery, Ala, and was elected
president of the Southern Cotton con-
gress. The election to this position
devolved upon him the leadership in
the fight for higher price for cotton.
Later, acting as the agent for the
farmers of the State and South, he
attended conference in New York,
when loan of $5o,OO0,OOO was prof
fered on the cotton crop in the South
by syndicate of New oYrk bankers.
The proposition met with some ad-
verse criticism at the time and has
never been worked out
Several weeks ago Commissioner
Watson, as president of the Southern
Cotton congress, and not as the com
missioner of agriculture of South
Carolina, issued a call for the presi-
dents OF the Farmers unions and the
representatives Of the governors, TAX
Ing part in the New Orleans cotton
conference, constituting the executive
committee. to meet in New Orleans on
December Is to discuss plans for a re-
duction of the cotton acreage.
Letter to Commissioner.
1t was the intention of Commission
er Watson to attend the meeting of
the committee. Just before Commits
sioner Watson was to depart from the
State letter, it is reported, was sent
him by the governor informing him
that the position Of commissioner of
agriculture, commerce and industries
would be declared vacant should he
Commissioner Watson attend the
conference. The governor further
stated in the letter that Mr.. Watson
must ask permission to leave the State
In the fuure or leave without his po-
sition.
To get back to the tangle in con
nection with the farm demonstration
work this much seems certain: