The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-28
er to secure his necessities at prices
within his reach.

within his reach.
In 1880 more than 20 per cent Of
the nations population vas living in
the rural districts; today but SO per
cent of the population Is rural In
other words, nearly half of the popu-
lation is not producing food and cloth
ing. The farmer struggles to educate
his boys and girls, and they in turn
go To the city. our political doctors
are telling these young people to go
back To the farms. | do not agree un-
less you are going to guarantee that
farm conditions are going to be just
as good. just IA wholesome, and Just
as attractive as the conditions which
maintain in the cities
I'VE sent out bulletins to teach the
farmer. but about SO per cent Of them
are thrown away. or used to kindle
the fire on cold mornings. We then
sent out speakers to explain. The
farmers did not in many cases take
the advice offered. 1t Is not that the
farmer Is a fool. but that he has been
the worst humbuged man in the land.
Now to convince the farmer you must
demonstrate to him right on the
farm. That Is what we mean by ex-
tenstve teaching. talking writing. and
demonstrating.
"The Department of Agriculture
has shown through It's demonstration
work that We can double production.
On 5000 one-acre plots In South Car
olina, cultivated under improved
methods. 1850 pounds Of cotton were
produced per acre. whereas the av-
srage acre yield under the old meth
DDS was 720 pounds. On 5000 acre
plots scattered throughout the State
an average yield Of corn per acre was
IS bushels. whereas the average State
yield was Is bushels. This shows
that the time has come when the
farmer needs more than strong soil,
strong mules, and strong plows. He
needs a trained brain. The revision
of the tariff. the reformation of the
currency are no more important prob
lems-in fact. they do not approach
In their possibilities Of benefit this
problem OF agriculture.
Last year 100000 able-bodied
farmers from the Northwest emigrat-
ed to Canada. Do you realize the
economic loss? In antebellum days
a negro was valued at $1,000. We
must place q valuation of at least
$4,000 on each Of these farmers.
Figure up what the nation lost. The
men moved out because Western
farm lands were too expensive. I'm
der the old system of agriculture they
could not secure a proper return on
the investment. But why do they go
to Canada, / ask. when right here
under the dome Of the Capitol land
may be secured for from $50 to $50
per acre. which Is equally as good as
any to be found elsewhere?"
America. Mr.. Lever declared, has,
through It's Department OF Agricul-
ture. its State agricultural colleges,
and it's experiment stations collected
more agricultural data than any ma
tion on the earth. 1t has failed to get
IT to the farmer. however, he added.
His demonstrators will select plots at
different sections throughout each
county, and there show the farmer
what cultivation under, the methods
which their experimenting has reveal
ed will result in.
In making his appeal for the sup
port of the bankers In the athens Of
America" Mr.. Lever pointed to the
fact that recently in Madison Square,
In New York. he found one morning
probably 1000 men asleep on the
benches. The men. he said. he was
told would not work.
Il could see in those idle men the
greatest menace to the safety Of the
country" declared the speaker. when
the red flag of anarchy goes up and the
rumble OF revolution resounds. 1t will
not be the cities. but the hills and
valleys. the home Of conservatism,
that will supply the defense for the
nations"
A. G. Clapham. president Of the
Commercial National Bank. presented
the report OF the committee recently
house OF New York. with a view to
having that institution place Washing
ton banks upon a parity with the
banks OF Baltimore. Philadelphia,
and other cities. by making this city