The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-17
TO SOLVE COTTON PROBLEM.
'Farmcr' Declares That Legislation
Of "a Rather Drastic Character is
Needed.

The papers are covered each day
with notices of meetings and sug-
Sesuons, but the price of cotton con-
tinues to decline. The South has
shown the world how much cotton
she can grow. The world has shown
the South how easy it is for them to
dictate the price under present con-
ditions, and to buy cotton below the
cost of production; in short, at their
own figures. The Farmers Union is
line organization, a noble body of
men banded together for a good DUR
pose, and these men have done much
hard work, but they have been work
ing backwards, and the price of cot
ton stamps all of their efforts with
failure. They will continue to f9
as long as they occupy passave ana
not positive position. The union
with its passive methods of persua-
from today as it is now; for there is
too large a number of negro and
small white farmers, who grow a ma
, Jorlty of the cotton, to be gotten to-
, gether or reached by reason. "A des-
perate disease requires desperate
remedy" Legislation and legislation
alone can remedy this. Have the
members the union, the nerve and
good judgment to go to the root of
the evil, and demand that their dele
| cations assist in enacting laws that
, will give them at once what they have
been fighting for for many years
! These lawmakers will have to be
dealt with in most positive manner.
, So far a large portion Of them have
been weaklings without the courage
of their own convictions or the nerve
to act for the best interest of the peo-
; pie. 1 recall that it took them years
at a cost of much time and money.
to pass even the yellow dog act and
to repeal the lien law. But 1 now
trust that this cotton proposition is
SO plain and the remedy so easy that
none Of our legislative body will fail
to see it. The cotton acreage must
be limited by law, and warehouses es-
Ikablishs under steteAe9 s.l ssssS,.. tls,.ss 9,
/ laws Will make the South the garden
spot OF the world. Any other coun-
try but the South would have solved
this problem long ago.
) The South is the only spot in the
| world that has the natural climatic
conditions for the successful growing
of cotton, that is, extreme seasons of
heat and cold all in one year. To
what use are we putting this lavish
gift of nature? Every acre of, good
farming land in the South should be
worth over $500, and would be IN any
other section Of the United States or
the world Where every other coun-
try has particular product that the
rest of the world needs, that enter
prise is fostered and cared for under
the law. Take Brazil, with her coffee,
Germany with her potash, South
America with her nitrate of soda and
other specialties of other countries
too numerous to name.
Any law that is for the best in
terest of the people should be con-
stitutional. If not, the constitution
should be evaded by a lasting emerg-
ency act. G mention this evasion
for it is well-known fact that no
great good has ever been accom-
plished without opposition, and the
mutton-heads must, of course, have
something to rant over. A law linn
| iting the acreage would not be class
legislation, for cotton is our money
crop and the prosperity of the farmer
means the prosperity of all lines of
business. Limiting the acreage is the
only thing that will cause the all
cotton farmer to diversity. Grain,
stock, fruit, vegetables. etc-all would
follow in the only country that can
grOf cotton and in addition can grow
| every necessity Of man
With the cotton crop limited and
protected by State warehouses. with
| the diversification that would follow
! in a few years the world would be
| astounded at the wealth of the South;
and the location of the garden of
| Eden would no longer be a question.
But instead, what are gross ignorance.
perniciOus laws, and no protection of
| our specially doing for us Esau in
all ages and all climes has been con-
| right for a mass of pOttage but