The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-01

sponucnce. FOR the Denent or the
readers Of the watchman and South
ron. some of whom at least have
from time to time expressed the
pleasure they enjoyed at reading my
narratives of various trips. 1 wish
IL had been possible to write up with
some degree OF continuity my ex-
pressions of the Islandton, Kansas,
trip. and OF the more recent one to
Warrington. But all this will>have to
remain unrecorded except insofar as
Incidents may come to mind to illus
uate some future article or speech.
With one thing am constantly re-
minded: the bigness Of this country
and the vast diversity of the inter-
ests OF its population. Measured in
: miles distances are much greater in
the west than here. but measured I'm
the thoughts of it's people. not as
great. They do not regard 500
mile TRIP more than we do n 200
mile one. 1 met one man, l.. c. Crow,
OF Washington, who came East 1000
miles to salina, Kansas, and yet ne
did not feel as far away from home
as the Eastern delegates that had
'-aveled 500 to 1900 miles.
To come closer home in these
~1mt'irg thoughts: Either the farm
r OF this state are so far ahead OF
le farmers i'm other States that they
not need the elbow touch of CO.
perauon and organization. or they
are so far behind that they do not
unow how much they do not know
about their own needs. Everywhere
urganization and cooperation are live
Questions. and men can tell you by
the hour how much they saved or
made by some simple cooperative ef-
= fort. And In the vastness and bigness
OF the west cooperation is not so small
as to- be ignored and despised as 1t
Is by so many of US.
CSu We ioTkO Souie ol the PRESS
ing duties Of today on our farms to
plan real cooperation that will give
us returns out OF all proportion to
the time and thought expended on it
returns in excess of the best results
of our individual efforts in the daily
grind? III we had been In Sumter
county I'm closer touch with each 9TH
er I'm our local and county unions.
some OF us that sold our warehouse
cotton at the bottom OF the market.
and others that sold the unmade cot
ton at 10 i-2 or IL cents would today
be feeling good over bank ace counts
OF some size. And all the business
of the county would be prospering in
proportion.
IL Is good thing to- have corn
clubs. tomato clubs and alfalfa clubs,
all encouraged by the banks and
business men OF the county, but IL
would be still better. IL all these in
terests had been affiliated through n
county union, and that union and the
banks and business men were doing
team work for the common good.
Chat phrase will soon take its place
along side OF "uquid assets as an ex-
preston TO conjure with.)
As an illustration of what I mean
1 was discussing with "a banker the
treasury deposits none OF which have
reached Sumter banks 1 said: why
to Washington To- see the president
and secretary" because each IN
afraid the other will get the best Of
him, and all would have tn go." I
replied send all. and n committee of
IA many farmers To see that all Sc
cured the same treatment" The pres
ident and the secretary Judge each
STATE by the larger cities. why? Be
cause II IL from the larger cities that
aIviCes is volunteered. Until our com
mltttee went To- Washington | doubt
10 the president and secretary sus-
pected what we all know: viz. That
Charleston and Columbia banks have
little or no sympathy for the farm
crs and the country banks that finance
the farmers operations. In fact
Charleston banks de- not want To deal
with farmers at all. and Columbia.
Greenville and Spartanburg banks