The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-11
HOLD CONFERENCE
ON VITAL PROBLEMS
MethOds for Enrichment OF Rurai Life
in South Carolina Discussed at
Meeting.

Meeting.
Columbia, Feb. 7.-Yesterday morn
ing was a day of particular signii-
canoe at the National Corn exposition
py reason OF the joining hands of two
OF Tie most powerful factors ID the
State-tne BANKERS and the farmers.
Ine AGRICULTURAL conference OF the
South Carolina bankers association
marks a long step forward III the di-
rection of a closer understanding ald
a more harmonious working between
the farmers OF south Carolina AMI
those who control the money markets.
lesJerQay's meeting was such as 10
give much encouragement to those
who have hopes OF bringing into the
closest possiule touch the producers OF
the State witch the bankers.
Purpose OF Meeting.
Adopting from Zenophon az its
slogan, Agriculture is an art hat
renders those who understand 1t rich,
but leaves those who do not un@er-
stand it, however hard they may Ia
bor in it, to live in poverty" the Soath
Carolina Bankers association deG,r-
mined by yesterdays conference to 90
everything in their power t. g=t into
closer touch with the Wea'n producing
element of the State, the farmers.
Robert I. Woodside. of Gr,eivlile'
chairman of the committee on agilcul-
tural development and education
opened the meeting and thea tender
ed the chair to Emslie Nicholson, OF
Union, president of the association.
: Address by Dabbs.
The first address made was that OF
r. W. Dabbs, president of the State
Farmers union. Mr. Dabbs said that
in his opinion this was a most auspl-
cious event in that it was giving the
banker and the farmer a chance to
become better acquainted and get
some closer understanding of the
needs and motives Of each other. He
was of the opinion that the confer
ence would not only rebound to the
benefit of the farmer and the banker
but that it would be equally as bene-
fetal to the merchant and all otEer
classes who may come in contact with
the first named two. Mr.. Dabbs said
that one particular and important way
in which the banker could aid the
farmer materially was that of assist
ing In providing some means for the
producer to market his crops. Not
in producing" said Mr.. Dabbs, "be7
cause there we have no complaint.
With our unrivalled soil and climate
the matter of production is easy, but
we meet our Waterloo when we at
tempt to market the crops at fair
price and along this line Is where the
banker can do the farmer untold
good" Mr.. Dabbs is Of the opinion
that the bankers are largely response
BILE for the partial failure Of the "hold-
ing" plan by reason Of their advising
their customers that holding their cot
ton As unwise and by urging that the
cotton be put On the market at an
early date. This, when done all over
the State, IS almost fatal to the plan
Of holding.
Work in 1918.
Mr.. Dabbs regarded the conference
Yesterday as being the opening gun
in the campaign Of 1913 and hoped
that with the assistance Of the bank
ers the farmers would find themselves
in a more prosperous condition than
ever before.
E. ]. Watson, commissioner of agri-
culture Of South Carolina, spoke flu
emily On the subject of THE Farmer
and His Relation to the Economic De-
velopment of the State" Mr.. Watson
said that of all the meetings he had
ever attended he knew Of none that
could be more productive of good re-
suits than a coming together Of the
farmers and the bankers. He said that
he has worked fer years for the join
ing together Of these two bodies and