The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-07-04
CO. OPERATION KEYNOTE
SOUNDED AT FARMERS RALLY
"A Rousing Meeting of Representa-
tive Persous Held at Craven
Hall Yesterday.


ord of Thursday, July 3:
Cooperation among the farmers
of the South was the keynote OF the
meeting of farmers of Richland
county in Craven hall this morning
under the auspices of the Columbia
chamber of commerce. Probably
$50 men, representing not alone the
agricultural but a number of other
professions, met at 1890 to hear
addresses by Congressman A. r.
Lever, State Farm Agent w. w.
Long and Prof. j. N. Harper OF
Clemson College. The meeting re-
suited in a practical, sane and sensi-
bic discussion of some Of the moro
vital problems confronting Southern
farmers. 1t was presided over by
Bruce w. Ravenel OF the chamber
of commerce
REPRESENTATIVE LEVER.
Congressman Lever, whose reosut
appointment to the chairmanship of
the mouse committee of Agriculture
places him in a position OF great In
tuence with reference to improving
the condition of the farmers OF the
United States, was the FIRST speaker.
Briefly he traced the history OF fed
eral aid to the agricultural classes,
showing that it had first been begun
in 1867 as a political means OF mel
! lifying the dissatisfied farmers who
threatened to throw the Republican
party out Of power. The establish
ment of agricultural colleges began
at this time and has been continued
since at cost OF about $70,000,000.
The idea of establishing these col
leges, said Congressman Lever, was
that the graduates would return to
their respective communities and
teach there the lessons which they
| had gathered In college course.
This was inadequate, however, and
DR.. Samuel A. Knapp originated the
scheme of having demonstrators visit
the rural districts and there show
improved agricultural methods.
THE LEVER BILL.
Mr.. Lever spoke of his bill which
passed the last session of the house
by unanimous vote and was killed
in the senate by a single vote, where
by the federal government would
give to each state $4,000 uncondi-
tionally to be used in improving the
condition OF the farmers and a con-
siderably larger sum provided the
state raised an equal amount. TITS
purpose was" he said, "to bring to
the farmer in the most vivid way the
best methods of the agricultural
profession"
Mr. Lever is positive that this bill
will be passed at a later session OF
Congress.
| 1t was Mr.. Levers belief that too
much stress had been laid on cotton
production and not enough on cotton
marketing. 1.-The farmer, in order
to receive a fair price for his croR,
must know the difference between
the various grades of the staple"
he said, and sounded a progressive
note when he declared that "in a
| few years in South Carolina there
will not only be an official cotton
weigher but also an official cotton
grader"
Mr.. Lever closed his address with
the announcement that Secretary
Houston of the department OF agri-
culture had agreed to establish in
the state a like stock experiment
station. This was received with ap-
plause
w. w. LONG.
Make the home more attractive"
was the theme of the address by
State Agent Long of Clemson Col
lege. Mr.. Longs talk was very brief
and included in the many sound sug-
gestions which it contained that
each farm in South Carolina should
raise fruit and vegetables for the
family use and that there should be
more and better live stock.
Mr.. Long told of an invention by
Professor Conrad of Clemson Col
lege of a fly trap with a capacity OF
10000 flies an hour The state de-
partment of the federal agricultural
work will make an effort to get these
traps in every home in South Caro-
lima where they will be of great ser
vice in keeping down diseases which
are carried by the fly.
That his department is making
strong effort to have five schools for
the teaching of better methods of
farming established in each county
was statement by Mr.. Long, which,
provoked applause
PROF. ]. N. HARPER. -'qS-
A f1ve-minute talk by Prof. ]. N.
Harper of Clemson College brought
the meeting to a close. Professor
Harper's remarks were devoted to a
comparison OF the states of South
Carolina and Minnesota. 1t was
pointed out that the latter state pro-
duces twice the agricultural wealth
OF South Carolina with poorer lands
and less labor. Professor Harper
attributed this to the fact that Min
nesota is the leading dairy state of
the nation and drew as a natural
lesson that the farmers of this state
could take no wiser step than to
establish dairies in connection with