The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-26
FARM INSTRUCTION URGED.
CONGRESSMAN LEVER MAKES
PLEA BEFORE SOIL FERTIL.
ITY LEAGUE FOR MORE
SCIENTIFIC AGRICUL-
TURAL METHODS.
Speaker Paraphrascs Horace Greeley
and Lauds South rs New Land of
Promise for American Husband
man.
Chicago Inter-Ocean, July II.

Chicago Inter-Ocean, July IL.
Congressman A. +. Lever of South
Carolina, chairman OF the house COM
mittee. on agriculture and author of
the Lever agricultural extension bill,
was the guest of honor at the Union
League club yesterday at lunch
con OF the National Soil Fertility
league. He advocated direct educa-
ton of the individual farmer with O
view to conserving the soil resources
of the United States, before a large
gathering of financial leaders, econo-
mists and agricultural educators.
That the latest Investigations of
government experts show a decrease
in proportion to population in recent
years in the amount of ground devot-
ed to the raising OF food products
was disclosed. Statistics were quot
ed to prove that the farm land in
America Is producing only ne-third
as much per acre as land in Europe
which has produced crops for more
than 1000 years.
The famous advice of Horace Gree.
ley to the young men of America was
reversed by the congressman, who de-
clared that the land Of prosperity for
the youth OF this generation is the
awakening South.
During the early history of this
nation there was more or less atten-
ton paid to agriculture by the govern.
ment heads" said Congressman Lev
er. Washington. jefferson and 9TH
er early presidents endeavored to
stimulate proper regard in the
minds of the people toward agricul-
tural conservation, but nothing was
! done in the way of federal support
OF the agricultural industry of this
country until the passage of the Nor
rill act In 1862, establishing the land
grant for State agricultural colleges
Twenty-Five years later came the ex-
pertinent stations. Now We propose
to establish and maintain a public
service OF tremendous value to every
interest in the land when we place
skilled farm demonstrators in every
agricultural county.
"The Lever agricultural extension
bill, which has the unqualified and
keenly active support Of the National
Soil Fertility league, provides for this
service, the federal government ap-
propriating a sufficient fund, also the
States, and apportioned according to
the rural population. From observa-
tion OF foreign and occasional do
mestic application Of these methods
1t will be a tremendously profitable
investment.
Il desire to say word for my own
section of the country. If Horace
Greedy we're here today, am satisfied,
with his keen observation and prac-
tical conceT ton of things, that in
stead of his famous utterance, Go
West, young man, and grow up with
the country he would turn and say,
Go South. young man.
Here we see 10000 people each
year going into Western Canada, yet
we have In the South millions of acres
OF magnificent farm land as good as
anywhere I'm the United States, which
could be purchased at from $5 to $12
an acre, and l assert on absolute
proof and record that we can pro-
duce as much grain and raise as much
live stock OF as fine grade as any
where In tho United States.
In my own State of South Caro-
lima we hold the corn producing rec
ord per acre Of the United States: i'm
my own State we have the original AL
iaita growing tract OF land. Your
great Western ranges have been cut
up and are being cut up into farms,
ana radical meat producing section of
the United States.
Our race and labor problems ma
ture can take care Of. All this agita-
ton and disturbance is due To the in
dividual endcavoring to make capital,
ana Is largely and almost invariably
thc EFFORT of some local disturber or
uemagoguc. We ask you Northern
and Western business men and com
munity leaders to support the Lever
agricultural extension bill-to help
u.s. and we will help you. Turn the
tide of emigration, keep our people
under tho old flag. Come South and
We will welcome you and we will make
you rich"
President III. III. Gross reviewed the
work of the league during the last