The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-08

element, the law respecting people of
that town may as well give up hope
and admit that vice is supreme.
The receipts of cotton on the local
market have been large this season.
but not so large as they should have
been, considering the size of the crop
and the extent of the territory tribu-
tary to Sumter Nor have the re-
ceipts been so large as they would
have been but for the wide spread
and generally accepted belief that
other nearby markets, notably Bish-
opville and Manning, have paid as
high and higher prices than paid in
Sumter. There cannot but be some
foundation for the reiterated state
ments that buyers On these markets
are paying higher prices for cotton,
day after day. than the Sumter buy
ers and as a consequence farmers who
have heretofore sold all their
cotton in Sumter are going to Bishop
vile and Manning. There is no rea-
son why these places should be able
to pay as much for cotton as Sumter,
for this market has the advantage of
being a compress point and thereby
secures a lower freight rate than any
other cotton market in this territory.
IL the buyers in Bishopville and Man
ming are paying as much or more for
cotton than Sumter buyers, as claim
ed, there is something wrong with
the system that obtains in Sumer and
the sooner the merchants locate the
trouble and find remedy. the bet
ter 1t will be for the business Of the
city. The Sumter market, for years
conceded TO be the leading interior
market of the State. has suffered Sc
rious loss OF prestige and the cotton
business and other trade that belongs
to Sumter Is being weaned away. 1t is
not a question of whether other mar
kets are paying more for cotton than
Sumter. but whether they are paying
as much. Sumter has an advantage
over other markets in this territory
and buyers on this market should be
able to pay more for cotton, grade for
grade, than the buyers on any COM
peting market. II they are not do
ing 30 there Is reason, and we should
make an effort to ascertain this rea-
SON There is Chamber of Com
merce committee whose duty it is to
deal with questions OF this sort and
the committee should look into the
matter and IL they can do no more
they can find out the facts.
The corn specialists of the depart
ment Of agriculture advise those who
are seeking to reduce the high cost
of living to eat popcorn for breakfast
instead OK the high-priced breakfast
foods. Why not stick to plain old
fashioned hominy? 1t is probably
cheaper than popcorn and q whole lot
more tasty. especially when there is
gravy to go with it.
Speaker Champ Clark Is poacbing
on Mr.. Bryan's private preserves
when he jumps into the ring as a full
hedged apostle Of worldwide peace
and begins preaching international
Mr.. Clark evidently
still has an eye on the presidency and
fears Mr.. Bryan as an opponent, so
Is trying to grab a plank or two of
the Commoner's favorite platform.
A few up-to-date Sumter county
farmers are now fertilizing next years
corn crop-they are plantin crimson
clover as a winter cover crop for their
corn land and will plow it under next
the common and accepted farming
practice in Sumter county.
The reform Of the primary OF which
we shall hear great deal during the
next few months is nothing more
than a proposition to return TO the
observance OF common honesty i'm the
party primary. If the rules that we
now have were enforced there would
be nothing left to be desired. The
adoption Of a few stump regulations
to insure the enforcement of the rules
would prevent fraud, repeating and
other corrupt practices that make
the primary a disgrace to the white
people Of South Carolina.
Safe Robbed at Florence.
Florence. oct. 2.--SOme one broke