The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-11
FARMERS
UNION NEWS
Practical Thoughts for Practical
Farmers.
Conducted by r.. w. Dabbs, Pres
ident S. c. Farmers Union.)
Some Random Thoughts.


Last week / was called to Wash
ington by the National officials to aid
In presenting to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House the need of
establishing a division Of markets in
the department Of agriculture. Our
conference with the committee was a
very pleasant one, and we left with
the assurance that such a measure as
we wish would be reported b. the
committee. The Senate has already
passed such bill. Whether the
House and Senate will be able to
agree on the exact terms Of the mea-
sure will depend on several things. |
thing they will, if the National Leg
islation committee of the Union keeps
in touch with both the Senate and
House members of the committee on
Agriculture.
Before leaving Congressman Bath
rock of Ohio sent for us to explain a
bill he is working on to make land
values a basis of credit. He is a
farmer in Florida by proxy and a short
crop made it necessary for him to bor-
row money. Whereupon he found
that farm values have no standing,
even in city just 40 miles away. The
local banks having exhausted their
resources before he reached the
scene. Jacksonville, 40 miles away,
would loan money on a city block,
having any value. He then com
bined" New York and other money
centers and finally secured $4,000 on
a $4,000 improved fran by paying a
high rate of interest than charged on
city property and by paying a bonus
TO the go-between for his services iIr
securing the loan.
His bill will send to Washington the
smartest lobbyists of the money inter
ests in such numbers as to tax the
hotels. l wonder how many farmers
and land owners will think it worth
while to make their influence felt?
scheme without time to study it, but
We asked for copies to be mailed us
and to others who have given great
deal Of thought to this problem.
| spent one night at Warrentown,
Va, with by friend, Julian G. Keith,
who breeds and trains horses for
hunters. The splendid one that
rode five years ago is now in England,
and is one Of the finest cross s-country
horses in the United Kingdom l
was very much interested in my
friends success as a general farmer;
he has brought UP his wheat yield
from u to so bushels per acre. BY
the use of lime he got three tons of
timothy hay from CALLED highlands
that had not for years made enough
to pay for cutting. His rat-proof
BAN had the biggest pile of shucked
corn | ever saw. His yield of corn
was 60 bushels last year. The only
commercial fertilizer used was Thorn
as phosphate with animal manure.
In addition to being good farmer,
he is horse judge of international
reputation, judging at Madison square
gardens, Toronto, Guelph. Ontario,
and other horse shows.
One Of the pleasures of this visit
was TO meet Hon. j. Brad. Beverly Of
the neghboring farm, plant breeder
Of Interstate reputation. When I
found he was a son-in-law Of Maj.
BENZ. Sloan, former President of the
South Carolina University, and that
Capt. Beverly has two nephews living
in Coumba, and was State Lecturer
for Virginia of the Farmers Alliance,
| felt like ] had known him before.
Ny visit was all too short, but the
work in Washington required my re-
turn Just before leaving for home
whom should | meet in the hotel but
| two Sumter boys, Bert Beckham, now
| of Atlanta, and Brainard Wilson, now
| Of Washington. Both were looking
| many regards to the home people.