The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-23
DISCUSS FUTURE PLANS.
COTTON CONGRESS HEARS WHAT
CROPS CAN BE PLANTED TO
TAKE PLACE OF COTTON
Interesting Practical Talk Made by
d. Frank Williams-O'DOnncll Tells
of Needs of Bankers NOw-Says Re.
ductiOn of Cotton Lies i'm Hands of
Landlords.
From The Daily Item, Sept. 10.

The cotton congress meeting at the
court house was attended by more
than hundred persons to-day, all
OF whom seemed much interested in
the various discussions which came
up and the plans for the future of
the South. The present financial sit,
uation was discussed only by Mr..
O'Donnell, all other talks being along
line Of what crops the farmers should
plant to take the place of cotton. A
very interesting practical talk along
this line was made by Mr.. J. Frank
Williams.
The whole meeting towards the
close developed in to a live on the
farm" movement, as Mr.. O'Donnell
expressed it, which he said would be
the best thing for the people of the
South, although it might cause some
of the merchants to go out of business
and go live on the farm to make ii
living.
Mr.. O'Donnell was called on by Mr..
Belser, who acted as chairman until
Mr.. Noise came in, to state what
the banks were doing and could do to
help the farmers in the present sitlia-
ton. Mr.. ODonnell stated that what
the banks lacked most just now was
credit at the north and not currency.
They had enough currency to handle
the little bit of cotton which was be-
ing sold on the market, but they
could not get New York exchange,
which was a great handicap to the
banks. The northern correspondents
Of the banks were not pressing the
southern banks for loans. hut they
were unwilling to increase those loans.
He stated that the emergency fund
which was issued cost from 1-2 to
. per cent interest now and would
cost more later, and not the mere 3
per cent as many people seemed to
think, a large number of expenses be-
ing necessary in the handling Of the
money.
He discussed this phase Of the mon
ey question and the lending of money
on certificates placed with the region
al reserve banks, showing that the
regional banks would only give the To-
cal banks rs per cent Of the money
on notes. etc
On the question Of reduction of
acreage, Mr.. O'Donnell thought it
suicidal for the farmers not to re-
duce. He thought, however, that the
landlord ought to be. willing to take
out his share Of rent in the other
crops which were substituted for cot
ton, and not require the lien mer-
chant to take the chance of getting
the rent money was taken out. The
landlord should be willing to accept
his proportional share of rent in cot
ton, grain or other crops raised.
Mr.. III. w. Beall was assured that
there would be buyers here if the
farmers raised a sufficient quantity of
grain and stock to put q good supply
on the market.
Mr.. ]. Frank Williams stated that
the farmers ought to raise sufficient
wheat for home consumption. This
might not at first be ground in the
flour such as we get from the west.
but he assured his audience that in
most cases it was better flour. He
stressed the importance of raising oats
and corn for home consumption and
some to spare for shipment. Pork
and beef should be raised for home
supply and to SELL Truck should be
raised in plenty. He emphasized the
necessity Of planting sorgham and
sugar cane next year for home con-
sumption, as the supply Of sugar
would be short and the price high
He wanted every farmer to keep II
manure pile i'm his lot, under cover.
which he could easily do and which
would cut down to a great extent the
cost of commercial fertilizer. He told
of the Importance of cover crops and
lime in the building up of the soil, am
other method of reducing the fcrtilz-
CT bill. He told of the value of dairy
products and stressed the importance
of having them produced at home.
Mr.. j. &. Dunbar spoke on the
need of planting less cotton and more
grain and truck.
Rev. H. e. Hcthca said that the
people depended entirely too much on
cotton. They should raise more food
supplies.
MIR G H. Wilson offcrC1 a rcSnlu-