The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-10-16
A Call to Southern Faith
and Heroisln
By Richard III. Edmonds, Edi-
tor of the Manufacturers
Record.

sell its cotton crop at profit is re-
sulting in more alarm than is neces-
sary. The statement that unless
this, that or the other thing is done.
the South will be bankrupt, is abso-
lutely absurd. For the last five
or six years cotton growers of the
South got splendid prices for their
cotton, and the whole section mas
been growing rich, To suggest that
because for one year Cor even less,
because before the year is over
prices should advance), this section
is going to the dogs because it can
not sell its cotton, is reflection on
the business ability of the South, and
Oh the common sense and business
ability OF the people OF the South.
Hundreds of thousands of holders
of securities of all kinds through
out this country are seeing a depreci-
alton in the value OF their securities
far greater than the total loss of the
cotton crop of the South-even If
this years crop were worth only
one-half of last years crop-and
such a decline as that is. of course,
wholly unnecessary and improbable
Hundreds of millions of dollars Of
securities on which the owners have
depended for dividends on which to
live, are now paying no dividends,
and the holders, OF securities run
ming far into the millions of dollars,
who are wholly unable to sell share
Of stock or single bond because
every stock exchange in the country
is closed, face a condition worse
than that OF the cotton growers OF
this condition heroically They are
cutting down expenses Of living and
are not growing hysterical.
appreciate just as fully as any
Individual in the South can do what
the halting in the cotton trade
means and how 1t affects the grow
ers and the business interests. On
the other hand, / also realize that
throughout the country there are
many thousands Of men and women
war, who are without income and
who have not the same advantages
to grow something to eat, at least,
with a house i'm which to live, as
the poorest of the cotton growers
of the South. 1t is time, therefore,
to enter protest on behalf of the
South against the Mysteries of the
hour and to call the South back to
its sense of self-reliance and OF
meeting emergencies.
Letters from Canada which is not
in the war zone, but which is affect
ed by it TO a greater extent than the
South is affected by it's decline in
cotton, tell of the enthusiasm with
which the foremost young men OF
Canada are volunteering for war
service, of the courage with which
Canadian people are meeting the
stagnation In business, of the cut
ting down Of expenses by those who
have heretofore had abundance, Of
the quickness with which organiza-
tions have been affected for caring
hoA ehooo out VI CuplOy ucuI, give al
inspiring example of how a people
with the right stuff in them and the
right leadership can meet sudden
disaster. Canada faces the front
with serene courage. regardless Of
Its heavy losses and OF the closing Of
many avenues Of employment by rea-
sons Of the war conditions. The
South, IL we were to judge by the
utterances Of some Of Its men, of
the conventions that are being call
ed here, there and everywhere, and
of the talk OF bankruptcy of the
whole section because 1t may get
$20O.000.O00 or $300,O0O,OOO less
for cotton than 1t got last year, II
not measuring up to the situation.
Fortunately this is not the spirit OF
the South. and these people do not
voice the real South. It 10 time tifs
public should hear from those VINO
have faith In themselves, faith in
their ability to muster the situation,
feith In tho ability Of the Soush %
meet the temporary adverse condi.
tons. 70 hear frun men Who srs
not 70 frightened at every storm
and who know from experisucs
what 1t u to- make every advssss
condition stepping stone 70 bet&er
thsnRa I.Af tIsa, vctra - ~ o~..ss