The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-10-24

try ever dreamed OF before and The
organization Of an army modelled on
tho European plan Of sufficient siz,
to cope with any army or combina-
ton of enemies that might attempt to
invade this country. The dream of
universal peace based upon common
sense and n recognition of Internal
ional equity has faded away and the
public mind is rcverting to the Ger
man idea OF an armed truce with ali
the world, filed with great war camps.
The members Of the legislature are
a generous set when it comes to
spending public money. Note this
paragraph in the report Of Tuesdays
session: ''The house passed a reso-
luton providing that the compensa-
tion of it's three deceased members
for the special session be paid to
their widows" BY what process Of
reasoning do tho learned law makers
arrive at the conclusion that deceased!
members are entitled to compensation
for an extraordinary session Of the
legislature? Perhaps they did not
reason at all concerning the matter
but, in a casual manner voted to give
away 5000 Of public money in order
that they might enjoy the feeling that
they are open handed, generous, lib.
eral fellows with hearts full of sympa-
they for the afflicted. We wonder ii
above resolution provides, also, for
the payment Of mileage and stationery
allowance to the widows Of deceased
members? Might as we'll pay fcl
miles not travelled and stationery not
used as for services not rendered
The various bills before the legisla-
ture looking to the total elimination
of the cotton crop or the curtailmcnt
OF acreage all have something to rec
ommend them along with objection
able features but tho proposition for
fixing the number of bales that may
be produced per plow is as impossible
as 1t Is nonsensical. A farmer may
plan to produce five bales per plow
and q bad season may reduce the
yield to two or three bales, while on
the other hand favorable season,
such as that of 1911 or 1914, may in
crease the yield to six to eight bales.
Is a farmer to be penalized for the
vasaries OF the weather? Who is
to keep tab On the farmers to asccr-
tain how many bales he succeeds in
producing per plow There would
be sufficient difficulty in making the
6-acrc per pillow plan effective, but the
6-bale per plow plan is impossible.
The Texas legislature has voted
down the cotton elimination and
plans by an overwhelm-
ing majority and will leave it to the
termine for themselves what they will
do In respect to reducing cotton pro-
duction. With Texas assuming this
position the legislature of South Caro-
lima may as we'll shut up shop and
go home. All admit that cotton pro-
duction must be reduced If this years
crop and the crop of next year are to
find a market at u price approximate
ing the cost Of production. All ad-
nit that 1t is worse than folly to so
on raising cotton at dead loss. AL,
admit that there will probably be a
market at profitable prices for all
grain that can be produced next year.
Therefore each farmer for himself
Is In q position to decide what he
should do in the circumstances. Those
who have lost money on this years
crop will lose moro money next year
II they plant cotton on the same scale
as heretofore. If they plant much
cotton and lose much money it will
be their own fault and they will have
to take the medicine. If they plant
little cotton, it is a gamble, pure and
may make money or
they may lose, according to TIE size
of next years crop and the condi-
tions then existing in this country
and Europe. If they plant no cotton
they may make money ON grains or
they may not, but at the worst they
will have something that they can eat
themselves and feed to their livestock.
If they plant no cotton they will be
contributing their share toward olin-
mating the surplus of cotton that nos
burdens the worlds markets. and
paving the way for the restoration o.
normal conditions in the cotton mar.
4.