The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-21

The bankers of the Northern States
have raised $1O0.0Oo.O 900 for the Wade
Cotton Loan Fund and Secretary
McAdoo announces that the plan to
finance the surplus cotton crop Is in
the way of being put into successful
operation. But now comes a small
coterie Of bankers and cotton mill men
OF Greenville. s. c., declaring antag.
onism 90 tho plan. They assert that
the Wade plan Is not practical and
that IL will not be used i'm Greenville.
Tho Wade plan has stood the test of
the severest scrutiny by leading
bankers and financiers Of all the mon-
ey centres OF the country. and until
the Greepville mill bankers produce
sound and convincing reasons in
support OF their dogmatic denuncia-
ton of this. the only comprehensive
scheme yet proposed to finance the
surplus cotton and relieve the pressure
or distress cotton on the limited mar
ket. their attitude will not be under
stood by ehe people of the South
whose industrial salvation will
steejy the cotton market and restore
prices to something approximately the
cost Of production. II the Greenville
hnanciers know SO well that the Wade
plan Is not practical and therefore i'm
possible. they should 60 a step fur
ther and formulate plan that Is prac-
teal and will AFFORD the relief that
cotton producers so urgently need.
The Statewide grain planting cam
paign that IL being conducted by Com
missioner Of Agriculture Watson In
cooperation with Clemson College
ought to arouse greater interest in
crop diversifcation and be produc-
tive OF good results. All that Mr..
Watson and the farm demonstration
agents say respecting the immediate
and pressing necessity of complete
revolution In the farming practice of
this secticn is admitted to be true
without argument, but II remains to
be seen whether or no the farmers
will make personal application of the
self help and live at home doctrine
that is being preached to them. BY
this time the news that the legislature
enacted n law prohibiting the plant
ing of more than one-third Of the
acreage OF any farm In cotton Is
known by every man in South Caro-
linaa. They. also. must realize that
other crops must be substituted for
the cotton that Is eliminated, but thus
far there Is little visible sign that
wheat and oats will be planted gen.
orally as q substitute for cotton. Quite
n number OF farmers have already
planted oats. but these men plant
oats every year. and while they are in
creasing the acreage To some extent
the wide spread interest in small grain
that was expected has not yet mani
Tested itself.
Gen. villa Is developing rapidly as
a modern military mamie has de-
clared n censorship and all American
newspapers are barred from Mexico.
The daily war bulletins give very lit
tie definite information. but 1t is plain
to be seen that 1t Is the Germans who
are making an aggressive campaign.
They are holding their advanced po-
sitions In France and Belgium and are
steadily hammering against the de-
fensive positions of the allies. The
allies. by the most desperate exer-
tions.. are holding the invaders IN
check but that Is all they accomplish.
since the battle OF the Marne when
the German advance on Paris was
checked and the invaders were forced
to retreat to- the Aisnc. tho allies have
not won "a single success Of any i'm
portance. unless II is counted IA success
that the Germans have been prevented
from renewing the advance on Paris
captured Antwerp and Ostcnd. and
afcr overrunning practically all Of
Belgium. have made good their occu-
patton OF that country. The allies
may be waging winning fight by
wearing out the Germans ami may
ultimately he able to make quich
and decisive finish by overwhelming
the depleted and exhausted German
forces. The strategy of the allies may
call for long war and the eXhaus-
tion OF the Germans as the surcst
be the case the campaign Is assuredly