The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-09-18
"PLANT FOODsTuEFS."

con, that IS so replete with good ad-
vice to Southern farmers, that we are
reproducing a portion of it for the
benefit OF the farmers of Lancaster
county. Senator Smith said in part
"If. on the other hand, the farm
Il wish to give you this suggestion
with reference to the cotton situa-
ton A large part, in my Judgment,
~ least ohe-third of the demand for
lint cotton will be cut OF during the
next twelve months by the failure OF
mills to operate. 1t Is possible that
this condition may continue through
at least part of next year.
I'VE cannot meet this situation bX1
simply furnishing money to handle
distressed cotton. II another crop
next year is raised similiaY in size
to the present crop nothing will pre-
vent the lowest price OF bbtton next
fall that has been known in twenty
years.
"If on the other hand, the farm
ers of the Soutkbegin this fall plant
ing their cotton lands in wheat and
oats and other food stuffs; If by the
first of pe&t April it is known that
one-half OF our cotton lands are
planted in food stuffs and that the
cotton crop Of next year will be re-
luced one-half. the financial pressure
will be off the South. 1t will give
confidence in the intelligent business
judgment of the farmers of the South
and the cotton that we hold Will at
once demand a good price.
"If there could be any guarantee
today that the cotton crop would be
reduced one-half next year, there
would now be an immediate market
for every bale of cotton which is
brought to town.
THE greatest difficulty which con-
fronts us is not so much furnishing
money to finance the present crop,
Is that fear that next years crop, by
is size, will destroy the value of the
present crop.
My urgent advice is that steps be
taken in every county in the state to
at once cut on and dedicate to food
stuffs one-half OF the cotton lands,
and that farmers that pledged them
selves to this course live up to It.
"I have little farm for which my
tenant pays me $500 year standing
rent Since reaching Georgia l have
agreed to accept ten bales OF cotton
at 10 cents a pound in settlement
Of my rent but have stipulated that
next year he shall not plant a seed
Of cotton.
1--WE must meet that problem that
confronts us for the next six months
by mutual forbearance; by SYM
pathetic cooperation. No honest
man who seeks to pay must be
crowded for his debts. We must
economic. We must realize the sit
uation. We must bear ourselves,
with courage and with manhood. /.
And / promise you 1t will only last
six months, If, next spring, the fact
is established that one-half the cot
ton lands of the South have been
planted in food stuffs. They will be
profitable to the grower and the next
six months OF hardship will prove n
blessing if it changed the South .
from a one crop section into a sec
tion that uses its cotton as its sur
plus product and produces for itself
all that its people need and a sur
plus of food stuffs to sell.
THE condition with reference to
our country as a whole is not only
one of but temporary depression; 1t
:s one of certain great increased COM
mercial growth as an incident to the
war.
Before the end OF two years we
will have absorbed much OF the com
merce with South America and the
Orient and Africa, heretofore belong
&C untries which have each other by
the throat, and which are engaged in
killing each other with a heArtless-
ness and fury never shown since the
days that civilization spread over the
world.
ITO relieve our commerce from the
conditions which the war has
brought upon it, we have passed a
navigation law, relieving our mer-
chant marines from many OF the
stringencies which before rested up
on it, We will see TO il that the
American flag is floating upon yes
sells prepared to carry our agIicul-
tural and manufactured products to
any market ready to- buy them, even
though il be necessary for the gov
ernment to own the vessels.
And for our country from IL Is
destined a growth and a power
among the countries OF the world far
greater than we would have had for
years to come, but for the very op-
portunity which the war affords.
And while we suffer n temporary
hardship in the South, let us not
think alone OF our own troubles. Let
us think how much worse it might
have been. Let us think OF those un-
fortunate people where the war de-
! vastates property and sv eeps down
3 human lives by the hundreds, and
, fills every home with sorrow as il
takes from every home, sons and
brothers. Let us thank God that in
o. this free country OF ours, we have
% no war lords, but that the destiny o.
:, the United States has been directed
nv wise brave Christian man Wh(