The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-25
M'LAURlh GIVES SERVICES,
WAREHOUSE COMMISSIONER
ONLY ASKS FOR HIS
EXPENSES.
Statement to the Public-SayS He is
Busy Putting the Cotton Warehouse
System into Operation.

Columbia. Nov. 21.-John l.. Nc
Laurin, State warehouse commissions
er. in u statement to the people of
South Carolina today asking for co.
operation in inaugurating the State
cotton storage system. says that he
will not take n cent of the salary al
lowed him under the Act and only
asks for his expenses. Mr. McLaurin
has completed the machinery and is
now busy putting the system into op-
Grafton.
The commissioner promises to give
results Of his efforts towards making
the warehouse receipts liquid collat-
eral, saying, Il hope to have some
information later as to the use of
State warehouse receipts as u collater-
al but do not wish to make a state
ment until l can speak advisedly." His
statement, it is believed, will prove of
great interest, especially to the farm
ers and the merchants. The interest
taken in the warehouse system is re-
flected in the great number of letters
which reach Senator McLaurin on cv-
cry mail from all parts of the State.
The statement of Warehouse Com
missioner Mc!aurin says:
Columbia, $. c., Nov 20, 1914.
ITO the People of South Carolina:
have completed the machinery to
put the state warehouse system into
operation. Application blanks may be
had from this office, also the form of
contract. Under the Act / can only
Fay rent after all operating expenses
are met; consequently, l am forced TO
take the warehouses that are offered
at nominal rent, ard require the
penses. including cents per bale per
month to the state TO meet the cost
Of postage, kilograms. express. travel
ing expenses, printing the receipts.
tags and other blanks. | find that the
charge does not cover the cost, but
will use the appropriation as far as
it will so, and submit the matter to
the next general assembly. / do not
expect to use cent Of the salary Civ
en- me, unless there is further ap-
preparation, as all the money will be
needed to continue the acceptance Of
warehouses. l only want my actual
expenses, and no receipts will come
in unit! cotton is taken out, which
may be year. while insurance, etc,
is paid in advance.
Il hope to have some information
Ia ter as to the use Of State warehouse
receipts as q collateral. but do not
wish to make a statement until l can
speak advisedly. DR.. Wade Stack
house submitted the receipts to certain
capitalists IN New York. and his re-
port was that the state receipt would
te preferred by them to that of any
on storage.
This is new departure in both
finance and government. 1t will take
time and patience 10 inauSurate it,
and ] especially ask the farmers of
this state TO give me their confidence
and support. Don't expect miracles,
ana not IL miracle man., as one OF
the newspapers intimates, nor the
man who found a shoe string and
built factory
Il notice in the morning paper of
today Il decision by Associate Justice
Gage, which further emphasizes the
decree in the warehouse case of 1912.
No jul'st has in clearer language set
forth the principles upon which such
legislation as the South Carolina.
Louisiana and Texas Warehouse Acts
are based. Judge Gage says:
Cotton, and that includes it's seed
is the staple product Of the State and
of the South: in this year OF grace the
frightlul collapse Of its price, incident
10 wcll-nigh universal war, has
shocked two continents; the whole
policy of the State is bound up in the
growing. the sale and the manufacture
Of cotton
The individual cotton grower is
poWcrlesS to protect himself. If We
can unite the units we can control the
situation. Cooperation spells success.
We will never get this except through
our State legislatures. If our expert
mcnt fails, then no other state will
try it.
II am only meeting such opposition
rs | expected. ann depending on my
fellow farmcrs-not those whose in
tcrcStS are against us. Some of the
"A nup.rS huNn l.,,, lil,rll MI rn IL,