The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-09

~ he cohpinou CIRCULATION and
fnauencs Of both OF the old papers
and u msnifestly the best ADVERTISING
medium In Sumter.
The Christmas fund this year
should be larger than usual and great
er care in Its distribution should be
exercised than ever before. There
arc moro people In need of help than
at any time since the custom Of rais-
Ing Christmas fund was inaugurat-
ed twenty odd years ago.
The farmers of Belgium are in
need OF food. adn their necessity
should appeal to the farmers of every
section Of America who have n sur
plus Of grain. A bushei or two of
ccrn will save life and there are few
farmers In Sumter county who can
ont spare Tor charity that quantity
from their store. The South Carolina
committee for the relief Of the Bel
gians is calling for contributions of
corn. wheat. oats. potatoes, cured
meat or any other non perishab bic
foodstuffs. Mr.. r. /. Manning. chair
man OF the Sumter County committee
will receive and forward all contri-
buttons either Of cash or grain.
The selection Of Mr.. c. @. Rowland.
president Of the Bank of South Caro-
lima. AZ one Of the committee to have
charge Of the Wade cotton loan fund
In this State was quite compliment
to him. since the committee Is COM
posed of only six South Carolina
bankers.
This Is the time that a Morris sys-
tom bank or some similar agency that
viii lend money TO wage eaIners.
tenn orarily out Of work. to tide them
over n period OF distress, Is needed In
= evsryA a community. without an iusti-
tution OF this character, or some
quasi public organization. to help
w0rthy persons by making loans at
reasonable rate OF interest, they
~.u inevitably fall into the hands of
the loan sharks who will eat them
nli"e with their 10 per cent. week in
forest. No man wants to pay Shylock
rates. but necessity is hard task
master and when a man Is out of
work and his children need food nc
easily falls into tho clutches Of a loan
shark IL no other means Of raising q
little money Is available
This Is fine weather for tho spli:-
log drag and tho streets of Sumter and
the roads Of the county would be tho
better for It's use.
The time for renting land for next
year Is at hand and I'm existing cir
cumstances II Is matter that calls
for serious consideration. The cotton
crop I'm this counsy will be materially
curtailcd and large acreage devoted
to grain. The outlook for receiving a
rcmuncrativo price for the cotton that
will be produced next year Is not at
all encouraging. nor Is there any cer-
tainty that the grain crop will find
n ready market at high prices. There
fore the man who rents land at u fixed
cash rental payable In the fall as has
been customary Is taking long chances.
IL will be necessary for the landlord
or merchant To make advances t.
tho tenant farmers. as usual. and un-
less some agreement Is made FOR the
payment OF the rent and advances I'm
produce when settlement day arrives
there will be trouble and disaster.
This Is an extraordinary situation that
the South Is facing and ordinary rules
do not apply. Unless 10. light Is
used conditions will be worse mex,
fall than at present. In view OF the
hazardous nature Of farming opera
tions IL seems hut fair that the land.
lord should share In tho risks that tho
tenant assumes and that the rent
should he fixed on So many bushels OF
oats for each acre planted In oats; Sc
many bushels Of wheat for every acr,
planted I'm wheat. so many bushcl.
OF corn for every acre planted i'm corr
and so many pounds of cotton for ev
cry acre planted I'm cotton. III tn,
landlord and tenant see At they coul,
agree on fixed price for each o
the crops In tho event that the,
should decide to make n settlement IL
cash when tho time for the paymen
OF rent arrived. This Is big question
and the suggestions here made ar
thrown out for the purpose OF bring
Ing the matter UP for discussion