The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-10-21
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
TIE EXTRA SESSION.

TIE EXTRA SESSION.
Capitol Correspondence:-The
general assembly is still hard at
work trying to find 8 plan to
give relief to the masses; it is
working night and day upon
several schemes, to wit: the total
elimination of cotton planting
for the coming year, the curtail-
ment of the cotton crop acreage,
and the bonding of the state to
. provide the means to relieve
those who are facing bank
ruptcy.
The House passed a curtail-
ment acreage bill by practically
unanimous vote, which it sent
over to the Senate, that, in my
opinion, will not meet with the
approval of a large number of
those who are bending their
efforts to save the people of the
state from a repetition of the
conditions now confronting them.
The cursaillng of the acreage, it
IS coutended by many who have
made a study OF the situation:
viii not be helpful, but on the
contrary, it will only add to
making the over supply greater.
IT, is true as the cotton experts
claim, there is in sight a supply
of cotton sufficient to carry the
needs Of the world for a period
of two years under normal con-
ditions, with the continuation Of
she war. for possibly four years,
then it looks foolish for our peo-
pie to waste their energies in
producing a product which can
. not give them liylihood return.
Then TOO, should the general
assembly adopt the, House bill,
the enforcement viii be most
diHcult-it will not be any more
effective than the pledges made
under what was known as the
Rock Hill plan of a fov wears
ago. when q large proportion OF
our farmers signed pledges to
rea1ce the cotton acreage, and
then ignored their pledges and
planted more than ever.
The situation now can be COM
pared to a crowded boat taking
on more than its capacity-with
She boat full it can weather its
yay along, and, under strain
reach IFS destination, bat when
oFesleaded it will sink and carry
is cargo to the bottom; just so
with the cotton situation, the
supply is overloaded. every bale
added to it is that much more
weight TO further depress the
price, which can only result in
further distress. therefore, why
plant any cotton in 1918: AT
first, I was among the number
who resented the idea of legis-
lative dictation in the manage
mems of a private enterprise, it
was adhorant to my ideas OF
American liberty to consider q
proposition looking to censor
ship Of a citizens private affairs,
but when I made a careful study
of the conditions, heard the ar
guments Of the well informed, |
became convinced the people
have suddenly been confronted
witha situation, that to save
them from them themselves,
drastic and revolutionary legis-
iation, however distasteful and
repugnant to our American ideas
Of ssthe enjoyment Of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, "
Is necessary-it is the only hope
of a new era for our agricultural
institution upon which the con.
sinuance of the promised pro-
lection of our life, liberty and
happiness depends, another year
Of similar depression in this
country win be almost as devast-
ing as was the march Of "a con-
quering army in the sixty's, it
Is because of this, South Caro-
lima, regardless of the action of
other states, must speak with
no uncertain sound and apply
the axe to the tap root of the
upaS tree which all must see
threatens our destruction. II
fully realize the well meaning of
hose who argue that to prohibit
the planting of cotton for 1915
Is going too far, but that if wei
by legislative act dictate the