The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-16


Much Interest Is Shown,
The meeting Of the Sumter County
branch OF the Southern Cotton Con-
gress waxed warm towards it's close,
when after several lengthy discus
sions and the necessity Of diversif-
cations Mr.. E. w. Dabbs stated that
all OF that which had been said was
all right, he had been trying to preach
the same doctrine for the past twen-
ty years, but what the people want is
help right now" Mr.. Dabbs stated
that the people Of the north and the
administration did not realize the dire
need of the cotton farmer Of the south
and this necessity had to be forced
on them. Mr.. John II. Clifton second
ed all that Mr.. Dabbs had said and
endorsed heartily the statement that
the South needed assistance right now
and not next year or some other
time.
Two resolutions were presented, one
by Mr.. II. I. Manning asking the
federal government to establish the
federal reserve banking system at
once and one by Mr.. Dabbs calling on
the people of the South to show the
critical conditions facing Southern
farmers.
Mr.. Manning's resolution was:
Resolved That: The farmers of
Sumter county in convention assem-
bled that we most respectfully de-
mand Of the administration in Wash
ington to establish regional banks
as provided for by recent act Of con-
gress at once so that currency can
be isued based upon cotton warehouse
receipts as soon as possible.
Unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Dabbs resolution was as fol-
lows:
Whereas: There is no prospect Of
any direct assistance from the treas
ury unless the administration can be
made to see the gravity of the situ-
alton. the want and pinching poverty
that stares us in the face, the shock
to the business Of the nation, the
peril to our very civilization from the
tramps and vagrants that will multi
ply as conditions grow worse, and
~ f1,
mention here; therefore be it resolved
That we do call upon all our people
to take the time to sit down and write
a letter describing how fearful are
the prospects staring them in the face
and to mail such letters to President
Wilson. Secretaries Houston and Nc
Adoo and others. members Of con-
gress, and friends in the north that
they may see how dire our need.
The meeting was very largely at
tended and there was much interest
shown by the many farmers present.
Mr.. II. Il. Bclscr read the State pledge
which ne had for the farmers to sign
and explained why the various clauses
in it were adopted. The sale of two
thirds Of the cotton was allowed and
the farmers who signed it were
pledged to hold the other third. The
reduction Of acreage for another year
was recognized by all as necessary
and it had been fixed at fifty per cent.
lie explained the probability Of con-
sumption Of cotton this year at home
ana abroad and how the system
would aid the farmers now and next
year.
Mr.. /. G. Strauss spoke Of the ne
cessity Of selling the cotton to pay the
debts which the farmers owed the
bankers and merchants and which the
bankers and merchants owed their
northern creditors. He said it was alb
solutcly necessary to get the money
and this was the only way it could
come. He referred to the fact that
people were borrowing money on
'hciT lllc insurance, as he had advised
and stated that the problem of hold
ing cotton Off the market was no
nearer now than it was at the first
meeting, especially as Texas and
Georgia and other States were selling
and Sumter county could not stop the
sale at seven cents. He strongly ad-
year, stating that the banking sys-
tenn would be changed and money
would not be loaned by the banks ex-
ers to whom it was loaned that they
would diversity and would not have
cotton as the only money crop. The
m K hnu hn 70