The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-10-24
NO COTTON" BILL DISCUSSED
EVENING SESSION on IIOuSI
CONSUMED IN DEBATE.
Sapp of Lancaster Niarslals Arcu.
mcnts In Favor of Eliminating Cot
ton CrOl,-NO Action Il Taken.

ton CrOl-NO Action Il Taken,
Columbia. Oct. 21.-The mooted
question of eliminating cotton as a
crop in 1915 was discussed at length
In the house last night and left un-
dec ded in so far as action upon the
Dill proposing this was concerned
Mr.. Sapp of Lancaster made a nota-
Die speech in favor of prohibiting the
planting of cotton next year in which
ne marshaled in brave array most
or the arguments of the mo cotton
men. The Lancaster member spoke
Tor over an hour but was followed
with the closest attention by the
members of the house.
Mr.. Belser of Sumter, who opposed
the mo cotton" bill, spoke to two
questions of personal privilege, de-
claring that Mr.. Sapp misconstrued
statements he had made about Off
GERS of the Southern Cotton congress
using money to create sentiment for
total elimination. Mr.. Belser said
that he did not mean to imply that
money had been wrongfully used i'm
the campaign for cotton elimination.
The bill providing for totally elm
mating cotton as Il crop i'm 1916 in
South Carolina provided the other
states of the cotton belt take similar
action was taken up for second read
ing last night. The bill was fathercd
by Messrs. Mcqueen. Pegues, Evans
Bethea. Charles. Stanley, Odom and
Sapp. Mr.. Mcqueen offered q sub
stitute bill making violators liable 20
CIVIL instead of criminal action.
The house agreed to adjourn de-
bate on the bill submitting to the
electors the question Of isuing s25,-
o0O.OOO in bonds secured by cotton,
set for special order last night.
Mr.. Mcqueen of Marlboro said that
ruin threatened every industry in the
state as a result of the effect on cot
ton of the war in Europe. He de-
clared drastic measures were neces-
sary to avert the catastrophe. He
held that conditions were growing
worse. Mr.. Mcqueen said that there
was plenty Of money in the United
states. but that the South's money
crop" was valueless. The cOnsump-
ton OF cotton must be increased or
the supply deceased before it would
have value. Since 1t was impracti-
cable to increase the consumption of
cotton, Mr.. Mcqueen held that it was
only possible to reduce production.
The acreage reduction bill, said Mr..
Mcqueen. would not affect the price
OF the present cotton crop, but total
elimination of the crop by cotton
producing States would have an i'm
mediate effect on the price Of cotton.
MIR. Friday of Orangeburg said that
at recent meeting of farmers in his
county so per cent. Of those present
were in favor of totally eliminating
the cotton crop in 1915. He made
speech in favor Of the passage of
the total elimination bill.
Mr.. Charles OF Florence said that
the farmers Of South Carolina were
asking for the passage Of a total
elimination law. He held that it was
improper to consider the constitutions
ality of the elimination law at this
time.
Mr.. Belscr of Sumter vigorously
opposed the passage OF the total elm
ination bill. He said that the elm
ination of cotton would not exter-
inmate the boil weevil in the opinion
of experts in the United States de-
partment of agriculture. Mr.. Belscr
believed it doubtful that other cotton
States would adopt q policy of total
elimination of the cotton crop. Mr..
Belser pointed out that only two or
three of the county branches of the
Southern Cotton congress in the state
had indorsed total elimination of
cotton.
Mr.. Sapp of Lancaster declared that
farmers who produced cotton were
largely In favor Of prohibiting it's cul.
tivation next year. He argued that
unless the planting Of cotton was pro-
hibited i'm toto the supply of the staple
would he far in excess of ihc demand.
MIR. Sapp declared that from IS to
90 per cent. of the farmers were in
| fa.vor of total elimination. He pre-
! dictcd that at least nine and one-hall
million bales of the present cotton
crop would be carried over until next
year. - -
| 1T is better for a farmer to let