The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-09
COTTON CONGRESS MEETING.
interesting Talk Made by 1. G. Strauss
Need OF Divcrsying Stressed
Meeting to BE Held Next Saturday.

Nccu Vi DlNcfSylnS StfCSSC0-
Meeting to BE Held Next Saturday.
From The Daily Item, Sept. 5.
The Sumter county branch OF the
Southern Cotton Congress met today
at the call of the president with on
ly n comparatively few persons pres
ent, but these were all intensely in
terested in the subject, the marketing
OF the present cotton crop and the
planting of other crops than cotton
next year, when the cotton crop
would be reduced fifty per cent. An
interesting talk was made by Mr.. /. c..
Strauss, who stressed the Importance
OF formulating plans now for the
crops which would be planted next
year instead Of cotton. so that ar
rangenents could be made for market
ing them, and the providing of a sup
ply of seed to plant the new crops.b
The secretary called upon each of
the school districts to report, but
only one district had organized and
made its report, this was school dis
trict number two. The other districts
were asked to hold a meeting at the
earliest possible opportunity and to
make plans to canvass the district
before next Saturday. when the meet
ing which was adjourned today would
re-convene and reports be received
from each district. This action was
taken upon motion Of Mr.. Strauss and
1t was decided to print circulars and
distribute them at the polling places
on next Tuesday notifying farmers of
these meetings and the meeting in
Sumter next week.
Mr.. Strauss in his talk suggested
that there was comparatively little
that the farmers, the bankers, the
merchants and the government could
do now to dispose Of the 1914 cotton
crop at any advantage to the farmers.
but now was the time to make plans
for another year. The bankers and
business men were willing to help and
would help. but they must know be-
fore hand what to expect. He en-
phasized the absolute necessity of
fifty per cent reduction Of the cotton
crop and the formulating of plans for
next year. He stated that q grain
elevator might be needed and would
have to be built, seed had to be Sc
cured and the farmers had to be
taught what to plant and how to raise
the new crops. He advocated plant
ing grains and raising cattle, as the
Of the South.
Mr.. Strauss remarks were we'll re-
ceived and were seconded by rebarks
OF Mr.. j. Frank Williams, county
farm demonstration. Mr.. Williams
suggested that If provision was not
made at once for the securing of the
necessary seed to plant, that the price
Of seed would advance to almost pro-
hibitive prices and they could not be
secured. Mr.. Noise asked Mr.. Will
liams to accept the position Of head
of committee to investigate the mat
ter Of securing the necessary seed
and to appoint his own committee.
Mr.. Williams also advised the plant
Ing OF more sugar cane next year.
Several others Joined in the discus
sion and the meeting was a very in
teresting one. Shortly before two
o'clock the meeting was adjourned
until next Saturday.
Mr.. II. Il. Belser told Of the cotton
conference which had been held In
Columbia and the decision reached
at this meeting for the benefit of the
farmers.
Mr.. G.. A. Lennon was called on
and told what his bank Was doing
and would do. 1t could take care OF
It's regular customers and would get
over $4,000 through the
emergency act,
would go to aid the farmers. He