The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-10-15
STATE WAREHOUSE
SYSTEM is PEST
GOVERNOR WRITES OF AL
LEGGED WAREHOUSE MERGER.
Act Needs Amending-Is Concerned
for Welfare of Cotton Producer.
System Must Be Independent.
(Monday's State.)

Gov. Manning in letter made pub
lie yesterday expresses his views on
the suggestion made recently that a
warehouse combine was being formed
to destroy the State cotton warehouse
system. The matter was called to the
governors attention by d. w. Robin
son of Columbia, stockholder of
the Standard Warehouse company
The charge that the combine was be-
ing formed to destroy the State sys-
tenn was made by John l.. McLaurin,
commissioner, in a statement to the
press. No definite steps have been
taken as yet looking to such a merger
of warehouses, although it is said that
proposition has been submitted. 1t
was said by those interested in the
concern that no thought was ever
given to the State warehouse system.
The governors letter follows:
sd. w. Robinson, Esq, Columbia, S. C.
Dear Sir: | am in receipt of a
copy of your letter of the 9th to Mr..
L. B. Stackhouse, president Standard
Warehouse company, and thank you
for the information contained therein.
The subject covered is of vast import
ance to the State, and | would be
glad to have you keep me advised of
any developments in reference to
same.
"The success of any cotton ware
house system depends, in my opinion,
on its independence of any other in
terests than that of the producer of
the cotton, and any move that would
place cotton under the control of the
spinners, either domestic or foreign,
or any other move inimical to the man
who produces the crop, might bring
disaster to the farming interests of
our State.
"The prosperity and peace of our
land depends, to very large extent,
on the success of our farmers. The
State warehouse system, when the
law is perfected, will, in my opinion,
go long way to solve the problem
of the gradual marketing of the cot
ton crop. Cheap insurance and low
rate of interest on cotton stored are
essential to successful warehousing of
cotton; and State system can secure
these results better than any other.
"If it is true that an effort is being
made to block the purposes for which
the State warehouse system is created,
it is of the utmost Importance that
whatever steps are necessary to pre-
vent the scheme should be taken with
out delay.
"Of course there can be no objec-
tion to any corporation, firm or in
dividuals, engaging in legitimate cot,
ton warehousing, even in competition
with the State, if they wish, so long
as that competition is fair and open.
My only desire is that the man who,
by his labor, produces the crop shall
secure the greatest protection at the
least cost in the storing of same.
81 agree with you that the ware
house has become an important factor
in this State. furnishing means by
which the producers are enabled, when
the market is depressed, to hold the
cotton and obtain loans on it at rea-
sonable rates, until the market is
such as to justify them in selling
same, instead of forcing the sale on
glutted market.
81, of course, know nothing of the
plans of the corporation, of which |
presume from your letter, you are a
stockholder and | sincerely trust that
no steps will be taken looking to the
blocking or tearing down of the State
warehouse system. Perfect the law
creating it and give it as fair trial
and it will in my opinion prove a
great asset. not only to the farmers of
South Carolina, but to all South Caro-
lima interests as well. I shall GER
tainly lend every assistance in my
power to perfect it and make it a
success. | am,
every truly yours,
"RiChard I. Manning,