The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
DEFENDS FARMERS COURSE.
,. &. Dunbar Takes up Arms for Cotton
Growers - Considers Warehouse
system Great Piece of Construc-
tive Legislation.
Editor Daily Item:

We have seen some sharp criticism
hurled at the. farmers because they
warehoused their cotton this season
and did not throw Il on the market.
take any kind OF price for 1t. pay up
their bank ana store accounts and
nut money into circulation. Cotton
has been low enough as IL was and Is.
but should that policy have been
carried out the country would have
been much worse of than 1t Is Cot
ton would have been bringing about
half OF what u Is now selling for. the
bankers and merchants could not
have been paid. nothing like the de-
gree Go which they are and the pro-
ducers of cotton would have been
ruined. We know the farmers Of the
country need advice ar0 we do not
heed the good that we get. but We
would like TO have II from those
who are interested In the upbuilding
OF the agricultural status OF the coun-
try and not those who are trying to
fleece the working classes for all they
can get. We have some very fertile
minds among us who are always
ready to volunteer their advice and
think their ideas very brilliant and of
course the farmer should 10y all
means accept IL. and IL the farmer is
not simple enough To be swayed by his
power of influence. he Is put down
as n rascal and fool We don't
want any more instructions from such
sources.
The legislature has repea' q the
act restricting the cotton n .eage.
Now we can again plant all cotton.
buy all the fertilizers the dealers will
let US have. food the market again
next season. take whatever we can
get for IL and I'm all probability leave
the country in a worse condition than
it II at present. We read Mr.. II. Il.
Belser's statement published a few
days ago and I'm that. he tells us. and
no doubt his statement was gathered
from statistics which are correct, that
South Carolina imports 20 million
dollars worth OF foodstuff IL Mr.
Beiser had thought to add % million
more for fertilizers. he would have
given out a statement that would
have furnished food for considera-
ton, When we put the two together
we have n nice little sum of 95 million
| dollars liabilities and to meet that
sum we have approximately 1850. 900
bales OF cotton at an average of thirty
dollars per bale. which gives US an
asset OF $4,000. 900 which leaves a
balance due OF $50. 900. From
those figures II seems II is about
timo the State was sending in her
petition TO so into bankruptcy. When
we use the X-ray on our legislative
body We find a superfiuity OF politics
and scarcity OF statesmanship.
The effort TO destroy the state
warehouse system Is another scheme
incubated by those who are prompted
By political and selfish motives. rath-
er than by a spirit Of patriotismsand
the welfare of the fundamental in
dustry OF the country. We suppose
the whole fraternity OF that creed
would. as individuals. like to- add the
plume OF warehouse commission
er to their crown of laurels and arc
disgruntled because II Is beyond their
grasp. The warehouse system Is one
or the greatest pieces OF constructive
iegislation that has been put I'm mo-
tion by our lawmakers in n long time;
and n the commissioner is authorized
|and clothed with the power to deal
directly between the warehouse ana
the spinners. both American and Eu-
ropean. under the proper legal re-
Ftrictions. the system will do more TO
help the cotton producer out of his
Ftate OF poverty and bankruptcy than
All the plans the magnitude OF the
brains OF It's opponents can devise
within the next hundred years. They
ell us. the commissioner is taking
bare OF his friends and none else
feed apply for a position under his
ADMINISTRATION. The principle OF sci.
lshness and the spirit OF destruction
because they are not getting some. .of
he plums as they drop Is the great
aspiration by which they are domi-
'ated. The act was not passed To-
reate soft places for those who are
Fver LOOKING out for such. but for the
benefit OF the State at large. When
he farming interest OF the country Is
Jared for. the people have some
honey 20 spend besides meeting their
biigations and, OF course. all OF this
ets into circulation and then busi-