Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-03-03
ADVISES FARMERS.
Young Johnston Farmer Urges
Change of Method. Give
Up Cotton and
Diversity.

The condition of the southern far
mer of today is worse than it ha
ever been before. On everv side
the c9T5of hard times is heard. On
fate as farmers is being weighed il
the balances, and unless we change
we are going to be found wanting
We have our lives in our hands
the proposition is up to rs, our o WI
Judgment is the magistrate and hi
will Judge whether we shall be
found wanting or not. Our short
eomings and misgivinga can only
be written down. in the book of
fate by our own hands. we alone
can be held responsible for on,
deeds. We have not looked for.
ward enough to see how we could
avert danger. We are in deep water
| and must turn back. Awaken Bro.
cast yonr eyes around and see what
changes you can make. The time
for action has arrived, and act we
must whether it be right or wrong.
Wbatsare your plans for the fu-
tnre9 Have you thought Of them.
or are you going to use the same
old plans which your father and
grand father used before you? For
years W. have been blind, we have
been careless, we have drifted along
thinking we were making great
progress when it was only a few
persons who awoke early and
went to work that made the prog!
ress for us. For years we have
planted only one money crop and
put. too much dependence on it.
Year By year we stick our finger
back into the same old wheel of
fortune knowing that the old wound
would be torn open anew. The
same thing happens over and over.
The price of our crop is low and
we have to let it go at what we can
get. We, are then through, our
part game is ended, and we
agara, uhdaunted, undiscouraged,
but thinking with a child's mind of
an old saying that lunch is bound
to change. Ali else is neglected,
our gardens are small, our cornals
unattended our pig pens rot, the
chicken yards dwindle but our cot
ton stands undaunted The King Of
Che South. Well mas it been King
Cotton, it is undiminished, uncom-
petitive, it has crowded every thing
gu. of its way. 1t is unchallenged.
Why Bro? Can you answer that
question? The answer is simple,
We are trying to getrich too quick,
We are dropping the rubies aud are
.anding only one pearl up fos III,
pection Of which there are 50 ma"y
.ntil yours and mine are hardly no,
iced. All! Pearl it is, and the Nos
brilliant one that ever grew, but "
inave glutted the markets with them
md the lustfe is dlmmed. Oar
theory is wrong and we must change.
We the farmers of the south are
making the greatest of mistakes
We are not independent. We nevel
nave been and never will be unit
We change. We are living 100 fast
striving to keep up with too manN
tnyr things and have gone to worI
| With the wrong idea. Well has /
been said by some northern mar
hat, "rhe south reminls US OF
huge giant lying on its back cryin!
.ielp! Help! and refusing to use ii
own great strength to help 1t
SELF.
/ This year Of 1915 is going Il
be n hard one, and also very seri
Gus one. Often have | heard latel..
that great many crops would b
started this year and neser finished
and | do not doubt but that a Srea
part of it is true. | would like II
think otherwise bnt the call OF pov
ertv is near and / am afraid some o
us will succumb. Aud it is golns
to be the little farmer, it is goln!
to be the big planter who raises cot
ton, and nothing but cotton thu
year. Suppose cotton were to b
declared a contraband of war
Where would we then be with 10,
900, 900 bales on our hands? 1t l
true that this is the only way II
which we can get our pay ir1m tn
negro, but we shoaid carry thes
debts uptil better times. :, If You ar
afraid of him let him plant you
part of this years cotton crop, an'
you plant something else. Soy
-. - 4 G $50, Iou,' I,