Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-12-14
PROGRESS OF THE State.
Address Of Governor MannlngtO Com.
mefCial Congress.
PROBLEMS In PROCESS OF SOLUTION.
Perfection Of the Warehouse System
Possibilities Of tho Regional Reserve
Bank-Need for Rural Credit Sys-
tem-Other matters of Importance.

Possibilities of tho Regional Reserve
sank-Need for Rural Credit Sys-
tem-other matters Of Importance.
Hon. Richard I. Manning. governor,
! delivered the following address to the
commercial congress, on its convening
! in Charleston yesterday:
The honor Of presiding over the
first session Of the meeting of the
house Of southern governors has
been accorded to me. 1t Is a sincere
pleasure to greet you here and to
claim you as our guests.
The significance and importance of
the subjects for discussion will be
recognized by glance at the pro-
gramme. This congress will bring us
pleasure as necessary accompaniment
of the gathering together Of men and
women representative in character and
charming personality. But pleasure is
not its object. Nor are we here Simply
to adopt resolutions We are here to
deal seriously with genuine, serious
problems problems that affect us of
the south particularly, but, in a wider
sense affects us in the nation. We are
here as southerners, but we yield not
to north, east or west in our loyalty
pledge our devotion and support to
our countrys flag and to our country s
constitution and laws.
Foremost among the subjects to be
dealt with here is that Of Education.
This subject is broad enough to cover
all the others, for without education,
no other need be considered; and edu-
cation in its final analysis is the prob
lem Of the betterment Of the race. 1t
is education, too, that will lead to
apply science to agriculture, the foun-
dation state Of the material develop
ment Of the south.
The importance Of applying science
to agriculture cannot be overestimated.
The increased cost Of living makes a
demand for increased production
which cannot be stilled. The prob
lens brought upon us by the war in
the old world across the water are
enough to spur us onward to solve
them. But besides dealing with pres
ent conditions, we will be wise If we
can catch the vision Of future oppor-
tunities, making them count in our
favor.
Rising to the viewpoint Of the great
president who Is now guiding our ma
tional destinies, We can see that all
we do.fo ourselves Is preparation also
for the service we will bc called upon
to perform for the rest Of the stricken
world. 1t will be q great service. I'm
memorial cities must be raised again
from their ashes. Peoples once wealthy
and still proud, must be fed and cloth
ed. The simple preservation OF peace
full progress will, when peace comes
again to Europe, stand up as a beacon
light Of hope to tho broken soldiers,
who will make so large part of
Europe's male population. Like all
great services, this will bring it's re-
ward to us. The things we give will
smooth the ocean way for trade in
things we sell, and national impetus
will be given to all our industries.
These rewards will be our just dues,
forswe have not escaped scatheless
from the mighty struggle. All Of us
remember the heavy cloud that settled
over our activities in the early days
Of that conflict. The seas were closed
to US; the fleecy staple Of the south
glutted the market; food was high
and money was unobtainable. Men
tell us now, and tell us truly, that
we are unprepared for war. We were
not then even prepared to remain at
peace While OlneTS IOuBnl.
And we are not prepared today.
lieve firmly that South Carolina
stands conscious of national unpre-
paredness, but is ready and does
stand squareiy with the president in
his policy Of national preparedness for
defense.) l repeat we are not pre-
pared today. This presents, in one
phase, the task Of the Southern Com
mercial congress.
Cotton is a southern product, but 1t
is a product Of national Importance. In
normal times 1t maintains the balance
Of trade. 1t brings to our shores
$500, 900, 900 to $9O0,000,0O0 in gold, and
it pays for the goods we import from
Europe. 1t is the material that clothes
the world, and it is practically without
competitor. The south has prac-
tically a monopoly in it's production;
but can the south afford to ignore the
insistent demand that, in handling
and marketing this world-important
in order that he who produces this
crop shall receive the full benefit Of
this monopoly? Cotton is not perish
able, but can be kept indefinitely II
properly stored. Cotton that was a
burden to us q year ago, must be in
sured as resource whether foreign
markets arc closed to US or not. We
must establish q broader system OF
cotton warehouses, properly safeguard
ed, so that insurance and interest
charges can be obtained at low rates;
and warehouse receipts so protected
and safcguarded that they will be
guilt-edged collateral anywhere and
everywhere. The Federal reserve
bank can, and does, furnish all money
needed, and we Of the south must do
our part in seeing that all reasonable
requirements for the safety Of the Sc
curity of cotton warehouse receipts are
complied with. / firmly believe that
the declaration Of Mr.. McAdoo, the
secretary Of the treasury, that the
Federal reserve bank would lend thirty
millions or more, If necessary, on cot
ton properly warehoused, saved us
from disastrous losses by maintaining
the price Of cotton, au4 has saved
from ruin the cUlton growers Of the
south.
The ability to obtain loans on cot
ton has exhibited and proved that
periods Of depression, with markets
glutted or closed, can be bridged over
successfully, and our producers Of
cotton can, by slow, gradual market
lnS Ol ltlS pTOuuCl, edIu d IedSoH-
able profit in production. We must
watch closely our transportation facili-
ties, and see that defects in this
branch Of our marketing system no
longer close markets Of the world to
our goods. The national and inter-
national Significance of this crop Is
brought forcibly to the front by the
order Of Great Britain in placing cot
ton on the contraband list. Never be-
fore has it been placed even on the
conditional contraband list. This
action by Great Britain, unprecedent-
ed as it was, emphasizes the import
ance of the vital question Of the dis
tribution Of cotton now and after the
war is over. The shortage Of the pre-
sent crop, the extended uses and de-
mand for cotton, the prospect for still
further curtailment in production
next year, due to the absence Of pot
ash and the almost prohibitive prices
Of fertilizers, make it probable that
increased prices for cotton should be
obtained; and the increased demand,
with curtailment in production, en-
phasiZe the necessity for greater
care, more businesslike and sensible
plans, in the handling and marketing
of this national and international and
world-neeeded commodity
Along with the consideration Of cot
ton, goes handin-hand the question
4 q ~ N1xFtV eT