Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-02-23

for cooperative purchases of 16 per
cent acid, these to be given out To-
cally, one committee being appoint
cd to secure prices In the three larger
towns of the county, as follows:
Seneca-A. Fl. Ellison, J. Il. Nc
Mahan.
Westminster-T. D. Alexander, J.
Clint Barker.
Walhalla-J. f. Davis, J. w.
Broadwcll
The object Of these committees is
to get quotations on large quantities
Of l6 per cent acid on q cash pur-
chase basis, and If practicable, to
buy locally. giving the local dealer
the benefit Of his profits.
Much has been said and written
concerning the great tax that the
time purchase is proving on the far-
mcr. and 1T is unques;tionably tax
that the farmer should not have to
pNs. ana
cooperative borrowing is going to
80 a long way toward Kidding the
farmer Of this burdcnsome and UNI
necessary tax. That it is really such
a burden, and an unjust one, no one
will deny. BUT the question arises.
who is responsible for it? We fear
that too many look in the wrong
quarter for the guilty party"
1t is a certainty that the average
merchant would much rather do a
cash business on a legitimate profit
basis than to continue the time bust
ness at what is seemingly an outra-
geously high charge for the accom-
mediation. And yet when all things
are considered, it is doubtful if the
time business is more profitable than
the cash business. The whole ag-
grcSation Of time purchasers are
charged the high rate, and all lose
by it. And why? The merchant
takes his chances on many, and fig
ures that out Of the whole he can
squeeze through with Il legitimate
profit left, after counting losses and
expenses. lie has to figure on
the interest on his money, on many
bad accounts from which he never
receives cent; he figures in the
cost Of taking crops under mortgage
and disposing Of them, often having
to actually take hold of deserted
crop, have it worked and harvested,
and Gull from the proceeds OF the
crop the debt that is owing him, or
so much of it rs he can. But does
the merchant bear-or should he be
expected to beHr-these expenses out
Of his own pocket? We would soon
have no merchants in business, for
they could not stand the strain and
continue in business.
The truth Of the matter Is that the
farmer and the merchant are both
more or less to blame. The farmer
has come to regard himself as utter
ly unable to cake care Of himself,
and the merchant has so long seen
tile dependence Of the farmer on him
as to regard him in practically the
same light he regards himself. And
both are wrong. What they need is
to get together in a great co-opera-
tive business deal whereby all will
materially benefit. One Of the great
est blessings that South Carolina
could possibly enjoy. from mate
rial standpoint, would be brought
about by a hearty cooperation be-
tween the producer and the mer-
chant and supply man.
We believe the solution Of this
problem, however, is going to come
soon through national system Of
rural credits-a system by and
through which the man who owns
land can get bank credit at low
rate OF interest. borrowing sufficient
to finance his farm operations. and
paying cash for what he has to buy.
It will be a great day for the South
crn farmer when such a system is
devised and put into operation. And
It. will be none the less advantageous
to the merchant. The present sys-
tenn is working a hardship on both
the farmer and the merchant. The
thoroughly reliable men of each
class suffer for the sins Of the un-
ScruDulOuS ones
The whole system as ut present