The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-09
UK6p 6pyAMAGnD FIFTY rpll,, . ;tjsENTI,'
MIR. 10. w. Dabbs Tells Of Results of
willis Observations ,and fnyts,tipa.

tfOMs. 'l;Sstsitsn'.. .;i.i irtg>
Safen, Black River, Aug. 3.-Yes-
lerdayI had the opportunity to see
The crops from Salelh to Hartsville,
and to make two side trips. 1 also
talked with some of the leading
farmers In Lee anu Darlington coun-
ties. My observation on this trip
and conversations confirm my own
opinion thGt crops OF corn and cotton
are damaged 5Oper cent. a'gi
& Mr.!Sam Mccall told me that Flor
ence cotton is damaged copper cent.
Mr.. %. R. Coker told ME that from
information gathered by his cotton
EXPERT and MFR: Bright Williamson,
who is one of the most theareful men L
Know, 'in'all Of his statements, both of
whom had made extensive. surveys,
that the .cotton crop OF Darlington is
cut 1.2 He said Mr. Williamson re-
ported. 15 to 20 per cent. completely
lost andsth other damage makes up
tho 5Osper cent. rMr.' Coher estimates
the damage on his corn that Is the
least injured Of any { have seen, at
35 per cent We .shucked back the
ears and it Is easy TO see where the
loss is not counting the rot that is al
most sure to follow. fa
His cotton crop will need the best
OF conditions from now on to make
2-3 offa crop. He thinks that the
damage east of tlre Mississippi river
ia sOegreat that prices are bound to
be better, If fafmers will market ju-
diciously. HcSadvises that on the first
Indication OF weakness that farmers
wafsherse theirs 'cottoh and borrow
fiSoh9y''0h ft.t6 nfeet'thefr debts. He
THINKS the FARMERS ought to- Compel
the banRs to- 1oin the federal reserve
SYSTEM and explained that cott6n re-
ceinss are giving the banks theif best
paper and the. paper ON which they
get" their cheapest money That
banks get their cotton notes discount
ca az Richmond at s. 1s2 per cent.
,s' When the Farmers Union was
stronger it began on the Let Friday in
,Augnarrof each year a fight to secure
the cooperation Of the farmers and
bankers and business men to protect
the price Of cotton 1t seems to me
that this is an opportune time for us
to get together and once more make
the Farmers Union a power in the
business life Of the south. Every bus
mess man and banker In the county is
interested in bringing relief out of the
fearful crop disaster The only way
Is to urge the farmers to get together
and with the banks use the federal
reserve banks to the limit. Win they
do IL? Will the farmers organize :?
The lists are closed in politics so that
1T cannot be charged that this letter
has any political significance.
have quoted from Mr.. Coker, be-
cause he is not only successful farm
er. cotton buyer and business man,
but is a director OF the Richmond re-
serve bank and knows what he is talk
ing about. He said to me yesterday
that the best thing the government
had ever done for the people is the
establishment Of this system by which
they can get cheap money on their
cotton and thus he able to market it
gradually. 1t Is perfectly practical
for the patrons Of the banks to force
them to consolidate where they are
too small to join the reserve system,
but they are not going to do it as long
as they can charge a higher rate of
interest, nor will individual effort on
the part OF the farmers make them
get into the big system where they
can do SO much more good and where
In the end 1t will be more profitable
too. But let the farmers come to-
gether and send their committees to
wait on these bankers, and we will see
results, just as we have in the past.
suggested to Mr.. Coker that the
small banks could discount through
the member banks. His reply was
They can, but they will have to pay
a rake Off which they might as we'll
save"
1 heard man say on the floor of
the tobacco warehouse that "many
farmer had to sell his cotton In the
past and 1t will be SO STILL" Is 1t not
probable that If all the banks were in
a position to use the reserve system at
first hand, and our people were or
that every farmer could no
his cotton off weak and declining
market? / think so and it Is worth
trying.
Unless som ot HING toO cihlo 10 dOpo