The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-12-15
STATE MUST PREPARE TO
COPE WITH BOIL WEEFlL
First Conference Attended BY Plan
ters. Merchants, Professional Men,
Who Join Federal and State Gov
ernment in Immediate Plan OF Ac-
ton.


Who Join Federal and StaSe Gov
ernment in Immediate Plan OF Ac-
ton,
TIE State.
Fairfax. Dec. Incorporation and
organization will be the weapon used
hy South Carolina farmers and busi-
ness men in an effort to minimize
the rarages of the Mexican cotton boil
weeYil. South Carolina will be the
first of the States in the cotton belt
to adopt such methods to stabilize
the agricultural and economic con-
ditions following the coming OF the
pest, which has already caused a loss
in the States to the South of more
than s1,OOO,000,000.
More than 200 farmers, merchants,
bankers, lawyers, doctors and other
professional men met here today IN
a conference when scheme OF or
ganization and cooperation. broad
and comprehensive, which was pre-
pared by W. W. Long, representing
the farm demonstration work, Clem-
son college, and the South Carolina
boil weeyil commission, was unanl-
mously adopted. The fight On the
boil weevil started in earnest with the
Fairfax conference. 1t was very prob
ably the most representative gather
ing of men ever assembled in South
Carolina. The seven border counties
Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Barn
we'll, Aiken, Edge6eld and McCor-
aaic counties sent representatives to
the meeting. The plans as proposed
by Mr. Long were we'll received oy
every man attending.
Pest to Come Soon.
4 month ago there were thousands
OF farmers and business men who did
not believe that the boil weevil would
invade this State. Not one man at
the Fairfax conference did not believe
that the pest would arrive. AS mat
ter of fact the weevil had been found
in Richmond county, seven miles
from Augusta, and the representatives
from the border counties all realize
that he will cross the river early next
year.
The campaign Of preparation must
begin at once and every man at the
conference left with the determina-
ton to spread the news among his
neighbors.
The plan of organization as pro-
posed by Mr.. Long and indorsea by
the conference contains the following
important points:
Two farm demonstration agents Will
be appointed for each of the seven
border counties, one to be paid by the
government and the other by the
county.
Seven Of the most patriotic ana
trustworthy citizens in each county
will be appointed to constitute the
county boil weevil council.
The council will work in coopera-
ton with the government and Glenn
son college agents.
Cooperative boil weevil clubs arr
to be organized is as many communI-
ties as possible in each county.
The members of the clubs will meet
every 60 days and submit written re-
ports as to how they are preparing
for the cotton pest.
These reports will show the pro-
gressiveness of the members OF the
various clubs.
The farmers are urged to begin at
once a system Of diversified agricui-
ture and the 'live at home move
ment" must be truly practiced.
That the land owners furnish their
tenants with a brood SOW and milk
cow with sufficient pasturage.
That the farmers begin next year
to produce certain crops, including
peanuts and soy beans for the mar
kets.
That hogs be raised as feeders for
the packing houses at Orangeburg
and Greenville.
''That we call upon our people to
develop a community spirit-the pir-
it of cooperation and unselfshness for
we believe that with a long pull all
together the advent Of the boil wee
vii may in time come to be looked
Upon as a blessing in Disguise Is
the conclusion and one of the most
important paragraphs in the set Of
resolutions adopted by the confer
ence.
More than a score Of bankers at
tended the conference today and
heartily indorsed the resolutions pro-
viding for the plan Of organization.
The bankers promised to keep In
close touch with the situation and to
cooperative in every way in keeping
with sound business principles. The
bankers are not now prepared to-
state a policy with regard to basis
of credit under boil weevil condi-
tions. The policy will be decided
unon as the situation develops. The