The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-04
Dinner FOR BOY FARMERS.
LEADERS HONOR AGRICULTURAL
CLUB PRIZE WINNERS.
Sound Advice Given Young Farmers
by Col. Won Engelken and Others
Banks and Business Concerns
Support Important Movement.

Columbia, March 31.-Four farm.
er boys and one little farm girl. de.
scribed as the disciples Of agriculture
the noblest of all professions. were
paid unusual honors last night at a
dinner, held at the Jefferson hotel.
Agricultural leaders. educators and
business men praised these young peo.
pie. who had won prizes in the ae-
ricultural clubs as being the real
leaders of the tomorrow. There was
a patriotic strain running through all
of the speeches and the mention of
President Wilson and the national cri-
SIS brought much applause. The
young agriculturalists were told that
the man with a hoe will play lust as
Important part in the war with Ger
many as the man with a gun.
The young prize winners were i'm
pressed with the significance of their
feats. The bar has been let down
and equal suffrage prevails in the
ranks of the agricultural clubs. Two
young ladies. Miss Margaret Montez
Henderson Of Easley and Miss Katie
Bell Hagan of Abbeville won second
and third prizes in the pig clubs.
Miss Henderson was prevented from
attending the banquet on account of
sickness. Miss Hagan, who is Just
IL years old, was present and receiv-
ed the honors Of the evening. She
made a pretty little speech after re-
ceiving the prize.
The pig was also honored by the
banqueters. He was so much beloved
that he secured a place on the pro-
gramme and was given a high place
In the new agriculture of the South.
The principal address of the even
ing was delivered by Clarence Poe,
editor of The Progressive Farmer Of
Raleigh. an agricultural journal,
which is doing valuable service in
the bringing Of Southern agriculture
into It's own. "Our Farmers of To-
morrow was the subject of Mr.. Poe's
fine exposition Of the agricultural sit
uation in the South. He predicted
a bright future for agriculture and
made special plea for the training Of
the young men and women on the
farms. 'In the long run it will be to
our benefit" said Mr.. Poe. discuss
ing the advance Of the boil weevil on
this section.
'The Rural Boy and Girl the States
Best Asset" was the subject of an
excellent address by Senator Alan
Johnstone, chairman Of the board of
trustees Of Clemson college.
w. w. Long. head of the demon
stration work, was prevented from at
tending the banquet on account of
sickness. r a.. t.
w. M. Riggs, president Of Clemson
college. acted as toastmaster.
President Riggs spoke of the part
that agriculture will play in a war
and praised President Wilson. He
said: "If war be ours it will be the
sublime sacrifice of great nation,
administered by the strong resolute
hands Of that ligh priest Of inter-
national liberty, Woodrow Wilson,"
Commissioner Watson, Congress
man A. F. Lever and Niels Christen-
sen, chairman of the fir ance commit
tee Of the senate. were unable to at
tend and sent letters of regret. "In
the event of war it will be as neces-
sary to send crops to Europe as to
sending fighting ships and men. so
that the boy with the hoe will be on
the firing line just as much as the boy
with q gum" said Senator Christensen
In his letter of regret.
Ernest Brooks of Prosperity in
Newberry county. first prize winner
in the boys corn clubs, was presented
with the Lever medal by j. e. Swear
ingen, State superintendent of educa-
ton. He was also presented with a
check for $50 from the H. c. Hastings
Seed company Of Atlanta by A. j.
Bethea, lieutenant governor. In re-
sponse he made one Of the best and
most eloquent speeches of the even
ing.
Enoch s. Pepper of Easley, second
prize winner in the corn clubs, was
presented with gold watch from
the w. H. Mixson Seed company of
Charleston by w. H. Mixson, head of
the firm.
The winner Of the third place in the
corn clubs was Neal B. Hodges of
manning in Clarendon county. He