The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-01
LEVER SPEAKS TO FARMERS
sisted by Seventh District Congress-
man.

tuesday at meetings held under the
auspices of the Sumter County Coun-
Gil of Defense in the whirlwind wheat
and hog and hominy" campaigns -
help Uncle Sam wipe Germany off the
may. Lynchburg, i'm Lee County fail
ed to respond to the call of the State
Council of Defense, as only about four
or five citizens of that section of Lee
county. with several from Sumter
county, were out and it was decided
to call the meeting off and Mr.. Lever
did not speak, although Col. j. n.
Rhame. and those few others who
were from Lynchburg invited Mr..
Lever to come there again and assur e.
ed him that he would have n large
audience to hear him the next time
he visited Lynchburg.
AT Shiloh school Mr.. Lever had Il
very appreciative and attentive aud
ience Of about seventy-five ladies and
gentlemen and school children who
greeted him cordially and guaranteed
their loyal support of the United
States government in every possible
way they are called upon by "Uncle
Sam"
At Mayesville school between two
hundred and fifty and three hundred
ladies and gentlemen assembled al
eight o'clock that night and gave our
congressman hearty welcome.
Mayesville. like Shiloh indicated in
more ways than one that that towr
and township do not propose to be
behind the procession in loyalty and
devotion as soldiers of the second
lines of defense" in raising an abund-
ance of wheat and meats, and in coll
versation Of food and in many other
ways to back up the gallant men be-
hind the guns in winning this war.
Mr.. Lever drove home in very com.
prehensive and convincing manner
the many reasons why it is important
to support our armies and navies and
those Of our allies. He divulged some
inside information about the strength
that Germany is still showing and
pointed out just why Germayn is not
yet conquered nor thinks herself and
her despicable causes to be con
quered. He gave facts and figures
about the armies, resources and spir-
1t of the nations at war to show tina.
there is a possibility of the war last
ing at least three and probably four
years longer.
He then showed the reasons why
this country, the South particularly,
will possibly have to grow sufficient
food or so hungry. If it does not.
He feelingly explained the German
method Of destroying innocent nom
combatants' lives. of men and women,
and children, on the high seas and in
American munition factories, showed
the betrayal of our friendship by
German intrigue. and the way that
Bernstorff and hundreds of other
German diplomats and agents, under
the guise of friendship, and while
honOred guests Of this country. con-
spired against this country and caused
The murder of hundreds of our citizens
and all Of these during the time when
we were at peace with Germany. not
Mt war
He certainly educated his hearers
along lines that some Of them were
not posted on before. and he left the
audiences with keener ideas of what
every man. woman. boy and girl muss
expect II Germany wins this war, and
he pointed out clearly just how Ger
many will win the war in Europe. and
just why the United States will have
to send ten million men to Europe to
defeat Germany at sacrifice Of the
lives of thousands Of our boys, il the
farmers don't get busy producing
more wheat, hogs. fats, and other
foods, and back up the men in the
trenches from this country and Of our
allies. Mr.. Lever left the beaten
track of intimations,. and went imme-
diately down to plain facts. and he
gave some information which un-
questionably will awaken hundreds 70
thinking about the grave menace of
food famines, high prices of food,
coal shrotages, and other dangers un-
less the Southern people and all 9TH
ei peoples i'm this country shake off
their lethargic feelings of over-con-
ildence. disinterestedness and the
false notions of future luxury because
of the present abnormal prosperity