The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-24

over the state Denlnd YOU
Il would term what is going on in
this State now as an orgy of money
spending. / believe great many of
the people are simply drunk with
money, and the most ridiculous and
outrageous things are going on among
many of our people.
II want to stress the great import
ance of enlisting the cooperation of
bankers in different counties in this
movement. If you leave county hav-
ing done nothing at all except to en-
list three or four bankers, thoroughly
wake them up to the situation, and
leave them thoroughly impressed with
the tremendous danger that faces us
and their great opportunity at this
time for safeguarding their own bust
ness and improving the conditions Of
their county permanently; you have
done great deal. I think that next
spring, it will frequently happen that
a man will go to his banker for n
larger loan than he has custOmarily
asked for. The banker will ask him
what has become of the large surplus
above debts that was made this year,
and when he finds that there is moth.
ing to show for it the banker. if he
Is n sensible man, will probably re-
fuse that man credit The merchant
is in practically the same position. I
have talked with my two credit men
and have urged them to get things ia
shape for the coming problem and
not to advance to these men who have
wasted money with which they ought
to run. think a man who throws
away his money now has shown
such poor business judgment that he
will not be entitled to be regarded as
a good credit risk
If ii had not been for the conser.
walton and production drives that
were made, all over the United States
last spring the country would be in
a much worse position than it is
think the drive made in South Caro-
lira was as successful as it was in any
State Of the Union. and that you men
are very largely responsible for it. If
we do not continue along the same
lines. If our people forget in their
prosperity that the good
features of the present situation arr
nrgely due to their having taken the
advice of the federal food administra-
ton and the council Of defense ana
he agents OF your department-why
we simply have only put off the evil
day.
Il do not know that any Of us fui-
~ realize the value Of the food ad.
so far, but 1 want to tell
,ou that Dr.. Long and have been II
Washington recently and we both
'ealize there would have been a much
more serious situation over the coun-
ny IL it had not been for the food ad
They have had meet
ngs with the leaders of the food in
lustries i'm the country and have got
zen their cooperation and the prices
Of many products are being held
Down today by voluntary cooperation
with the administration. The sugar
situation, while very bad. is being
remedied and the people Of the State
are getting sugar at very much
lower price than they would if the
food administration had not acted
sugar should not be sold at retail at
over 10 1-2 cents a pound; ten cents
IS plenty for it.
The farmer should plan his bust.
ness now for the duration OF the war
Dur people are cotton mad. as you all
know, but that suggestion Of Cover
nor Manning's that money may not
10 them very much good If there Is
no food to buy, is a very fine one in
deed.
If the food is not i'm the Country
is going to suffer, no matter
how much cotton there Is or how
much money. | did not realize quite
how bad the situation was until right
recently when ! planned out my rO-
tations for the coming year; and !
have just given orders to increase our
food acreage % acres on each OF our
two principal farms. l had already
to put the third farm in rye.
Il think a good deal is going to de-
pend on the impression that YOU
make upon the teachers over the
state. Urge upon them the RESPONSE
hility that rests upon them in their
community. The handling of this