The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-22
MEETING AT OSWEGO.
Most Largely Attended Community
Meeting Of the Series Held Tuesday
Night.

ly interested in the work Of the Coun-
ty Council of Defense, for they turn
ed out in force Tuesday night to at
tend the meeting held in the Osweso
School House at the call of the Chair
man of the County Council. It was
the most largely attended and in SOME
respects the most earnest and inter-
esting of any of the series of meet
ings thus far held.
Talks were made by Chairman A.
c. Phelps Of the County Council; e.
l. Reardon, Rev. S. w. Henry. of, Os-
wego; p. G.. Bowman, B. M. Oliver of
Oswego and w ID. Mcleod of Oswe-
go.
Mr.. Phelps explained the plan and
work Of the National, State and
County Councils of Defense. all Ia
boring to unite all patriotic citizens
into one earnest end sincere organiza-
ton In support of the govern, .ent
while it is carrying on the war fol he
preservation Of democracy and the
safety Of American citizens and Amer
lean ideals. He discussed food pro-
duction and food conservation and
emphasized the fact that Southern
farmers are not advised to curtail
cotton production, but to produce all
the meat and bread they need on
every farm, all the other foodstuffs
possible and then to make all the cot
ton they can. He told his audience
that the government had called upon
South Carolina to increase the wheat
production 81 per cent. this year. and
to do this the State Council of De-
fense had adopted resolution asking
the people to plant an acre of wheat
for every plow on every farm. He
also referred to the work of the Red
Cross and the necessity of this or
having the support of all
the people, especially the women, in
country as we'll as in town. ..,..
Mr.. Reardon in his speech covered
the same ground as he has
a. other meetings. He advised the
planting Of tobacco next year. limit
ed acreage to every farm. He also
presented the appeal of the American
Library Association which is trying to
obtain reading matter for the soldiers
in the great army camps. He asked
for contributions Of books, magazines
and money, all contributions to be
left at Red Cross Headquarters at
the Y. NJ. c. A.
Mr. Henry gave his hearty endorse
ment Of the work Of the Council of
Defense and all allied organizations
that are giving their time and talents
to the service of the country and of
humanity. He praised highly the
members of the county council who
are carrying on this patriotic work
and pledged the cooperation and sup
port Of himself and the community.
Mr.. Bowman made rOusng pa
triotic speech that appealed to the
manhood of the country to rally to the
flag and fight a good fight and a win
ming fight in defence of civilization,
Christianity and decency against the
barborous assaults Of the German
Huns who are striving with the saw
age cruelty Of untamed beasts and
the skill and ingenuity of devils to
conquer the world and make all 9TH
er nations bow to them in submission.
flc spoke Of the sacrifices that our
people will be called upon to make
and urged them to make them glad
ly in the noble cause of freedom
and in defence of the sancity Of our
homes and women. He pictured the
fate Of Belgium and told his hearers
tfat what befell this unfortunate peo-
pie would be Americas fate, and far
verse, If Germany is not defeated.
Mr.. Oliver made brief talk, en-
pressing his sympathy with the work
Of the Council of Defense and thank
ing the speakers for their words of
advice and the message Of patriotic
service that they brought.
Mr.. W. ID. Mcleod also thanked the
speakers for coming to Oswego, say
ing that he felt that he voiced the
sentiments Of the entire community
in pledging OswegO to do everything
possible to support the government in
all it's undertakings. He said that he
felt that it was a privilege to attend
a meeting such rs this had been and
that he could not do less than ex-
IrCSS the aDDreciatiOn no felt and tb.