The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-11-27

war.
4. The presence in our state of
the boil weevil, which may be ex
pected to cover the entire state
within two years and seriously af-
feet cotton production in 1919 and
| 1920
S. The inadequate and congested
Transportation facilities by both
land and water.
6. The obligation which rests
upon every citizen to Loyalty re-
spond to the needs of our govern
ment at war.
There is abundant evidence that
many of our people are engaged in
perfect orgy of money spending.
was told today of large planta-
ton upon which the tenants had
each made net profit of from $500
to $500 and that all of these ten
ants together could probably not
raise $500 in cash today.
Thousands of mules are being
shipped into the State, and many
are being sold to farmers who can
get along without them. All will
have to be fed for four months or
more on high-priced corn and for
age before they will be of much
use. Premiums over the cash price
are being paid for automobiles. l
know of $500 having been offered
for Ford car that had been used
for sometime. Many are buying au-
tomobiles who will very shortly
have no money to pay for gasoline
and repairs.
The intelligent citizens of the
state can do more patriotic service
at the present juncture than to Wig
orously preach against the extrava-
gance which many of our people are
indulging in. They need to be told
that this is a time which requires
the exercise of sound business judg-
ment as we'll as of united patriotic
cooperation with the government.
They need to be told that the man
who now has in hand enough money
orun his next years crop and
spends it unwisely before next
spring will show such poor business
Judgment and that he will be, and
should be, regarded as very dan
gerous credit risk by the banker
and merchant.
They should be told that it is
wise to buy fertilizers right away
and have them shipped out, as there
is great danger that the late buyer
and the credit buyer will not be
able to get any fertilizers or will
not receive them on time.
They need to have their atten-
ton directed to the fact that in ev-
ery state which the boil weevil has
invaded cotton production has
promptly decreased, land values
have fallen and great distress and
! discrganization have followed.
!. They need to be told that the
success of our agriculture, as well
as the success of our nation in
this great war for human liberty,
will be jeopardized if the farmer
does not p roduce an maple supply
of food. The production of live
stock-especially hogs-should be
emphasized and it should be ex-
planned that meat products and fats
will remain high and profitable long
after the end of the war.
And last, but not least, they
should be urged to respond Loyalty
to the calls of the government for
the purchase OF. Liberty bonds and
for the liberal support of the Red
Cross and Y. M. C. A., the sole pur-
pose of which organizations is to
minister to the safety and to the
physical and moral welfare of our
boys at the front. The unusual
prosperity of our state leaves US no
excuse to do less than our part
when each call for patriotic service
and sacrifice comes.
May not the council of defense
and the food administration depend
upon every member of our own or
panizations and upon all other