The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-11-20
OPEN LETTER =. FARMER;
OF S0TTH CAkv iNA

Present abnO-,-.... tG:-islonS / C-e
agricultural and financial situation OF
our State requires serious thought by
all Of our people, but especially by Our
farmers.
The following are some of the more
prominent features requiring consid-
Grafton:
~ /. The abnormal farm profits rang
ing & estimate) at from four to ten
times the average in different parts
of the State.
2 The great scarcity and high
prices Of fertilizers present about 6o
per cent higher than last year.
8. The scarcity and high price OF
food products. This condition Will
certainly last as long as the war.
4 The presence in our State OF the
boil weevil, which may be expected
to cover the entire State within two
years and seriously affect cotton pro-
duetion in 1919 or 1920.
5. The inadequate and congestea
Transportation facilities by both land
:. and water.
6 The obligation which rests upon
every citizen to loyalty respond to the
of our government at war.
There is abundant evidence that
many of our people are engaged in a
perfect orgy of money spending.
was told today of large plantation
upon which the tenants had each
made a net profit of from s500.Oo to
]. L.s15oo.oo, an dthat all of those tenants
together could probably not raise
sS8e.00 in cash today.
Thousands of mules are being SHIP
ned into the State, and many are be-
ing sold to farmers who can get
along without them. All will have to
be fed for four months or more on
h;gh-prieed corn and forage before
they will De of much use. Premiums
over the cash price are being PAID
for automobiles. I know of $oO0.Oo
having been offered for Ford car
that had been in service several
months. Many are buying automo-
biles 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 vigorously
preach against the extravagance
which many of our people are indulg-
sHng in The need to be told that this is
Sba time which requires the exercise OF
sound business judgment ss 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 to run his next years
crop and spends it unwisely@ before
net spring will show such poor busi-
ness Judgment that he will be, and
should be, regarded as a 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 greaI
DANGER that the late buyer and the
credit buyer will not be able to get
b-any fertilizers or will not receive
them on time.
Tney need to have their attention
directed to the fact tnat in every
State which the boil weevil has in
vaded cotton production has promptly
decreased. land values have fallen
and great distress and disorgan!zation
have followed.
They need to be told that. the sue
cess of our agriculture as we'll as the
success of our Nation in this great war
for human liberty. will be jeopardiz-
ed il the farmer does not produce an
srarle supply OF food. The production
D. Ike stock-especially hogs-should
be o~:phcsized and it should be eX
plainea that meat products and fats
will remain high and profitable long
after the end Of the war.
and last. but not least. they snouid
be ureed to respond Loyalty to the
calls of the oovcrnmen- for the pur-
chase Of Liberty Bonds and for the
liberal support of the Red Cross and
Y.M c. A.. the sole purpose of which
organizations is to minister to the
safety and to the physical and moral