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


Your editorial, with reference to
those farmers who intend to turn
their entire attention to raising cot
ton next season. with the expectation
Of making fortunes at the expense of
the true patriots, who are going to
help their country win the war by
raising more wheat, corn, peas and
Vegetables, is very timely and emf
nently logical and wish every farmer
in Sumter county could have read it.
1t is not only unpatriotic and un-
manly, in this, our country's greatest
I crisis, to desert ne government and
the people for sake of a few ex-
ira dollars that the farmer may see
in cotton next year, after the govern
ment has bent every possible energy
at its command TO place the Southern
farmer in the position he finds him
self now, by furnishing every means
Of information, assistance by farm
demonstrators and the extensive pro-
tective laws for the farmer, but it is
absolutely suicidal from a financial
and supportive point.
If the productivity and yield of
foodstuffs IS curtailed by inadequate
planting the prices of foods will rise
to such high level that it will great
ly outweigh any prices that cotton
may attain, and I'm the end the farm
ei 'vho will depend on the proceeds
of cotton TO buy his foodstuffs will find
himself in the biggest hole he ever
dug for himself. Besides, we must re-
member that the price of cotton de-
pends on the quantity that is produce
ed so that a large supply of cotton
will decrease is price, as we have
learned from bitter practical expe-
rience.
Then, too, you must remember that
we are living now in the midst of the
greatest war that has ever been
fought on the earth, and our govern
nlent has been clothed with the pow
er of regulating things on a war foot
ing, if need be, every necessity in life,
so that if the farmers do not listen to
the advice and counsel of those who
are competent to know and advise,
they are liable to the same rules as
the merchants and manufacturers
who will try to make extra dollars
at the expense of the needy-they will
simply put him out of business by not
supplying his demands. Just as we
are now trying to suprisS caeh fam
lily with sugar according to their
needs, and no more, so, if need be. the
farmer who could have raised wheat.
corn etc, will be refused the corn, oats
and other feeds in larger quantities
than he would nave used had he
planted what is expected of him and
what his duty as true American cit
izen and moral man would do.
l am not an alarmist or pessimist.
l have full faith in the future and our
country. / know the farmers of Sum-
ter county are men of the kind to
be proud Of They are men of good
Judgment, sound reasoning and of the
highest patriotic tendencies, as the
past has shown, but among the farm
ers, just as well rs any other class of
people there are some black sheep and
1t is incumbent on their neighbors to
look upon those fellows with scorn
and contempt, and themselves set the
example, for those of lesser knowledge
TO be guided by.
| Experience has shown, so 1 am told
by men familiar with farming and
successful farmers, that a one-crop
farm is tho poorest payer. it makes no
difference if it is cotton, wheat, po-
tatoes or peas; that the most pros
porous farmer is he who plants the
greatest variety Then why be so fool
ish and work aga INST your own inter-
est? If it is not greed, then it must
be ignorance.
There are. the best prospects next
year in tobacco. Why not plant a few
aces OF tobacco and get in some
early money before your cotton is
ready for the market. Even thirty
cents cotton has not been as prof.
table to the farmer as last years to-
bacco crop. Can't you farmers grasp
the opportunity and make yourself
more independent than you are now?
Are YOU waiting for some one 10 force
YOU TO prosperity or will you grab it
voluntarily? The opportunities are
before you.
Plant more grain. more food, more