The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-11

Please be kind enough to acknowl-
edge receipt of this letter, expressing
Your disposition to cooperate and use
your influence as far as possible with
the colored people, over whom you
have q great deal of influence, to use
every means in their power to com
ply with the wishes and suggestions of
their white friends and neighbors.
Yours truly.
Neill O'DonneIl.
Westbcrry's Patriotic and Practical
Reply.
Sumter, 8. c., April 6, 1917.
Mr.. Neill O'DOnnell, Chairman Cham
Der of Commerce Committee of
Public Safety.
Dear Mr.. o'Donnell: In reply to
your letter of the 3rd instant. will
say that your letter is in keeping with
what I have tried to teach for many
years.
have never believed that cotton
should take the leading place on our
farms, for as long as cotton is king
the food problem can never be settled
or solved among us. Your letter has
encouraged me to put forth more eff
fort to teach the colored farmers of
Sumter county to plant more grain
and other products, and raise more
hogs and cattle for our own consump-
ton.
shall call the farmers together
early in next week for the purpose of
discussing the new situation and to
prepare our people to meet the condl-
tons that are now confronting us, and
for what may come in the future.
am quite sure that my people will
be glad to cooperate with the white
people for our own protection again st
famine. concur in your opinion,
concerning the price Of corn before
the next crop is harvested. ! shall
speak strong along that line to i'm
press my people to plant ap early
patch Of corn. and whersvsr Il y pos
sible there should be q gardens {or ev-
cry home in the city and the county.
for It well pays for itself.
believe the good white people have
been willing to cooperate with the col
ored people to better their conditions.
have done all I could to impress my
people with this idea, and whenever
1t is possible, to cooperate. for real
good. to do so most willingly, With
my best wishes for success. of your
meeting next Saturday,
Yours sincerely,
r. w. westberry
kilograms from Congressman A.
+. Lever, and Senator E. D. Smith,
from Washington to Secretary E. I.
Reardon regarding government fur
nishing garden seed for free distri-
button among poor white and colored
people were read.
Senator Smiths telegram ANNOUNCED
that he would have sent early next
week what seed he had been able to
secure. Congressman Lever wired
that his quota of garden seed was ex-
hausted and the supply Of United
States department Of agriculture also,
and impossible to obtain this season.
Secretary Reardon said he had
hopes that Senator B. r. Tillman
might be able to secure some seed,
but had not heard as yet.
r. w. Westberry, colored, having
been invited to cooperate with the
Central Committee Of Public Safety
was given the privilege of the floor.
He said he would be glad to organize
his race and do anything in his DOW
er to cooperate with the white people
in this crisis, and thanked the COM
mittee for their interest in his race
and the privilege Of addressing the
meeting.
Westbery also said:
sumter county Is the best county
IN this State for prosperity, harmony
and peace between the races.
ITO my mind this is due to the
better understanding between the
leaders of both races. Where there is
a misunderstanding it breeds strife
and trouble and there cannot be any
material advancement.
The farmers of our community
are remaining at home. because Of
the splendid treatment they receive
from the merchants and neighbor;ng
white farmers. COlOred farmers are
always willing to cooperate with white
farmers 70" Improvement of their
cnn6itin,c