Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-29
Cotton TRANSPORTATION.

several hundred people at Mayesville,
Sumter county last Monday night by
special invitation. He was introduced
by Rev. r. l.. Grier, of the Mayesville
township committee Of the Sumter
county council Of defense. The only
thing OF a political nature in Mr.. Nc
Laurins speech was when he said
"tnat any man who attempts TO bring
about discord and dissension, anG to
arraign men against men and against
our government during these critical
times In order to ride into Office Ia
worse than the Germans and a dast-
ardly traitor to his country, unworthy
Of the confidence and friendship OF
the people" He masterfully outlined
the history Of the German theory Of
might against right, he told OF the
mailed fist" ideals Of German effici-
ency, and showed his audience just
what Germany desires TO do In the
shape Of world conquest, and depicted
eloquently and instructively just how
the United States might be invaded
by Germany through a German Mexi-
can alliance should England and
France be forced to their knees and
lost control Of the seas by their ma
vies or large portions Of their navies
which would go to Germany for
American invasion. He told how
Germany would in such an alliance
educate Mexico in German efflcien-
cy" methods, and finding a base on
the North American shores, sooner or
later give this country much trouble,
II, indeed. we do not have TO fight and
fight hard to maintain our freedom
from German domination. new
phrase Of the menace to commerce Of
this country and Of the entire world.
should Germany win this war. was
clearly brought out by the speaker.
He said that the big German war
debts have to be paid. And that II
Germany wins she will dictate to
France, England and Italy their tariff
schemes both for export and import
and will insist that all exchange go
through German banks, and that by
this process Germany could fix the
price Of cotton and other commodities
Of this and other countries to the ad-
vantage Of Germany and against the
southern farmer, manufacturer. and
against the consumers. German VIC
tory means disaster to the agricultur-
al, financial, manufacturing and gen.
eral commercial world. That cotton
is the greatest or among the greatest
of export commodities. He told In
cold blooded terms, as he termed
them, Of some Of the atrocities Of Ger
man soldiers on the women and girls
of Belgium; in fact, he was very plain,
and he showed what the women OF
this country might expect II ever Ger
many crushes England and France be-
fore the United States can get couple
of million men across to exert the bal
ance Of power. Mr. McLaurin made a
clear and practical presentation Of the
reasons why food should be the main
crop of the south and Of this entire
country during the war. He said that
all southern farm products will bring
big prices during the war. and some
of them afterwards, but that 1t Will
require food to win this war In order
that we may enjoy the prosperity OF
high priced cotton after the war. NO
farmer can be patriotic and not plant
an abundance Of food crops to the
exclusion Of cotton. This is. IN his
opinion, no time for political prohteer-
ing either, and that the country. city
and town. the farmer. Merchant
banker, mechanic, laborer, teacher.
girls of every profession. class. trade
and occupation ought to be closely
and compactly and thoroughly organ
lied in every community to support
the president Of the United States, the
national and state governments. and
sacrifice II necessary. everything, ex:
cept honor. to support. feed and
otherwise back up our soldiers and
those Of our allies. He brought out
about the German spy
system to show that Germany has for
years believed that because OF the
German political influence
Of this country, and because OF the
millions of dollars Of German money
invested here. that this country would
not dare to declare war on Germany.
He said that the German kaiser had
boasted, as shown by papers seized In
German propaganda secret offices.
that the United States would never
dare to take sides with England and
France against Germany. Mr.. Nc
Laurin told Of many things about the
German espionage system, and how
Il works and enlightened his audience
along lines not heretofore brought out
by any speaker In this country. He
did not deliver a political talk, but
his speech was educational. inspiring
and patriotic all the way through. Mr..
W. s. Chandler and Mr.. J. r. Mayes
Of Mayesvilies came to Sumter TO meet
Mr.. McLAurin, and with Mr.. c. E.
In Mr.. Chandler's car, accom-
panied the speakers to Mayesville. The
visitors were Hospitality entertained At
supper by the Anderson hoteE AZ the
guests Of the people Of the hosptfabie