The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24
COTTON FAMINE EXISTS.
so SAYS SENATOR SMITH IN
SPEECH TO FARMERS.
Gives farmers Union Government
Figures Administrator FL
lott Makes Address-Union Adopts
Resolution to Hold One Bale in
Three Off Market.

lott Makes Address-Union Adopt.
Resolution to Hold One Bale il
Three Off Market.
Columbia, Aug. 22.-At the night
session of the annual meeting Of the
State Farmers Union, held at tho
Solonia Hotel, important resolutions
we're adopted, being, in substance as
follows:
That farmers hold off the market
every third bale.
That the other two bales be mar.
,keted slowly.
That so per cent Of the cultivated
land next year be put in food crops.
These resolutions were submitted
by committee Of three which had
been appointed at the afternoon ses'
sion Of the union.
The resolutions in full follow:
Whereas, owing to the fact thai
lack Of shipping has restricted the
cotton market SO much that there Is
danger of the supply exceeding the de,
.1ld ",
profitable prices;
Whereas, owing to the imperative
need of our growing more corn ano
hay, wheat and oats, hogs and cattle
70 supply our home needs and ths
war needs of the nation and to fill ou1
barns and smokehouses against the
day when our boys will return to GU,
e;s rms to take up the great work OF
developing the marvellous resources OF
our soil and climate;
'eWhereas, the labor shortage which
will grow more and more acute az
he war continues, and for some time
after the war ends, warns US that the
world will face an atcual cotton fam
ne when it returns to normal condl-
ions;
'.Whereas, those of us who can re-
all conditions that followed the great
;ivil War remember that those farm
rs who had saved up cotton were the
,nes best able to begin the re6emp-
ion of the South; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the State Farmers
!?nion of South Carolina in annua
meeting do recommend to the farm
srs of our State whose energy, time
and resources have produced more
cotton than the home mills can now
pin, to hold off the market every
third bale of cotton, carefully gin, pacii
ana store it until the time when the
mills of the world will be crying Tor
cotton. We believe that this is the
ane and sensible way to meet pres
cnt conditions and to provide against
The future and to keep in the hands o:
the growers rather than the specula-
Tors the profits that are bound to ac-
crue. To those who say this is MOI
,vorth while unless adopted by the
whole cotton belt we reply that Il
other States do not, we who do will
be proportionately more benefited
Resolved, That we urgently advise
.;ernlslowly marketing Of other two
birds Of the crop to meet only tf1e
.ctual needs Of the mills, and to sell
% cotton on declining market.
aResolved, That we urge the plant
.ng next year of not less than so pei
,ent of the land we actually cultivate
food crops, and to use the same
proportionate care in cultivating anc
'ertilizing said craps that we have al
ways done and in many cases even
better than has been our custom.
Resolved, That we urge our farm
srs to buy Liberty bonds, war stamps
and to contribute to Red Cross ano
other war activities to the limit OF oui
-eseurces, rot only as our patriotic
;.uty, but along with the food cam
naign and cotton conservation, as the
3est investments we can make.
"Resolved, That we ask the Stat;
Council of Defense, the State tood ao'
the extension division O.
Clemson College, and the State com
missioner of agriculture to confer WIFI
the committee of this body for the
purpose of carrying out the provls'
ions of these resolutions.
"Resolved, That we request like or
.anizations in the other cotton State:
to join with US in presenting thes'
matters to their farmers.
(SlGnSO) w. ocIoHS, SAAs~AAN
'eW. w. Long,
''Robt. M. Cooper,
''W. O. Tatunl,
COMMITTEE.
These resolutions were adopted
md the same committee was appoint
cd to confer with the Council OF De
sense, the State commissioner OF ag
riculture, the extension division o
Clemson College and the food admin
;stration to amend the resolutions
amendments be deemed necessary.
]. G. L. White of Chester was o
me opinion that distress cotton woul
have to be taken care Of and suggest
cd the storing in warehouses OF col
ton on which money may be borrow
ed. Mr.. .Dabbs wanted the third pal
20 be free of all incumbrancs.
At the meeting last night. II wa
stated that meeting of the See
Crushers' Association had been mel
in the city yesterday morning an
that it had been given out that IN
>F