The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-25

Servation, and complaints that nave
been made to me show that there ha:
been enough Of it to create power
full spirit Of resentment against. ln'
mills.
We further secured for farmers tht
privilege Of hauling seed to the mil:
land securing the car rate plus tn'
freight charges from the nearest ST.
ton. Sc far as / have been able tc
learn this has never been availahi.
because the mills would say: W.
are crowded and can not take youl
seed now Of course they art
crowded because by being the only
place seed could be sold cotton TO.
many miles around was sinned
at the oil mill ginnery.
And local gins. the very
ones the food administration stated
it was trying to protect in the interes:
Of the farmers. have run half time
and had not much to do then. The
very ones the food administration
was protecting in making a wagon
price Of seed three dollars per ton
less than car rate, it did not protect
them because they had to get out
Of the market when they filed up
their seed houses and could not sell
seed-Why? Because oil mills were
getting more than their daily crush
at their own gins.
l have contended all along that if
a mill could pay s71.00 Or $500 for
car seed with an average freight
charge Of $500, and the cost Of un-
loading with occasional demurrage
charges that it could pay at least the
same price for gin or wagon seed un-
loaded into their storage rooms with
out charge That the food admins
tration and the crushers have recog-
niZed the equity Of this without agree
ing to it is proved by the allowance
CT car rates plus freight under GER
tain conditions of distance for wagon
seed when twenty tons would be de-
iivered in ten days. The fact that
mills got gin and wagon seed at $500
per ton less than car lots together
With the fiat price for all the season
has caused all the trouble.
In conclusion Col. Fitzsifnmons the
genial nestor Of the cotton seed oil
business stated in an eloquent speech
in Charlotte that he thanked God
when the food administration took
over the business 1 called his atten-
ton to that statement in Columbia
yesterday. He said: Il repeat it.
From last December to November II
slept better than I have ever done
since I nave been in the oil business.
knew T had an assured profit, and
It made no difference to me what
prices We're. Mr.. Justice who came
from Washington to have our views
on the continuance of seed regulation
for the balance Of this season said to
me at its close. Il heartily agree with
YOU that governmental control has not
helped the farmers
The meeting unanimously agreed
that it would be disastrous to farmers
and seed dealers to remove restric-
tons before the end of this season.
and passed a resolution to that ef-
feet. But I am sure all the farmers
present agreed to my sentiment LAS
a war measure we stood it-but nev-
er more"
do not know that Col. Claffey and
will have anything more to Go with
the seed situation officially. The
above tells you what we have tried
20 do. We have none but the kindest
feelings for the crushers, ginners. and
seed buyers we have met on the COM
n3ittee. And we found Mr.. Elliott the
staunch friend of the farmers, ccur-
teous and firm for the right. But in
spite Of it all the crushcrs were too
strong with the powers that be, and
have had the advantage in every deal.
Re patient, stand firm for the prices
now fixed. The world needs the oil
and all the other by-products. If the
price OF seed changes. it will be to go
higher. as il should for those who have
@aken care Of them Until they are
needed
Ru were al! restrictions removed
now the effort to unload by dealers
who have bought all they can store
would cause disastrous slump.
f. W. Dabbs.
Mayesville, Dec. is.