The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-30
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE.
Minutes of The Regular Monthly
Meeting January 26th.


The meeting of the Sumter County
Council Of Defense was we'll attended
last Saturday. and considerable mat
ters of importance We're discussed.
Letters from Senator's Tillman and
Smith, and Congressman Lever re-
garding the request OF the Council
that the government purchase the en- :
tire agricultural requirements of nj
trate OF soda, and dealing with the
idea that fertilizer dealers be allow
ed TO secure government nitrates 10
resell to poor farmers at 10 per cent
profit were read by Mr. f. w. Dabbs.
chairman of the committee appointed
TO take this matter up
I Ihe gist OF the replies in the letters
from the representatives shows nc
possible chance for the fertilizer deal.
ers to get any Of the nitrate of soda.
IL was said by Senator Smith that the
government intends to utilize the ten
million dollar appropriation for nj.
trates under the revolving plan, that
Is that as fast as this money is col.
lected from farmers it will be used
again and again to purchase nitrates
If the plans OF the United States de
partment of agriculture prevail. The
secretary OF the Council was instruct
ed to write the senators and con-
gressmen that the Sumter COUNTY
Council hopes this will be done.
The Council went on record as fav-
oring an appropriation of $4,000 for
the 1918 support of the State Council
OF Defense, and the secretary was in.
structed to write and request the Sum.
ter County legislative delegation tc
support and vote for this appropria
tion. and to support the State Council
OF Defense i'm every reasonable man
ner.
On motion Of Mr. c.. j. Jackson, and
Mr.. ]. II. Myers, the Council unani-
mously resolved that the Sumter
County Council of Defense should be
supported by direct taxation i'm order
to more equitably distribute the bur
den Of expense in keeping up this
Council. and the legislative delegation
was requested to make an appropra-
ton OF one thousand dollars if so
much be necessary for this purpose
MIR. c. j. Jackson, chairman, with Mr.
:. A. Harvin and DR.. Bush Nc
Laughhn were appointed a commit
tee to interview and place this re-
| quest before the Legislative delegation
Immediately. A small number of the
business men of Sumter have paid
ninety per cent of the expenses Of the
Sumter County Council of Defense
and the Sumter Chamber of Com
merce has rendered considerable as
sistancc. II was the concensus of
opinion OF those present. farmers par
ticularly. that the people of the rural
districts farmers and country mer
chants. and other Sumter county MOO
pie. as we'll as many i'm this city.
should contribute to the support of
this body which is composed of one
hundred and twenty-five representa-
tive farmers and other business men
from every township in Sumter coun-
ty.
number of farmers from the ru r.
raj districts openly EXPRESSED the;r
opinions that hundreds of the farmers
and rural merchants, and others OF
the country districts, and MANY i'm
this city and other towns and Villages;
IN this county, have failed to do THEN,
part In supporting the Council of De
Tense, and expressed their apprecia- -
hon OF the liberal manner i'm which
the Few business and professional men
OF the City of Sumter have financed
'he council and many other move
incnts for the benefit of the rural dis.
trictS. Several said that the time ha c
now approached for the business nlen
ana farmers of some other sections.
I'm fact from every town, village, pr
trading center. and the strictly aexi-
cultural districts. to show their Ha
triotism and their public spirit a =
relieve the few sumter busineaa16