Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-12-11
Cotton Conference Largely Attend
ed Friday---senator Bennet
Made Strong Address.

y. .ssEt
lexington county farmers put them
selves on record as being unalterabiy
opposed to selling cotton for less than
cents per pound at a big pubic
neeting in the county court house
Eriday, when ex-United States sena
tor Christie Bennett Of Columbia,
made a. ringing address in behaf OF
food conservation. and the urgent
needs OF the people at this time. me
meeting had been called by Dr.. u. M.
Crcsson, of Leesville, chairman OF
the Lexington County Council of De
fense, and T. c. Callison, county food
administrator: and, although the
meeting had not been widely adVer-
tised. a. representative of farmers
we're present. The meeting was
presided over by DR.. Crosson-
II had been hoped that Mr.. D. 4:
noker. State chairman of the councli
Of aefense. who recently returned
from the European countries, could al
tend the meeting, but pressing ousi-
ness engagements elsewhere prevent
od his coming. However, Hon. Christ
ie Benet, former United States sena-
for. was present and made mashn-
f;eent address. Mr.. Bennet PAID a
snIendid tribute to the American SOL
5iers picturing the valor and nerolsm
or of those who participated IN the
great battles of France just prior 70
the signing Of the Armistice. Espe-
ciaI,y did he praise the boys comprls-
ING fhe Thirtieth Division, who, after
snl,1nsins into the thickest of the
fray. were attacked from BEHIND anu
fougt their way to victory over the
enemy. This division was made up
of many from South Carolina anu
there will yet be many casualties re-
ported declared MIR. Benet. All o.
-+tte soldiers should be treated with
the same respect, said the speaker
Those who remained at home in the
camps should not be forgotten, Tor
fhey. too, would have been glad 70
have gone to the front and Wouio
have fought with just as mich zeal.
Mr.. Bennett said that we are now to
have a period that will test the loyal
ty and patriotism Of every American
citizen. We should not criticise those
IN authority, but, instead should keep
ear tongues and help the best we
san,. Had the war lasted few weeks
longer, said Mr.. Bennett, we Wouit
have had an opportunity to show the
great srientif;r war marhines mace
IN Americans Mr.. Hoover says
that Germany is supplied with food
sufficient to last until next Marcn.
Germany will be provided for but not
until after the Allies have first been
provided. Germany did not know
that We were getting our men across
f|e waters and food to our Alles-at
least the German people did not;
fhe submarines at keil were the only
ones to know the real truth about the
matter. These submarines sailors
told the story, and it soon reached the
German people that something was
wrong.
Mr.. Bennett made a strong appeal
fer a constructive programme in this
country. The older heads should
stand for the ideals of good govern
ment
With reference to the cotton sit
ration, Mr.. Bennett said that during
the last few weeks he had discussed
the cotton problem With McCombs.
Secretary Houston. Baruch, and
others and had reached two conclu-
sions We must get it out of the peo-
ple Of the North and West that we
are going to plant cotton and sell it
daring the months Of October, Novem
ber and December. The farmers
must hold their cotton for at least
one winter now in order to break the
backs of the spectators, and then
there will be no more hammering
down the market. Cotton, said Sena-
stor Bennet, is worth more than it is
bringing today. Lexington county
people have always raised their own
supplies, and he urged them to do so
The coming season as never before.
The West he said, is bitter against
the South because the government fix
I ed the price Of wheat and did not TX
= the Price on cotton, on basis Win
that CT wheat They wanted to. Tx
1.-THE price Of cotton on the basis OF
Ehat it'was bringing when the war
ppened-not q fair proposition at all.
The West doesn't know that it costs
Us much as it does to grow cotton, and
epueSgdoId pe9Ids OF 9ADQ 9M
nth in order that the real facts may
sadoagues pres uonIsa ',IIV 'u%ouY sp
Bennet, admitted that cotton should
be bringing 35 cents to-day. The bulk
sSof our cotton goes abroad, and up
TO a. very: few weeks ago it was impos-
! sible to do any exporting on account
& of the boats being used for transpor
Eaing soldiers to the war zones. Since
sI1he signing of the Armistice the en-
bargo has been removed and boats
can now carry cotton across. There
$psill be an enormous demand for
1Bxotfon abroad now, said Mr.. Bennet'
sAIf OF the countries want it, because
3<hey need it, and they are going to
41aye it.
Ths Former Senator told Of the aW