The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24
FOOD CROP MEETING.
Farmers of Sumter County Start
Campaign to Plant One Half OF
Land il Food Crops.


Food Administrators of Sumter coun-
ty. and the farmers of Sumter county
was held at the court house Tuesday
August goth. for the purpose OF de-
termining upon a definite plan as to
the percentage of food, crops to be
planted for 1919, and the percentage
of cotton as we'll. in Sumter county
Meeting was called to order at 1l.2o
a. M, there being present, Food Adj
ministrator G. A. Lennon, and ap-
proimately 250 prominent farmers and
business men of Sumter county.
Chairman Phelps briefly outlined
the purpose Of the meeting and read
resolution passed at previous meeting
of the Council of Defense.
Mr.. j. Frank Williams. county dem
onstration agent, spoke in behalf OF
the Farmers Marketing Association,
outlining the many advantages OF the
association and urging the farmers to
give it their hearty cooperation and
support, stating the amount Of cap
ital stock is $1,000, 100 shares of $50
each.
Mr.. L. D. Jennings made a most
interesting and patriotic talk in the
! interest of planting larger food crops
during 1919 undertaking the acreage
/ in cotton, which was enthusiastlcal-
" received. and introduced the fol-
lowing resolution, which was unanl-
mous1y adopted.
! Whereas, for more than q year, our
country has been an active part!cI-
pant in a great and terrible war,
which must and will be brought to a
successful and victorious conclusion,
and to this end our president has
dedicated our fortune, our lives ana
our honor.
And Whereas, during this great
national emergency, many workers
have been called from the farms to
the munition factories and to the
armed forces of our country, and the
production of food supplies conse-
quently diminished, and
Whereas in order to maintain our
armies, and the armies of our Allies
in the field, a vast amount OF tood
stuffs is absolutely necessary. and the
normal production of our country is
insufficient to furnish a supply for
this demand, and the food supplies OF
our Allies are depleted, due to the
ravages of war, and the interruption
of agricultural pursuits attendans
thereupon and,
Whereas, we believe that, to do
everything reasonably within his pow
er to increase the supply Of food stuffs
in order that the war demand may. be
answered, is the patriotic duty OF ev-
cry farmer, which he should fultill
with the same spirit Of sacrifice and
loyalty as is exhibited by our soldiers,
and
Whereas, the farmers of Sumter
county have in the past not produc-
ed sufficient food to feed themselves,
and the non-agricultural population
of our county, and every year large
food supplies have been imported, and
Whereas we believe that our coun-
try should be at least seif-sustalnlng.
in the matter of food. and not draw
upon the rest OF the nation for its food
supply, and
Whereas adequate farm labor Is
very hard to obtain, due to the fact
that so many Of our men have join
ed the cclors, and this labor short
age is accentuatcd in the productlof-
of. cotton for the reason that 1t re
CURES moro labor 10 cultivate anc
harvest a crop CT cotton. than to cui-
! tivate and harvest grain and other
food crops, and
Whereas by increasing our acre
age in cotton, we would be perform
ing a patriotic duty, in that we woulc
add to the food supply Of the nation:
we would be performing a duty 10
ourselves, in that we would mas"
Sumter county self-sustaining and ~e
would be enabled to better cultlvase
and harvest oar crops, in that We
would tighten the labor shortage
Now, Therefore. be it resolved b;
the farmers of Sumter county, tne
County Council of Defense and tbs
County Food Administration IN
meeting assembled at Sumter. S. G..
on the goth day Of August, 1918:
That all of the ends above Sc
forth can best be achieved by eacn
farmer in Sumter county planting "a
ieci st h1Ly per ceuL OA tAS ie'AA.' pA'.
ed by him in 1919 in food stu1fs, anc
fertil;zc the same proportionaSeiH
as heavily relative 10 previous Irac-
tice as he fertilizes his cotton crop
| That it is the patriotic duty OF eacH
farmer of Sumter county to plant a.
icast fifty per cent Of his land IN
1873 in foodstuff5, and his failure tc
perform this duty would be evidence
Of a lack of loyalty on his part to ou'
| country in this; great emergency; tna'
w:lile our soldiers across seas are
| offering their lives that we might DC
So, ed the ravages of the Hun, 1t be-
comes even more greatly our duty 1e
provide food Cor them. and that TINS
duty can best be performed by plant
jr:s at least fifty per cent of all iana
! 1.lanted in Sumter county in fooo
stuffs.
That a committee be selected 70
serve in each school district in sum
ter county. to organize the farmers
and give them the opportunltT I"
sign {; pledge to plant at least hit,
per cent OF all land planted in 1919