The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-29
HOT SH0TFOR
GOVERNOR ALLEN
Chairman Wannamaker Tells
the Governor of Kansas a
Few Plain Facts About
Cotton Situation
THE SOUTH is DEMAND
ING A FAIR DEAL ONLY

EANI "A L k434k NNE3L
When the South Produces its
Own Food Wheat Will Not Be
So Profitable and Demagogues
Such as Allen Will Not Be So
Independent.
Columbia, March 25.-Gov. Henry
y. Allen, Of Kansas, was very warmly
denounced by J. S. Wannamak-
er, Of St Matthews, chairman of the
central committee of the South Caro-
lima Cotton Association, in an inter
view here today.
It is said that God in creating some
men, when He finds that He has left
vacant space in their brain, fills 1t
with self-conceit,' said Mr.. Wanna
maker Governor Allen seems to be
a typical product and it is doubtless
FOR this reason that he has assumed
a position discourteous, unfair die
tatorial and unjuse to the Southern
cotton farmer and has voiced senti-
ment in which he forgot the Golden
Rule and has given expression to an
utterance which certainly does not
and cannot express the sentiment OF
the honest, honorable, upright West
ern wheat grower"
Mr.. Wannamaker said today that
ne had not yet received the letter
written him by the Kansas governor
declining to participate in the cotton
acreage reduction conference and de-
nouncing the cotton reduction move
ment In the press accounts Of the
letter. however, the Kansas governor
was quoted as saying among other
things that cotton growers are max
ing as much money with cotton at
25 cents a pound as Kansas farmers
are making from their wheat.
Governor Allen either distorts the
facts or is poorly posted on same.
declared Chairman Wannanlaker to-
day. s1The Southern cotton farmer
cannot sell mis- cotton at 25 cents as
Governor Allen states. For middling
cotton, if he decided to sell today at
prevailing prices, which are below
cost of production, he could get
around 25 cents. For his off-grade
cotton, he could only get Is cents per
pound. The cotton farmer realized
the fact that he must work out his
own salvation; that he can expect no
help whatever from the national gov
ernment However he did think ne
would at least have the sympathy OF
his brother farmers Of the West who
are rolling in wealth. to which he is
contributing If, however, Governor
p; Allen voices the Sc .timent of the
Western farmer, which he should do.
he is not even willing to extend him
sympathy IN his present condition.
TT will be remembered that Dives
denied Lazarus even the crumbs
from his table History repeats it
self. It will doubtless repeat itself
again and the fate Of Dives will be
meted out to some Of the rich men OF
| today. The Southern farmer is not
begging for anything. He asks for a
square deal and it seems that this IS
denied to him. He has got too much
American blood in him to quietly
AM peacefully submit to the treat
ment accorded him. lie is determin-
ed to fight for his commercial right.
A principle is involved. Governor
Allen in all probability does not
voice the sentiment Of his brother
Western farmers The Western far
lner most assuredly wishes the South
ern farmer TO be paid q price above
Iic
| ducts As a farmer ana as an Amer
| ican citizen, he expects square
deal"
/! Chairman Wannanaker has not yet
received the letter addressed to him
by Governor Allen, but press dis
patches last Might carried the sub
stance Of it. The governor in his let
ter declared that the cotton growers
Of the South in their effort to limit
the acreage of cotton to maintain high
prices were trading upon the misery
Of the world"
The dispatch said that "basing his
conclusions on government crop re-
ports, Governor Allen estimated that
cotton growers are making as much
money with cotton at % cents a
pound as Kansas farmers are max
ing from their wheat"
Mr.. Wannamaker today reviewed
the price OF wheat and cotton. The
former is being sold. he said. The
above cost under q guaranteed price
fixed by the government while the
other can be sold only at price be-
low the cost Of production with no
price Of any Kind offered for the i'm
portant product of cotton seed.
I'm the security Of wheat price
ixed by the government Governor
Allen IS evidently ignorant Of condi-
tions surrounding the problems of the
Southern cotton planter said Mr..
Wannanlaker. "He can not know that
the farmer here are not; only carry
ing a large part Of their cotton crop
for which they are offered pice be-
low the cost Of production but is un-
able to sell his cotton seed at any
price whatsoever. The cotton farmer