The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-26
BATTLE OF
SOUTH TODAY
Hold Cotton Until Fair Price is
Obtained-Reduce the Acre
age, Use Less Fertilizer.
CAMPAIGN TO AROUSE
FARMERS TO DANGERS

CAMPAIGN To AROUSE
FARMERS 10 DANGERS
South Carolina Cotton Associa-
ton is Perfecting Organiza-
ton in Every Section Of the
State.
Columbia, Feb. 22.-Reports from
over the State indicate that Pieose
Reduction Day." officially announced
for February % by Governor cooper
viii be very generally observed oy
THE cotton farmers of South Carolina.
AZ the Headquarters Of the South
carolina. Cotton Association in the
Union National bank building here
today. it was stated by Secretary }.
Rutledge. McGhee that the: movement
IN South Carolina for a reduction IN
acreage and for holding the cotton On
hand until the spinners began 70 ery
for it was undoubtedly gaining IN mo
mentum daily.
| FEBRUARY 90 is the date set ior
holding Of Pledge, Reduction ralnes
| In every county seat town in the
state. On this. day each county IS
fexpected to form organizations down
Ito the school districts and preclncts.
The organization plan will not be dis
similar from that used in the Liberty
Loan campaigns Each farmer IS 70
he asked for a contribution or ten
cents to the fund being used to put
over the campaign.
"A proclamation has been issued
by Governor Cooper urging the I'M
portance of the movement and ask
ling for a, general observance OF
3Pledge Reduction Day. Committees
have been appointed for each county
| and they are expected 10 get to work
Immediately
(. Letters have been written to the
Federal Reserve bank at Richmond
fby J. Skottowe Wannamaker, active
head Of the State central committee
In regard to: the ) movement and he
has received in reply letters from
that institution vouchsafing its sup
port. He has also written to Secre-
tary Of agriculture Houston and oth-
ers.
..The battle cry Of the South today
bis commercial. freedom, declared
/ Mr. Wanna maker IN statement to-
sday. every phase Of business life
] in the South today realizes as never
/ before in the past the Importance for
the proper development OF the sooth
for commercial freedom, and that
the war will probably affect the
South greater than any other section
3of America. Labor conditions OF
1.-The south before the war were the
most poorly paid with : the possible
1 exception Of the. Chinese coolie sys-
tenn, it being impossible for the
! farmer to pay anything like reason
! able wa ages as his margin OF pront IN
cotton prices was SO extremely small,
1 if there was profit, unless he wished
] to commit. commercial suicide. TO
day instead Of there being a surplus
! of AGRICULTURAL labor, there IS great
Iscarcity of agricultural labor on the
( farms. Same is being felt very acute
| ly today. Farmers will be forced TO
/ plant crops which do not require the
amount OF labor which cotton re-
ouires. The campaign on today for
the reduction in cotton acreage and
n increase, in food crops means far
more to the south than it would ap-
pear at a glance. It means that the
south will live at home; it means
that the rivets that bind the shack
'es Of commercial slavery are being
loosene9. The success Of this move
ment means commercial freedom to
the south, and 1T means changes IN
every phase Of human life, and 1t
means q blessing not only to the
south, but TO the entire country. Ev-.
cry phase of life Of America is af-
fected directly or indirectly. The
success of this movement means the
development of natural resources and
great business institutions and enter
prises will be developed in the south.
It means untold prosperity and i'm
provenent throughout the entire
south, and it-means in like manner
that these blessings will affect every
section of the country. 1t means
that the south is awaking from it's
slumbers."
Great stakes are at ISSUE" con-
tinued Mr.. Wannanlaker. success
means commercial freedom. Or COM
;mercial freedom means blessings too
numerous to mention. Every phase
of life in the south will receive untold
benefits If we succeed"
Speakers are to be supplied each
county organization for the meeting
scheduled to take place next Friday,
and in each school district there will
be subsidiary meetings held subse-
quent to the big county meeting to
be held Friday the 28th
Paris. Feb. 22-sfethods of deal
ing with complaints against 4 state
for falling to observe provisions OF