The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-05-29
WAN.AMAkER AP-
PEALS TO r GARNER
Cotton Man Urges the Produc
ton of Food Crops to
Save Nation


the Richland. county branch of the.
American Cotton Association living in.
school districts Nos. 8 and 10. The
barbecue was given in the sand hills
near Eastover and was very largely
attended by the people living in the
two school districts, several hundred
being present.
Mr.. Wannanaker who was the only
speaker, was introduced by r. c.
Hamer, president Of the Richland
county branch of the South Carolina
|GKision of the American Cotton AS
ISOLATION, and made what many who
heard him declare to have been the
hest speech they have ever heard him
make. It was a strong plea to the
farmer to do his part. towards tidlng
1.-THE country over the present period of
The history of the world, . said Mr..
Wannamaker, has beer that when a
country; neglects its production end,
its government perishes We must not
let that state of affairs exist in AM
erica We have to pay more atten-
|tion, however, to. agriculture in this
country to prevent it from going to
ruin There are millions Of people to
be fed Their food must come from
1.-THE farms There is a great shortage
In foodstuffs The shortage is threat
ening our country. Now, as never be-
fore We should all.go TO work determ-:
ined to relieve this shortage. If we
do not ruin and decay stares us in the
Lies in Hands of Farmers.
eeThe solution Of the situation to7
day lies.5in the hand Of the farmer.
Clothes are necessary, but food must
come first I appeal to youSas patcioe
tie South Carolin Of my
native Stateand it is the greatest
State in the union. love every rock
and hill in ito do your part in this
rather critical situation. Grow more
foodstuffs that we may continue tc
live in a land of happiness and sur
slime.
Mr. Wannamaker complimented the
people: OF school districts Nos. and
40 for the splendid manner in which
they have rallied to the support Of
Ethe american Cotton Associa ton. He
|tola them that the association was
making progress and predicted that
the time was coming when the spin
ners of New England would be COM
ingsto the South begging the farmers
for their cotton He declared that
too hong the farmer had been forced to
beg the spinners. to take his cotton
The tables are going to be reversed.
For so years. said Mr.. Wannamak-
er. we have trod the wine press. The
law of equal opportunity is now
knocking at. our door. Under the or
ganization of the American Cotton
Association the door wia be opened;
|the. South will come into its own and
will be the main contributing factor
in the upbuilding of a greater nation. ;,
The farmers of Richland county
were urged blythe speaker to arrange
to organize a marketing association
and TO securea grader. He said that
other counties. had done this and the
farmers had saved lots Of money. Ar
rangements have been perfected by
the American Cotton Association and
the department tof agriculture to Sc
cure a grader for every county that
wishes one.
On Terms Of Equality
.The producer who sells cotton"
said Mr. Wannamaker, should be
placed >on terms of equality in every
respect with the buyer who purchases
it. This includes more than at first
sight might appear. Among other
things, the producer should have
equal information with. the buyer. The
law affecting the buying, and selling
of cotton, should; be poised in equal
justice between the producer and the.
buyer Commercial machinery which
in any way affects the marketing of
cotton should be. SO regulated as to
give the buyer and seller an equal
chance. The producer should have
the benefit OF organization to the same
extent as the buyer. Investigation by
the Department Of Agriculture in pri-
mary cotton markets has shown very
interesting results Thousands of sam,
pies have been classified, and inferma-
ton. obtained from farmers as to the
prices. which they have received for
their cotton. Phe prices paid on the
same market on the same grade of
cotton on the same day varied from $2
to SIS a bale and cotton of one and
one-eighth inch length Of staple has
sold for considerable less than cotton
of three quarter length of staple. This
means that the farmer has not been
getting the value Of his cotton. 1t is
clear that the individual farmer can
not, solve the trouble alone;i through
the American Cotton Association he
can form cooperative marketing as
soeiations. employ high class techni
cal men who can class and staple his
cotton and secure the best market for
the same"
Mr.. Wannamaker touchingly told OF
conditions which prevailed in the
Cn,%r fo11o,r,;1o H., Corfa1oro{a