The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-14
Chamber cf Commerce Notes.
The importance Of educating a


organizing the colored farmers Of
Sumter county regarding preparation
for the boil weevil, as suggested III
this paper some days ago by the sec
retary Of the Sumter County Cham
Der of Commerce appears to nave
met with approval among many cltl-
zens of this county.
An influential and large white
farmer talked this matter over With
Secretary Reardon this week, and sal,
he intends 70 take this matter up at
the big boil weevil conference IN
Sumter next Thursday, January 1otn,
at II q. m. at the county court room
The idea is to hold community
meetings Of colored farmers IN every
township of the county to be aG-
dressed by leading whitc men and ~
colored leaders also, stressing the I'M
portance of the co;ored farmers re-
ducing thir cotton acreage to suit
weevil conditions, planting of pea
nuts. toabcco, potatoes. velvet beans,
corn. raising Of sufficient hogs, poul-
try. etc.
White men are doing a lot of con-
ferring and some very important Wee
vii preparation work among them
selves, Clemson College experts and
county demonstration agents all ovcf
he wesvil infested counties. hanNe:$
associations, automobile associations
Chambers of Commerce and other
business organizations are working
among the white farmers in good
style. But with the exception Of the
Sumter County Chamber Of Com1ler''"
which is working among the negroes
to assist them to get ready as well as
working among the whites, there has
ben practically rothing done II get
the negroes oracnized. educated. and
pul,i,s together with their White fel-
low citizens in the BOZ WeeVll propa-
s-anGa of tie Stat. Ten or fifteen
mass meetings, ore or two a day in
each township or abou; twenty meet
ings i. all could pe pulled off easily
within a weeks time among negro
farmers PanlZers, merchants, farm
ers, from city or town or from both
places. could divide up the time, eacn
speaker addressing one meeting, ana
in this way much valuable informa
ton could be spread and much valu-
able assistance rendered the negroes.
The Clemson College Farm Extension
service holding meetings or boil wee
vii conferences n thirty or more
weevil infested counties at this time
shoud pay a great deal Of attention
to colored farmers who are in the
majority in cotton infested territory.
If the negro share croppers ar
tenants are left bankrupt oy to.
much boil weeyil they will have t.
leave this country or section Of coun
try to make a living. The import
ance' of providing fo,, frttre agriclli
s--a' laioo- is Of too rnucil Importance
- ;av tof' s~eev;l .ievasratioa to
on n i,apor+ar.t p.
ii cur agricultural. labor, and com
r,ercial Interests by not cooperating
with the negroes who are in big
majority in this section of South
Carolina.
The suggestion about community
meetings end Organizing the negroes
should De fully discussed a. and pro-
vide for at coll weeyil conference Il,
Sumter and in other weevil infested
counties.
It should be made a separate and
distinct part of the program ana not
overlooked. The negroes need help.
they are asking for it and they VIII
take advice.
no farmer need worry about the
market for peanuts. Peanuts are
now too important food product TO
go unDurchaseG. Whnrever thor
are peanuts for sale here WI +
plenty OF buyers rs the demand vii
furnish the markets # we iust har:
the peanuts to sell in this county.
It has been suggested that, peanut
harvesting machinery be supplied un-
der the cooperative plan by ginners
owning the harvesting machinery to
rent out in their respective sections.
The Sumter County Chamber Of
Commerce is looking into this propo-
sition and has requested a Sumter
machinery house TO lake this matter
up with the Sumter county ginners
without delay. If this machinery
house does go ct this matter in the
right spirit there will be township
Farmers Interested should see the
Chamber of Commerce manager IN
order that Z might be possible t. find
out how the idea takes among pea
nut growers OF this county.
1t is hoped that every mercantile
establishment. bank. manufacturing
establishment. and every business and
professional place in Sumter will be
represented at the boil weevil confer
ence here on next Thursday. Likewise
every\farmer should be on hand. Let
tho farmers and the business men.
bankers. and professional men gel
together for q general understanding
EeXl Thursday.