The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-03
VIII Try to Eliminate Cotton
Crop Pest Through Coun-
ty Action
SOUTH CAROLINA
MUST RAISE COTTON
w. w. Long Has Idea Of Con-
tinued Production-Movemen
Indorsed

Endorsed
Columbia, Dec. 31-Following the
recommendation of w. W. Long of
Clemson College, DR.. W. N, Riggs and
D. W Watkins, Of Clemson, radi-
cal change was effected at the meet
ing of the Anti-Boll Weevil association
and interested parties here yesterday.
Cnder the new plan adopted by the
entire conference counties where the
pest is present In large numbers will
be grouped into units of three and
men experienced in handling the boil
weevil employed to work these dis
tricts and fight the. pest The funds
will be supplied by the various coun-
ties by the county supply bill in the
general assembly. II the plan recon-
mended yesterday is perfected.
Clemson college and the depart
ment of agriculture Of the United
States would have control Of the men
and direct the work in the various
groups. Under the plan Of Mr.. Long
about 80 counties would be grouped
into ten groups for fighting the wee
viii While this is an abandonment OF
the first idea adopted here some
time ago it does not mean the abol-
ition of the Anti-Boll Weevil assooia-
ton, but rather strengthening OF
this body which will cooperate and
aid in directing the work in the groups
for eliminating the weeyil in the
State. Those attending the meeting
including members of the executive
committee of the Anti-Boll Weeyil as
sociation, and interested business men
from over the State approved the new
idea and it, will be recommended to
the various county delegations for ac-
ton. -.
W. ". Long. who advocated the
county fight plan, in speaking OF the
new scheme differed materially with
cotton. leaders in; the State and advo-
Gated the continuance Of raising cot
ton, where it was possible and said he
was not one Of the men who wanted
to see the Sou&h's great staple crop
abandoned. The boil weevil is no
blessing in disguise, but clamaity
undisguised, was DR.. Longs state
ment Mr.. Long WAS emphatic in his
statement that he was not in favor
Of abandoning the cotton crop OF the
South, but thought diversifcation
should be. practiced enough to permit
farmer to well care for his wants
and then plant cotton. DR.. W. "a.
Riggs, president Of Clemson College.
heartily endorsed Mr. Longs plan as
did Dr. J. y. Harper of the soil i'm
prorenept committee Of the South
ern fertilizer association.
These three men are among the
South's leading citizens and their ad-
vice will be followed by many South
Carolinians. Following is the ad-
dress Of Mr.. Long in which the new
plan for fighting the weevil is outlin-
ed and some very interesting state
ments about raising cotton.
Gas understand it, the object Of
this meeting is to formulate plans for
raising $4,000 by the oil mill men.
bankers, automobile association and
other interested parties. the sum Sc
cured to be turned over to Clemson
college to be used in its campaign in
meeting boil weevil conditions.
"The acceptance OF this sum in
wolves matter Of policy that I have
no right to discuss and that can only
be taken up by the president who is
present and who will. am sure. be
glad to present any proposition you
can make to the Clemson college
board Of trustees.
From whatever sources additional
funds are secured, it should be with
the understanding that this fund vii!
be continued for not only next year
but for several years to come. In
order to accomplish anything, the ad-
ditional men proposed must be left in
the field for some years. You must
understand that little can be accom-
plished in one year, and the amount
of money you hope to raise will only
employ five or six men and the work
naturally will be of a propaganda
character rather than that Of close
organization. which to my mind IS
absolutely necessary If real results
are to be accomplished.
After comforting with DR.. Riggs.
* seemed to Mr. Watkins and myself
that the wise thing to do will be to
group the counties where the infesta
ton is present-say, three counties to
a group-and let the legislative rep
resentatives provide the funds in coun-
ty supply bills for employing the
necessary number OF men for each
group. In this way you can secure a
close organization that necessarily
mean more effective work to meet the
situation. Under this method all the
people will bear their prepoztionate
part Of the expense. To seeuresthese
appropriations we must have your
great influence.
There are two others festures in
connection with this boil weevd sftua-
ton that I think it we'll to call 10
your attention: First, am not one
of those who subscribe to the doc
trine that the boil weevil is blessing
in disguise. I hold that his presence
is a calamity undisguised. The South
is naturally a cotton producing sec