The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-11-06
Harris Returns
From Conference
Farmers win Cooperate in Mar.
keting-''Ncxt Step" Commit.
tee Outlines Policies to BE
Pursued

from WasbingtOn. where ne had buSu
attending q meeting OF the Joint agri-
cuiturnl conference at the headquar-
tiers OF the national board OF furm
orraniaztions. This meeting was at
tended By $50 representatives of go
or more farm organizations from prac-
tically every state In the union. IL
have missed very few important meet
ings OF farmers an the last 80 years"
said Mr.. Harris. and 1 consider this
about the most progressive ana most
FAR reaching that I have ever attend
"a.
Each and every one who attended
went for a definite purpose u was
ODe Intention of this meeting to see
waat was the cause OF SO much dis.
satisfaction caused by the weird kind
OF detlation that came upon the
country like bolt OF lightning out
OF n clear sky. IL was the conscn-
sns of opinion that there was no
need for the dehation policy ana
evidence was brought out Go show
plainly that the farmers were being
dts0riminated against by the policy
pf secretary Houston. n was eisy To-
see that the farmer is not getting
his pro rata share OF the currency
needed 90 protect the great ag.l-
cultural Interests OF the country.
"rhe world may rest assured that
in the future the farmers are going
20 take n more positive stand Tor
their just rights. They have % IN
asleep too long already. aud allow
Ing themselves tO bc dictated To by
other people who have no other OBJ
tect but their own personal gains
am proud ca say ne Is blaming no
body hut himself. lie is waking up,
10 n sense OF his own duty ana this
can only be- done through organiza-
tion an6 desperation OF tho farmers
~ the North. East. south and West.
banded together In a great organiza-
tiVn. They have found out who hit
Billy Patterson
Il consider n remarkable that i'm
this gathering az $50 men from an
parts OF the United States. I'm the
national capital. Just few days be-
fore the presidential election politics
was not even mentioned IL showed
very conclusively To me thai this
body OF men was there ferreting out
the great problems now hindcring
hte prosperity OF the country---and
hunting remedy. As this was such
representative meeting and not
alone cf southern farmers. The fol-
lowing statement OF the next stem
committee that studied the causes
and suggested remedies was adopted
unanimously" /
A great crisis exists In agricul-
turc today which vitally affects. both
FARMERS aud the great mass OF city
toilers dependent on farmers for
their food and clothing. So serious
IN the situation that tho farmcrs'
wgHnixatons which speak for agri-
culture have been repeatedly sound
ing the warning. believing that the
industry nnd business OF farming are
anectcd with a public interest and
that tho whole country should know
the facts.
Under the governmental urge to
tecd the hunger stricken people OF
the world, our farmers. at enormous
sacrifices 0l both money and labor,
endeaN0red to produce adequate
crops this year. Despite this fact the
farmers have Deen forced 10 bear
the brunt of defation policy insti-
tuted by the government. policy
which Is the basis of tho farmers
present financial troubles
The war dent Including interes.
when paid, Will aggregate SlO,OGu
100000. To repay this debt under
conditions OF present prices and farm
products aud wages for labor will
req1Te two bushels OF grain. two
bales OF cotton and two days labor
instead of one. This - equivalent 40
doubling tho amount OF the war debt.
and the purchasing power of the bill
Hons of dollars made 10y war prof.
tCcrs.
As a result OF this dcnatlou pol
icy and the absence ot the customary
foreisn markets. farmers today nud
themselves without remuncrativc
market for their products and in
some Instances without market ut
any price
Through the lack OF credit live
stock PRODUCERS are being forced 20
Throw unfinished live stock upJn the
W1rket. aud producer Of cotton.
grain and fruits fud u imuossfblc 10
Fct,li1c even approximately the first
cost Of production.
No such thing AS orderly market
ing ~ now possible An Uf those
facts have hccu rUpoutcdly brought
to mo attention Of the high officials
"i @ur govcrnmcnt iuCludiug the 500
rotary OF the treasury uud federal
reserve hoard, but without avail
We realize that considerable cN-
tension ot credit has taken pIr,...
during the past - To- Is months. Luf
hcheVe this to bc largely the result
"I the cCuditlnU under which hnyi
ness had 10 be transacted AND du,,,
not necessarily reflect AN uusnrum
CONDITION in tho cyuutry's uu.ur,S s..
~ All events no such drastic d,.lt-
uon az has resulted was wrrruu rd.
u D. further believed that OF tive.
total credit available the farmer ,,4
received but q pitrarro whit. .
cntly those who traded iu IN.