The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-26
COTTON ACREAGE
REDUCTION
Secretary ReardOn Makes In
pOrtant Announcement

'iN farmer, merchant, banker, and to
men and women of every occupation
ana calling were handed out to all
line-pald secretaries and managers
or chambers of commerce of South
Naroiina on February 14th in Column
pa TO be carried home to their coun-
tles' and with instructions to give
widespread publicity to same The
..'"'a ''0r0.'N0 cI1ricr %! comm .rc..
H' N..s 'nu4J,ua.r president. cali
." 0hia conference OF cUwu.Ic4tl sr.-
! 'etaflts to advise with the others
present.
FIRST of all. the information consid-
ercd OF most Importance to the gem
eral business interests was "Coopor-
atloh between merchant, farmer.
pahNer' and all others in the signing
VI COTTON acreage reduction contracts
ana getting the actual reduction of
cotton acreage for 1921 signed up in
tahslpIe form to be able to show the
actual reduction pledged. We must
De absolutely able to prove the cot
ton acreage reduction.
second the Impotence of every
champer of commerce getting every
oahk' ana supply merchant to sign
pleuses agreeing not to furnish cash,
AoltHiHers/ or other supplies or as
ISSUANCE TO any farmer who is not
Wlillng TO pledge himself under sign
ed contract to reduce his 1921 cotton
acreage In accordance with the plans
vi 'he American Cotton association.
information received directly from
New York financial circles indicated
that the men who control the money
markets of this country and largely
! OF the world believe that cotton acre
age reduction has the most vital
bearing on the future business of this
country than that Of any other COM
merclal commodity or business inter-
est, and further that future CARRYING
OF cotton loans on surplus cotton,
ana doubtless on many other CONNER
cial papers will depend almost en-
tlrely upon the cutting down of the
cotton acreage to one-third of the
l92l years lands planted to all field
crops and the additional support Of
the financial and general business in
terestS by producing ample food and
leed stulis to supply every farm seek
ing iurther extension of loans or
seeking new loans. Secretary f.. |.
Reardon, Of the Sumter Chamber of
commerce, who attended the Colum-
bla conference Of bankers, merchants
farmers and other business men saws
that he is going to take the risk, SO
grave does he consider the situation
IN the light Of information received,
by warning the farmers that unless it
can Abe definitely shown by April 1st
to 10Th, possibly by June 1st 1921,
and shown by signed contracts that
the 1921 American cotton crop will
not exceed six million bales that mon
ey matters are going to be much
tighter than they are now.
This, as far as Mr.. Reardon feels
JuSiiAod IN co!rE without further au-
iAH5't" h9a = Naming read ct
.. -'V.Iu furnish "a deDnlte informa-
ton showing that anything like
normal crop of cotton during 1921
spells disaster for every business in
terest lin the south, and much loss to
the business interests of the entire
country Chambers of Commerce
were appealed TO to get busy lining
up farmers and all business men
without delay. And to keep their
chambers of commerce functioning
tull time as central county bureaus
Of information and cooperation.
Any merchant, banker, or farmer
who fees S that he can afford to as
sumo an attitude of passive acquies-
cence - the critical conditions con-
fronting this country by dropping out
Of his chamber of commerce or 9TH
.-'.'" .' >-'ti. co. n. o. by falling
t." oOo"-. a.. .tAu d.s" ~ ..,lp t st
on acreage .cduction in order 20 save
d l"A uo.i2t .r sac himself d Iltle
extra work wi. br mercy adding to
the long list OF men who by their
lack of cooperation and Indifference
are helping TO make conditions worse.
Every man is needed in this peace
time fight against conditions which
though serious can be much worse.
The commercial secretaries were
urged not to become discouraged, but
10 go back to their homes and to
take the lead in organizing city,
town ana rural districts in marketing
| Facilities, breaking the consumers
strike by suggesting that people buy
what they need and can afford, pat
ronlZe home enterprises and home
farmers, home labor, and to induce
farmers to produce everything pos
slbic in the shape of food and feed
! Stufts, and for city merchants to buy
| everything they con for resale from
| home farmers, but above all to pro-
duce as little cotton as possible Co
operative marketing Of sweet potatoes,
| cotton, grain, canned goods, hogs,
cattle, and cotton were fully discuss
ed and plans are being worked out
with certain legislative matters now
pending which ought to vastly i'm
prove marketing ARRANGEMENTS.