The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-22
Mr.. Dabbs Discusses
Canning Factory
Says Farmers Will Grow
Vegetables But VIII Not
Invest Money in Enter
prise

Editor Daily Item:
Owing to other matters / was
not able to be present at the can
ming meeting Saturday. / am in
formed that the promoters express
ed the opinion that farmers will
not grow the necessary fruits and
vegetables to insure the success OF
such an enterprise. OF course
they will not with only vague prom
ises Of taking care Of their crops.
But if responsible men will calcu-
late how many acres Of the va
rious fruits and vegetables that are
suitable for canning will be needed
and what price per bushel or
pound (better by weight) they can
pay to farmers, price that will
give to farmers a profit under nor
NAL conditions, do not think there
will be any trouble in making con-
tracts with reliable farmers for
their supply. Such contracts
should be for not less than 3 years
to protect the Gamers and the
farmers. 1t may be that sliding
scale Of prices, would be the prop
er way to protect growers and can
ners.
Canning On commercial scale as
I understand the proponents Of
the idea plan for is not the farm
ers' problem, and would not ad-
wise farmers taking stock. The
cannery should be owned, controll-
ed and operated by small group
of men who by their success in
other buiness, would be a guaran-
tee Of success in the canning line.
1t is just as Mr.. Belser says about
a marketing corporation. He does
not want more than 10 men tc own
and operate one. / do not fear
such organizations will ROB the
farmers, for if they do, they will
kill the business. They must be
willing to operate at low overhead
charges and on small profit and
they must pay such prices to grow
ers as will insure a steady supply.
Unless growers get a profit they
will quit.
There may be business men who
have made their pile, and can
quit, as I understand was stated
Saturday. There may be some
farmers who can do likewise. But
if such there be, they must not
forget that this is mighty easy
climate and soiAfor any family
that is willing to work to make
living. Of course they would have
to do without some comforts and
many iuxuries at first, but the great
mass Of the people can make a llv-
ing. Should they refuse to do so,
and confine their efforts to supply
ing merely their own needs, some
fortunes would soon not be worth
10 cents on the dollar, because bus
mess would Stagnate.
I understand it was stated See
the farmers are not interested,
there are only three present.
think / know why more We're not
there. They are tired of talk and
generalities. and they have no
money to put into a manufactur-
ing enterprise. It@is all they can
do to grow crops and they have no
confidence in any one or group Of
farmers successfully going into the
manufacturing business. And they
have put their money into enter
prises only to be frozen out later
Il f1-h n
have opportunities to play such
games that farmers do not have
U do not say they might not do
the same if they had the chance)
business men who have the money
and the experience to guarantee
success, own and operate such en-
terprises, and who by theri close
ness to the management can pro-
tect their investment when made.
To repeat somewhat: Whenever
a group of business men Of Sum
ter are ready TO contract with
farmers for fruit and vegetables at
profitable prices there will be no
lack of reliable farmers ready to
sign the contracts. Try it and see.
Until ready with a business propo-
sition, it is valuable time wasted to
hold meetings to talk over gener-
alities. l hope these suggestions
will not be taken to mean that I
am opposed to anything that will
be helpful. l am making them be-
cause I could not be present, and
believe that 1 have pointed out the
way to success. T.. w. DabbS.
Forming Good Reading Habits.