The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-16
COMMERCIAL
SECRETARIES
Important Meeting To Be Held
in Columbia

or commerce i'm South Carolina have
been called to meet in Columbia to-
uay III morning, afternoon, and
night conference with the officials Of
the farm extension division of
Clemson college, and with business
men from all over South Carolina by
the call OF the South Carolina Cham
Ger Of Commerce.
Secretary Reardon Of the Sumter
Chamber Of Commerce left for Co.
lumbia this morning to attend this
moetlnG' FARMERS. manufacturers,
merchants. bankers, real estate deal
ers, land owners and practically cv-
cry business interest will be repre-
sented at this conference.
The secretaries will form a per-
naDcnt state secretaries association
which will be an advisory council OF
.nC state Chamber OF Commerce and
Development Board. Efforts to bust
the consumers strike" organize
buy what YOU need and spend your
money at home" and pay your debts
campaign will be made.
N sweet potato marketing associa-
ton and marketing facilities in every
county for surplus farm products,
cotton acreage reduction and "live
at home" agricultural programs for
every county, transportation facilities
and better public roads, general plans
to assist In getting this state back
to O prosperous agricultural and
commercial status will be presented
by Clemson College experts and lead
ing business men for every secretary
to carry back to his county With the
idea Of having the commercial organ
izations either take the lead or be
among the leaders In carrying out
well defined plans to tide over the
present financial and business crisis
Organizing the chambers of commerce
and commercial secretaries OF the en-
tire state into q concrete, systematic
ed, statewide association to work to-
gether in uniting the farmers, bank
crs, merchants and all other busi-
ness men into reducing cotton acre
age. planting Of plenty Of small grain,
vegetables. raising plenty OF hogs,
poultry, beef cattle, and getting our
state out Of debt as quickly as pos
sinle, and doing away with pesslmism
and establishing a spirit Of confidence
and optimism are among the main OBJ
jccts Of today's meeting. The South
Carolina Chamber Of Commerce be-
lieves that local chambers of COM
mcrce are more important to the
state and the different cities, coun-
ties, and towns than they have ever
been. That these commercial organ
i%ations have proved their value and
usefulness in the past. in times Of
Wa and peace can not be successful
~ disputed. Putting the chambers
of commerce on a financial basis to
keep them functioning and adding to
their usefulness is what Clemson Col
l"s5e and the State Chamber cOntam-
piatc doing with the assistance of the
luniness men OF South Carolina.
1t is recognized that the chambers
of commerce are the only organiza-
tions in the different counties that
are constantly functioning the entire
year through, and which have been
used to advantage by the Clemson
Colleges and Winthrop College extern
sion services American Cotton asso-
citation, merchants, bankers, and by
business interests of every kind for
years. and also to n large extent by
tho state agricultural department ana
In numbers Of counties used by the
municipal and county governments
adrantageously. All time. paid seer
taries. ION the job" the year around
are useful servants to the leaders OF
the important movements to bring
South Carolina back to normal
state Of prosperity by cooperation Of
every business interest are seeking
L1p 1,,In . T..
commercial secretaries Of this state in
starting state wide movement TO
meet the problem scaused by the nee
essary evolution in agricultural and
commercial progress brought about
by new conditions which must be
faced.
No progressive city or town can af
ford to be without chamber Of COM
mcrce. These organizations have
felt the stress Of temporary hard
times" tho same as every other line
Of business--they have been hard hit
in money matters, their activities tenn
porarily crippled by the gloomy out
look and the fact that thousands OF
merchants and bankers and farmers
and other business men in South Car
olna havo been suffering with cold
feet" and were ready to give up the
ghost, quit trying to do anything,
mourning over their losses or over
what they didn't make last year, etc.
Now the South Carolina Chamber of
Commerce proposes to put a stop to
tho "grOuch epidemic" and try to put
some pep" into the buying public,
into the farmer and other business
men, and get something practical
started instead Of sitting around mop
ing. IT is time that all interests got
together. and this movement proposes
utilizing to the greatest possible cX-
tent the chambers of commerce Of
every county, and supporting or try
ing to get supported the CONNER
Cial organizations of the state in or
lnr 1hnt thnr. xuil Ln OIL lAa ~