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Slit MuubnuM !Wi ?oulbrori. SATUROAY, JANUARY 22, 1910. Ths Sumter Watchman was found sd la 1850 and ths Trus Scuthron in 1110. Tha Watchman and Southron tow has ths combined circulation snd Influence of both of the old papers, and Is manifestly the best advertising medium In Sumter. Secretary Balllnger seems to have seen doing something In the nepot? ism line himself. fjf.e e It would be Interesting to know whether Col. Simpson's sons-in-law were elected professors at Clemson before or after marriage. Were they given Jobs because they were sons in-law of Jife Trustee Simpson, or did they become sons-in-law because they were Clemson professors? ? * ? If It hi absolutely necessary that the Secretary to the President of Clemson have a permanent Job, why not make her President and thus put an end to the periodic annoyance of having to hunt up a new President? ? a ? An efficient non-partisan and fear lees State tax board would be a God send to the small property owners of South Carolina find of Inestimable benefit to the State. There are thou? sands of tax dodgers among the small taxpayers, but the worst offenders are the large property owners and corporations?they have greater op? portunities and do not fall to make the most of them. WIDELY TRAVELED POeVT-CARD. Quite a curiosity In the shape of a post-card that has almost been around the whole world was brought into ths office of the Dally Item this morning and shown to the editorial fores. This card was started on Its long 'Journey from Barcelona, Spain, on the 18th of last November, going first to Vervlers in Belgutin. where the national languane is French. From Vervlers It traveled the thousands of miles from that point to Tokio, the capital of Japan. The Japanese re? cipient, a young man rejoicing in the name of 8. Moorl, cent It to a Char lestonlan. who happens to be a trav? eler for his living, and the card was forwarded lo him In Sumter. From ths postofllos here the Isst recipient rought it to the Dally Item office. Is will write his message on U this fternoon and start It on Its final re. the return trip to the original mder In Barcelona, from the Sum ir poetofflce. Even more striking than the long ?yage this card has made, is the ict that It is wrlttsn altogether In language, though ths various trsons It has slrsady touched live In nar different countries and speak as my different national tongues. For 11 theee four persons are Esperantlsts and the language thsy all use is th'e International Auxiliary language, Eeperantc. The several messages on the card were read aloud by the last recipient and each was clear and to the point On the address side of the card ths various addresses were written one under another, and oppoelte each was the stamp of the country In which It was mailed. Ths top Stamp shows the fsce of the young Xing of Spain, ths sscond ths well known features of the late King Leo? pold of Bslgutm, and ths third Is a nty stamp of Japan. Underneath ese will be placed one of Uncle m's to take It to ths sender. Ac rdrng to the regulations of the Uni? versal Postal Union, these stamps are II of the same color, showing that they are the equivalent of our two cent stamp. Our visitor stated, that all reports of enemies to the contrary, the Es? peranto movement is steadily gain? ing ground. In the South It Is fast gaining great headway. In North Carolina. Raleigh is taking the lead and a Stats Organisation Is being formed under charter from the Es? peranto Association of North Ameri? ca. In S?>uth Carolina many people are becoming deeply Interested. The South Carol'-Inns are officials In the National Association. Mr Stan r . on >t < ?(?] ,mt l.i. is Svcn-tai y for South < 'andln i, und .\ r. V. C EN le. Jr.. of Charleston. Is Coum ll or or tie- Southern Division. These officers ore very anxious |g stiit i ? i patents Qroui In lumtet snd will ?ladly answer any enqUl? rie-? from persons Interested As the Sixth International l>pern;it > Con? gress Is to nv-t in Washington. Au? gust 14*16 next, and SS there I* time for any person s/hc t.ik?* up the lan? guage now nn-1 pots from t?n to twenty minutes on it every day to learn to read, write and apeak It by that date, It will well i. ? i ;, > the American t ? t<?kup Espernnto at jfapnoe and Sfl have tie- BOVOl experi? ence of meeting foreigners from many nations In Washington, ami speaking to and understanding all In C'we ons language. "Learn Esperanto now and go to jgAlngton this summer." Farmers' Union News ?AND - Practical Thoughts for Practical Farmers (Conducted by E. W. Dabbs, President Farmers* Union of Sumter County.) The Watchman and Southron having; decided to double its service by semi-weekly publication, would improve that service by special features. The first to be inaugurated is this Department for the Farmers' Union and Practical Farmers which I have been requested to conduct. It will be my aim to give the Union news and official calls of the Union. To that end officers, and members of the Union are requested to use these columns. Also to publish such clippings from the agricultural papers and Govern? ment Bulletin* as I think will be of practical benefit to our readers. Ori? ginal articles by any of o.?r readers telling of their successes or failures will be appreciated and ) jblished. Trustin? this Department will be of mutual benefit to all concerned, THE EDITOR. All communications for tl Is Department should be sent to E. W. Dabbs. Mayesville. S. C. Some Random Thon pi a* Well the Brokerage Company is le? gally organized. The meeting of stockholders on Tuesday was the largest number of farmers that have been asssombled together at any meeting s nee the Farmers' Union was organized in Sumter County. They have put their money into it and therefore their interest. The cap? ital stock had been over subscribed and stops were taken to Increase the same at once. ? ? ? I commend to the boys the letter from Prof. Williams about the corn ccntest. That we may be in time, I hereby call a meeting for Feb. 4th. Immediately before the meeting of the U lion, to organize the boys* corn club of Sumter County. All the school teachers and trustees, as well a.-* members of the Farmers' Union, are urged to take interest in this work, ar.d secure the enlistment of every boy In Sumter County, who is eligi? ble under the United States depart? mental rules, in this campaign for more corn per acre in Sumter Coun? ty in 1910 than ever before. Local unions are urged to offer as liberal prizes as they can for best yields by ! beys in each local. I understand the business men of Sumter will albo offer prizes open to any boy In the County. Of course, the Farmers' Union prizes are only to be awarded to sons of members of the union. Now boys this is no joke. I want ycoi every one in it. My boy has ask? ed me to accompany him on (he trip to Washington which he alms to take arid I am going too. unless some oth? er boy cuts me out. and takes his father. Those who cannot attend in person on Feb. 4th, send your names to me and postofflce address, and I will see that you are enrolled. At this meeting I have Invited each Bank President to be with us and make a short talk to you boys, and If they do not accept?well then I am afraid they have forgotten their country raising or are ashamed of it. Boys, do you know the President of e\ery Bank in Sumter County was a country boy and had ground Itch and ragged trousers, hitched up by one.gallus? and wore a torn brim straw hat. went swimming In "the creek" and fought yellow flies, red bugs and "skeeters" just like any of ycu do now? Well, they did. But den t you tell them I said so, they may wish to forget lt. E. W. D. Boys* Com Clubs. How many boys In Sumter County are going to Join the "Corn Club?" Seme valuable prizes have already been vouched for, beside the chance of receiving a diploma from the Gov? ernor or from the President of the United States. Think of it, four beys from the South were given ea?h a trip to Washington, entertained by the Department of Agriculture and were given a national diploma for the greatest y'eld of corn per acre amon? the hoys of the County Clubs In the': respective States. The boy that wins In his own county re* elves a diploma from the Governor and honor and dls)t!ll0t!0H In many Othl r ways The ''.HM-nville County Corn ("tab was ur? Kanlzed a month or two ago and you !,. \ r saw so much Interest in Select" and procuring |hs boat seed. At meeting srhloh in-. Knapp ad? di Med In QreenvlUe, the boys and farmers fr?re requested t? bring forty of fifty of their bast ?elected ears for i sd and the experts from the de? I. rtmeni re ?Mied <\ some of thebesl sari and sctursd upon the advlsa bl ity of ?#< d selection In the yield. Tin at con ssjtanti were very anxious to procure the best seed and wer< willing to pay almost any price to k? t it. it |a the general opinion of experts that the best i ed fornnylo? entity i nn only be procured by breed in:; up fn m a good variety In thai locality. The type should '??? selected and everything eliminated thai does not conform to that type. Changing I |f d from one kind of .soil to an? other and from one climate to another [ though It only be a few QOUntiCS apart, does not always give good re? sults. Then often times, men who have bred up a good variety of seed and have established a reputation, grow careless about keeping the seed bred up to the standard, and sell in? ferior seed on their reputation. The farmers who buys such seed finds that he has been swindled out of a portion of his year s income. A good rule is to "never buy seed corn except In the ear. You can tell when you see corn on the ear, whether or not you would like to produce such corn, but you can't tell anything about shelled corn. Sumter County has some as good farming land as there Is In the State and why should not her boys contest every Inch of ground for every prize offered, large or small? If they do not, the fault will be with the teach? ers and officials, who should arouse these boys to take advantage of their opportunities. I hope to see in the near future a day set for the organ? ization of the "Sumter County Boys Corn Club." J. FRANK WILLIAMS. Improved Seed. The farmers are backward In im? proving farm seeds. They are begin nlnging to Improve corn. Cotton, wheat and oats are neglected. It Is time they are beginning to move for better seed which means larger yields. B. F. Holley, Dan Crosland and M. E. Holley have formed a farm se<id concern, near Alken, S. C, and will raise seed for wholesale distribution. This year the Toole improved cotton seed will be raised for sale, exclusive? ly, on a large plan, and next year a wide variety of farm seed will be raised. They will use their own farms, which are among the finest thereabouts. Last year the three had 600 acres, from which they picked more than 600 bales, the variety of cotton seed planted being the same that they now offer for sale. What they are doing in Alken can be done as well in this county. One farmer or a half dozen could estab? lish a seed farm for the improvement of corn or cotton. When the variety is agreed on each one could plant that and then when ginned on a pri? vate gin there would be no chance of mixing. A careful man could go through an acre lot and select two or throe dozen stalks that were su? perior In shape, limbs, fruit and pro? duction. From those best stalks he might pick ten to twenty pounds from the best bolls and thus get enough to plant an acre the next year. In this way the variety could be improved and kept up to a high standard. In the same way corn, wheat and oats could be Improved by the in? dividual farmer, or by a combina? tion of several who would agree on Rome special variety. The Farm of the Future. Just as there has been a revolution in the business world in the last hun? dred years, so it is almost certain that there is going to be a revolution in farming during the twentieth cen? tury. We an going to learn to manage the land better. We are going to learn bow to save the fertility of the soil. We an1 going to learn bow to breed plants of greater productive? ness and profit. We are going to learn to manage new lines going to learn to manage new lines of farming in sections where Ihese new lines may prosper, and going to I t twice as much Dom the la ?id as we have ever gotten before, All kinds *' modern conveniences and comforts are coming to the country. Farm homes are going to be more beauti? ful, Qood roads are coming through ail our rural sections. The telephone will put tii farmer In <? ?mmunlca tlon with all the outside world, Ru? ral free ii. liver) will be extended un? til practically every farmer In tbe country has the advantages of daily mail. Better organisation or the far? mers going to result in better meth? ods of marketing and greater sta? bility In pricea our public schools are going to be made to train for farm life, and we are going to have thousands of boys in the agricultural colleges where there are now only scores. The men who work on the farms are going to have a new spirit; and Instead of finding their daily work mere drudgery, education will give such new meaning to their tasks and such a zest to their life that ev? ery one will go about his daily work with an eager and joyous spirit such as the factory employe or the city laborer can never know. Im? proved machinery, too, will lighten the work on the farm and more horse power will double a man's earning capacity so that greater profits will go hand in hand with greater inter ' est in the work Itself.?Progressive Farmer. Do We Wish Lower Prices for Farm Products? Some of our exchanges contain numerous references to the so-called meat and other "trusts" and to fi? nanced combinations of farm pro? ducts. Throughout all is a tone of regret at the high prices of meal, flour, corn, etc. This view of the high prices of farm prices is in sym? pathy with the consumers, and we infer that in the opinion of the editors these high prices for farm products are a great calamity. To one knowing that 80 to 90 per cent, of our people are farmers and that the farmer Is the only producer of meat, Hour, corn. etc.. this bewail? ing of the high prices of these pro? ducts appears peculiar at least, If not ridiculous. Truly, Is It not remarkable that the farmer should complain of the high prices of the products which be grows? While nearly one-half our land Is planted In corn, we complain of the high price of corn; we pro? duce some meat and could produce more at one-third the price :t is selling for, but still we complain of the price of pork. We have even heard farmers bewailing most bitter? ly the high price of cowpea seed. The cowpea is particularly a South? ern crop, is one of our great soil-im? provers and hay crops, and still our farmers are heard to complain of the high prices of cowpeas. It is a fact, however, that while nearly all farm products are now bringing top prices we are injured instead of benefited thereby; be? cause although farmers, we are buy ? ers, not sellers, of all the farm pro? ducts except cotton. Whele the farmers of other sec? tions are rejoicing at and growing rich on the high prices of meat and other farm products, we are com? plaining and blaming the trusts and every other imaginable person ex? cept the right one?ourselves. The absurdity of th farmer complaining of the high pric? of farm products must be apparent to any one. If meat, corn and flour are too high, why don't we produce them? Farm? ing is our business, and if we cannot produce these farm products for less than the present selling prices, then those prices are not too high. With all farm products bringing maximum prices, this ought to be a season of rejoicing instead of mourning , and It will be 'when we realize the ridiculous position we are putting ourselves in by not grow? ing these crops to sell which are so high as to call forth our special at? tention. If these prices are too high, why stop at growing merely enough for our own use. Why not grow some to sell and reap the benfits of the unusually high prices? If we will not avail ourselves of this rare opportunity, let us at least cease making ourselves ridiculous by the spectacle of farmers complaints of the high prices of farm products.? Raleigh. (X. C.) Progressive Farmer Grow Bf oom Corn. Some time ago we urged you farm? ers to take up the matter of raising broom corn. We know it can be grown cheaply here because it has been done. It Is worth $200 a ton. used to be MO a ton. There is a market now, which was not so until recently. The plant consists of a dry? ing shed, the expense is practically nothing, the profits good, the market sure. Commissioner Watson's office will send you all information.?Flor? ence Times. During the year 1908 $10S.062.297 worth of bricks was manufactured In the United states. This was a de? crease of 16 per cent from the year previous. Every state and Territory in the Union contributed to the total. Ohio led all the others, with product^ in bricks and tiies valued at $15,951,r T'?3 for ' e year. The common brick loads In the total value, it required 7,811,046,000 common bricks to foot the total. For these bricks, too, the price at the kiln Jumped from $6 in 1907 to $:>.n:< in 1908. <>f the com? mon bricks Illinois produced the largest number, shown to be 1,119, 224.000 at $4.82 a thousand at the kilns. if there is any difference in the early samples of the 1910 bills they would appear to be a trifle higher.? Indianapolis News. Hytrienc in C ity Schools. The following "Health Rules" are being printed on placards and will be put up by the health department in every class-room, assembly hall, and hallway in every school building in Sumter. The teachers will be re? quested to read these rules to each class at least one every week. Public hygelne, that branch of san? itary science which protects the many against the errors and interference of the few is being taught-in Sumter public schools. Personal hygelne is also taught with no less enthusiasm by the teacher, and is essential t > the ethers. , AIR. Fresh air and sunshine are neces? sary to good health. Cold or damp fresh air does nn harm if the skin is kept warm. Night air is as good as day air, breathe only through your nose. Avoid hot, crowded, dusty, dark, or damp rooms. Let in fresh air and sunshine. Form the habit of sitting, standins an walking erect; and of breathinrj deeply. FOOD. Remember that plain foods are the best. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Drink water freely, not ice water. Have your own drinking cup. EXERCISE AND REST. Regular exercise is essential to good health. Go to bed early, and have the bed? room windows open at all times. Never sleep in a damp bed. CLOTHING. Wear only loose clothes. Wear no more colthing than you need for warmth. Avoid wet and damp clothing. CLEANLINESS. Consumption and other diseases are spread by careless spitting. Spitting on the floors of rooms, halls, stores and cars will dry and be breathed in in the form of dust. Keep clean. Bathe frequently. Wipe dry the body quickly after your bath. Keep your finger nails clean, and wash your hands frequently. Always wash your hands before eating. Clean your teeth after each meal and before going to bed. Do not hold your money, pencils-, pins, or other things in your mouth Do not lick the fingers while turn? ing the pages of a book or counting money. All children should observe preceding rules both for their own sake and the sake of others. Thi are necessary ggfeg cards again* r consumption, and other dangerous diseases. Nearly all children's dis? eases are Infections. Cant* help but wonder if Martian scientists are reporting to each other as to progress at Panama.?Philadel? phia Ledger. A REAL FINANCIER. Former President of Chicago & West? ern Indiuiia Railroad and Others .'.re Accused of Having Swindled the Company Out of About $H50. 000. Chicago, Jan. 19.?Charges that P.enj. Thomas, former president of Chicago & Western Indiana railroad, Charles R. Kappes, former real es? tate dealer for the road, and John C. { Fetzer obtained at least $850,000 from the railroad through a real es? tate conspiracy are made in a bill for an accounting filed In the circuit court today. The bill was filed I y the Chicago & Western Indiana Rail? road Company. According to the bill, the real es? tate transactions in Question occur- I red in 1906 and Involved the expen? diture of $2,521,899. The defendants are alleged to have divided the $850. 000 profits. When the railroad wished to ac? quire property, the bill says, Thomas would refer the matter to Kappes. \ Fetzer, who was in the real estate business, would be directed to make the purchase and the money would be turned over to him. Fetzer would make the purchase and report the amount paid. It is charged in the bill that in the report to the railroad company, Fet? zer would state a greater amount than he had paid. Then, it is alleg? ed, he would divide the difference be? tween the price reported to the raU road and the real price with Thomas and Kappes. The bill is sworn to by I F. B. Prior, president of the railroad. In 1908 Thomas and Kappes re? signed their positions with the rail? road, and it is alleged they destroyed or removed from the offices quan? tities of papers, books and documents relating to the transactions with Fet-gj zer. 1 William R. Alford, the dean of the engineers on the Pennsylvania lines* is probably the oldest railroad engi? neer in the United States in point of continuous service. He has an effic-t iency record it would be difficult to equal. He has been continuously at the throttle since 1S62 and will, In three years, celebrate his fiftieth an? niversary as an ergineer. A man may not be able to heap upj a big mountain, but he can usually put up a Mr bluff,. FOR RENT OR SALE?My farm on the White's Mill road 4 I 2 mite* from town. Good dwelling, n*w barn and siaoies and tenant houses on the place. Possession given at once. Nelll ODonnell. 1-lT-tf. FOR SALE?It being necessary to retire on account of my health, I offer for aale the best paying busi? ness in town. Ducker St Bultman* W. St S. I-ll-tf. * THANKS to one and all for helping to make this the Greatest White Sale we have ever held. Watch our regular space in this paper for values offered ouly by YOURS TRULY,