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Cfct S?latcjjinan anb Soutjjtoit Psbnsbod Wesseada7 end Saturday. ?BT? OeTTK?f P CRUSHING COMPANY. IUMTBR. & C. Ter nee t 11.19 par annum?In advance. dlmileennnen One tanaae tret insertion..... .$1.00 ?eery ewbewiuent Insertion.&0 Contracts tor three months, or Sensjer will be made at reduced rates. All eomm nnloatlooe which sub? serve nervate Intereats will be charged ear as adrert teem ? ate. Obttuarree and tributes of rsepect ?ill be ohergtd for. Tue tum tor Watchman was found id tn 1199 ax d the True 8outhron In 1999. The Vatchman and So a thron eew has the combined circulation end tniuenee ef both of the old papers, and Is manifestly the best advertising ?Hlim In 8umt*r MR. MCLACRIVS RESIGNATION. The House of Representatives vas exactly right In voting down the reso? lution asking John L. McLaurin to withdraw his resignation ;h State Cotton Warehouse Commissioner. Mr. KcLnurln was elcted to this position by a legislature that contained a very large majority of anti-Blease men, snd was re-elected for an additional term of two years, that did not ex? pire until 1918, by a legislature sim? ilarly controlled by anti-Blease men. The men who elected him rose above partisanship and gave him opportun? ity that he asked for to establish the State Warehouse System. They took him at his word when he pledged himself to make the system a busi? ness organisation and to keep It and himself out of politics. How'he kept his pledge is a matter of record. But notwithstanding Mr. MeLaurin's fail? ure to keep his promlso to stay out <>.'' polities, there has been no movement to oust him from the position to which he was re-elected last year. There Deems to have been a general agree? ment that he should be permitted to serve out hla term and given, not only a free hand to work out his plans for the development of the warehouse system, but the substantial coopeia tion of all of those who want a State controlled and supervised system of warehouse*. Instead of there being I a demand for Mr. MeLaurin's resig? nation- or a theeat to?a**e?blm^^j out before the expiration of his terror Mr. Mctaturln has been threatening to resign and leavo the system and the Stats of South Carolina to their fate every time things did not go to suit him. He has reminded us of the peevish and contentious little girl who Is always threatening to quit playing and take her rag dolls and go homo when the other children object to her being th > autocrat of the play? ground. If Mr .McLaudn wants to quit, let him resign and be done with It Let hire take his rag dolls and go home. We have consistently held to the posit lor that Mr. McLaurin should be retained as Warehouse Com? missioner, after having been placed in that position and ht.ving accom? plished good work n inaugjrating the system, but we do not bellevo he should be begged to retain a job that he eagerly sought in tho first instance, if he s as anxious to serve the pco people of South Carolina as he and bis partisan* assert, if he and they are so confident that he is the only man in the State that can save the Warehouse System and tho farmers of South Carolina, if he is the big hearted, broad-minded, brave and un terrtfted patriot that he himself has told us he is, then he would not resign the position which he savs is so im? portant to tho people. He not only would not resign, but would not be put out without u tight becoming a man of grit and purpose. If he hnd had the back-bone to mike a fight, we would have supported him, in spite of his very objectionable polities and his childish love of praise and Mattery, for the reason that he had already accomplished considerable good by his management of the ware? house system, under adverse condi? tions and should be given a fair ch mce to carry his plans to comple? tion. But we would nev^r beg a ay officer to recall a threat to roslgn. VILLA FORCES AI?VANCE. El Paso, Jan. 18.?Smail hands of ?h#? Villa advance guard penot; ate 1 Chihuahua City yesterday. Desultory street fighting continued all da v. Foreigners aie fleeing. The lb I, continues. The main body ef Vil lists* Is battling Caranzistas near Polomas. Amsterdam, Jan. 18.? Dlspat-1 from Berlin states that It is ejUMNMC ed there that one submarine sun', toon merchant ships on a single voj age. I/ondon, Jar. 1^ British st. n ship Arohnnorsg, the schconer Ki ptirney and the Danish steam h ; Omsk have been sunk, Lloyd's report today. NO GERMAN PEACE PARTY. VIRTUALLY FldMlNATFD ilY EX CIIANUK or NOTE* I>c<p4te Fact That Whole Nation Sup? ports (.o\eminent. Further' Action Is Discussed Towards Peace. Berlin. Jan. 17 (Tuesday), 'via London).?Time enough having elaps? ed since publication of the entente's reply to President Wilson to permit German opinion to crystalize, the ef? fects of the announcement of terms which the entente allies regard as a necessary resul* of the war are clearly evident. The pronunciamento of the allies together with earlier interchanges of opinion on the peace proposals, may be regarded as having virtually elimi? nated the peace party in Germany ex? cept for a small minority of dissident Socialists, some of whose newspaper organizations still see the possibility of continuing the discussions. The large and Inlluential section, in? cluding a majority of the Socialists and powerful influence among non Socialists which up to last month was bringing the heaviest pressure to bear on the government to take steps for the opening of pence negotiations based on an understanding, is now convinced such organizations are Im? possible. Virtually the entire nation is lined up behind the government for energetic prosecution of the war. Regarding the possibility that Ger? many would state terms, the an? nouncement of Dr. Alfred Zimmer? mann, the foreign secretary, to the Associated Press indicates that this la now out of the question, and the gov ernment apparently had adopted this as a different decision. For some reason, however, there is an impression which will not down that the government may perhaps re connider and make some announce? ment of Its peace programme, particu? larly In regard to Belgium and the remainder of the Western front as it has done already in regard to Poland. Whether the government will thus change Its policy may perhaps depend on the degree of enthusiasm show:i by the Poles in defending thlr coun? try. Announcment of terms for restorn tion of Belgium and return of the occupied provinces of France would, if laaued, be made for purposes of con ?fkWft Keine I rasaerramme .nf the en? tente which, so far as Germany is concerned, is Interpreted as moaning annexation or Alsace and Lorraine, the west bank of tho Rhine and the ancient Polish provinces of Prussia. Should the terms be announced it would not be in the expectation that they would load for the present to negotiations with the entente. The possible inauguration of ruth? less submarine warfare with a view to bringing Kngland to terms is much discussed. The interests and organ? izations which during the last two internal crises on the submarine ques? tion were so much in evidence are again active. At present inauguration of a so called big submarine war?in other words indiscriminate destruction without warning of hostile merchant? men and of neutrals within the for? bidden zone?apparently is not con? templated, but there are Indications that naval warfare may bo sharpened in other ways not affected by the German-American agreement. Among possible new measures Is an Increase in the rigor of the prize rules, with definite adhesion to the principle which was slackened In the case of the Bloomersdijk that neutral ships touching an enemy port on the way to their destination with contra band are considered fair prizes. This would be based on the British prac? tice of taking cargo from neutral steamers putting in at British por for compulsory examination and send? ing It to the prize court, or purchasing for the government account neutral trans-Atlantic shipping which Great Britain compels to call at Kirkwall, Falmouth or other ports for exami nation and which Germany would re? gard as carrying contraband to the enemy. Selected planting cotton seed. Dig Bell and Karly Varieties, 1)0 day eot ton. This early variety matures before the boll weevil gets In his de? structive Work. orders taken for these seed by S. F. Stoudenmire at W. B. Boyle Co., and W. Green, at ?oothern cotton on Co,?Advt. To Attend Son's Funeral. Rev. J. II. Wilson, pastor of the Lutheran church, was called to At lanta yoaterday on account of ibe death of his son at that place. Tk? funeral Bervlcea will be held at Ehr bardt, 8. C. Selected planting Cotton seed. II ? roil and Karly Varieties, 10 day cot? ton. This early variety matures before the boll weevil gets in his de atruetlve work, Ordere taken for these seed by B, I'. Stoudenmire at w. it. Boyle Co., and w. Green at Southern Cotton Oil Co. -Advt DON'T RAISE ALL C?TTOV. F. Williams Warm Farmers of Uncertainty of Price of Cotton and High Cost of Fertilizers?Says GcC More Cows and Raise Feed for Them?Creamery Routes Should be Organized. The farmers of Sumter county have never begun to prepare for a cotton crop with so much uncertain? ty as to the price that they are likely to receive for it. This we all know that the price of fertilizers are high and that there is no potash worth mentioning. What will the farmers of Sumter county do this year At the present prices of supplies and fer? tilizers, if we do not receive as much as fifteen cents per pound for cotton next fall there will be no profit as it is produced on the average farm. Growing cotton without making a | profit is very poor farming Indeed. We all know that cotton is a soil rob- I ber crop and that it takes liberal ap? plications of fertilizer to keep land Up that is run In cotton year after year. This past fall the high prices for seed have helped the profit of growing cotton very materially, but as soon as peace in Europe is declared the price of seed is sure to slump *.o about half of the price that obtained this past fall. Oil and Unters, two products of cotton seed, are used in the manufacture of powder and it is the demand for these two products that is making the seed bring such a good price. Last summer the cotton crop gave up about the time that storm came in July and of course we all attribut? ed it to the storm. I am not at all sure but that the lack of potash had something to do in many cases in cotton giving up and rot coming back. Potash tends to combine the phos? phorous and nitrogen in a plant and lo keep the plants green. Cotton needs potash more than any of the crops that we grow on account of^iU: long growing period. Corn matures about the middle of August, You may cut it down about that time and, the ears will bo mature hut conditions in September and. October have a great deal to do with the cotton crop. A failure to make a good crop on any, farm whVm a considerable amount of expense is involved means very Uttle profit, if any, if the price remains high and a big loss, if the price drops below ten cents, as 1b likely with? a sixteen or seventeen million - irtSfc crop. ?1 If the boJl weevil makes the same progress another year in this direction as he made this past year we shall see weevils In Sumter county next fall. They are not likely to do any damage next fall in this county but they will likely arrive for business the next year 1918. So this is the jyear for us to get ready for him. We ha.ve not organized a single cream route In tho county. In three sections of the county farmers have told me that they were going to increase their num? ber of cows and grow fed in order to start up delivering milk later. There is no prollt in growing livestock or producing dairy products unless the feed is producd on the farm. Corn, hay, velvet beans, peanuts and peas should be produced in such quanti? ties that at least three cream routes could be started up profitably in Sum? ter county another year, and about twice as many hogs and beef cat? tle should be raised. There are a number of orchards that were sprayed last winter for scale that are looking well at this time. Every year the nursery agents go through our county and take up or? ders from the farmers at about dou? ble the price that the same trees could be purchased direct from the nurseries. Some of them by using their pretty pictures impose upon some farmers who think that the price they pay for a thing determines its quality, and reap some very, very large profits. Two years ago I was informed by a reliable farmer that he paid as high as $1 apiec for peacli trees and 1 am not exaggerating when I state that, this samo farmer will never get a peck of peaches per tree, If ho ever gets a peach, due to the fact that the trees were neglected. His trees were just as good and no better than those that may be purchased from numbers of nurseries at fJwftl four to I en cents apiece. I can show any one here in Sumter county two as line orchards of peach trees two years old that will bear from a peck to a bushel of peaches per tree, if the cold weather does net kill them, and the tiers cost only two and a half cents apiece. Now 1 should not grieve if a farmer paid a dollar apiece for tttecs :r it would make him take better enrel of bis orc hard, b it when he spends his money ami gets nothing in return he is discouraged und is Inclined to ?o n those who any, "Q, well there la ei d no use to try." Motwccn Ifrla lime and the time iv] <?:? i! ? treed begin to hud all peach and apple treea should he sprayed I with lime atllphur solution. This ?0 : lutlon may he purchased from the drug stores in Sumter at 25 cent-s^ur gallon and one gallon of tho concen? trated solution mixed with eight gal? lons of water makes the spray sola tion that will destroy the scale and make the hark of the trees look slick and like it used to look before scale appeared in this country. If the borers have not been remov? ed it is high time these were gouged out as no tree can he healthy with its trunk pierced with holes. Trees should also be pruned, especially the weak ones, very severely as you do not want the trees to set more fruit than they can mature or else all of the fruit will he inferior. J. Frank Williams, County Agent. WOULD RETAIN WAREHOUSE SYSTEM. E. W. Dabttfl Points out Groat Value of Institution to Farmers and Lose Which Would Follow its Abolish? ment. To the Editor of The Daily Item: I note with regret the letter of Joe Sparks from Columbia on .the probability of the repeal of the State ? warehouse law on the showing made j by the commissioner in his report that on September 23rd there was only 15,000 bales on storage in the sys? tem, that 98 of the 158 awrehouses were empty. This is no valid reason for its repeal. It only goes to show that cotton was selling so much high? er than our peonle were accustomed to have it that they sold out. There has been another factor operating against it: the fight of the insurance people against McLaurin for his cheapening the rates and telling about it, and his entry into politics, which made people uneasy. But high prices was the main cause. Now to abolish the system moon that when the next crisis comes (and we all know that It will come sooner or later) more money will be lost ten times over in a few weeks than it will cost to keep the system intact fo" ten years. But sonic one says why i tax the whole people to prevent a probable loss to the farmers? The answer is simple, bet ause the business interests of the State will suffer when tho farmers suffer If this is not so why the business .activity to prepare the farmers to meet the boll weevil Invasion? I can not believe that a legislature that spends thousands of dollars on tick eradication, $90,000 in the past three years, will balk at spending five, ten or fifteen thousand dollars toj make It Impossible to stampede the cotton growers to the absolute pa? ralysis of business as has happened in the past. McLaurin is out of it. Put some other capable man In his place, he can be found, though I wish to say publicly that I do not believe there is a man in tho State who could have accomplished what McLaurin did with the limited means at his disposed. Keep the system and perfect it, for so surely as the seasons come and go It will not be two years before it will be needed. Keep the system to be able to enter the federal warehouse system when the time is ripe. It cost $100,000 to enact the ware? house system, for that was all the special session of the legislature did. But it was worth the cost ten times over to business in South Carolina.. Will the legislature throw all that money away and force an equal or greater cost when needed again to save a few thousand dollars a year? Might as well let ticks he reintro duccd in tick free territory because the people have not gone into cattle raising on the j-jcale we hoped they would. E. W. Dabbs. 8UMTER COTTON MARKET. Corrected Daily rre HARBY & CO.. Cotton Buyem. Good Middling 17 1-2 to 5-8. Strict Middling 17 3-8 to 1-2. Middling 17 1-4 to 3-8. Strict Low Middling 17. Low Middling 16 1-2. Corrected Dally by ERNEST FIELD, Cotton Buyer. Good Middling 17 1-2. Strict Middling 17 3-8. Middling 17 1-4. Strict Low Middling 17. Low Middling 16 1-2. Staple cotton 20 to 23c. NEW YORK COTTON MARKET. Y?s'dy9 Open High Low Close Close Meli . .17.39 .49 .is .48 .3 1 May . .17.59 67 .37 .66 .4'.? July . .17.57 .68 ,37 .66 ,C0 Oct . .16.30 .fit .19 .53 .25 Dec. . .16.35 .61 .34 .61 .33 Death. Miss Eugenia Cummings died yes? terday, at the b.mie of her brother in-law, Mr. .1. W. Moore, after an il! ness of about three \Noeks ,agod ?'7 years, The funeral services and In? terment were held ibis afternoon at 4 o'clock at Pet hol Church, OswegO. FREE SAMPLE?Largo paper-shell pecans. Land-owners, write foi sample nuts and prices of trees t<> day. Southern Nut Tree Nurserh i Thomasville, Ga, To The Planters of Sumter County We want you to call upon us before you buy your Fertilizers this season. We can and will save you money. Fertilizer materials are higher propor? tionately than mixed goods. It will pay you to talk it over with us be? fore you buy.1 Respectfully, HARBY & CO., Inc., SUMTER, S. C. Sumter's Bank for Savers T Every requirement of a safe, efficient de? pository for saviogs is fully met by the National Bank of Sumter. Absolute security is combined with the highest rate of interest consistent with perfect safety. Promptness and courtesy are important features of our service. All are welcome. Call and open an ac? count today. The National Bank of Sumter. THIS BANK ' ?n.. ? 1?u?im ii ii ii ? i .mi m i imil in i ???^? Gives a dollar's worth of real service for every dollar deposited here. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SUMTER. The Oldest Banking Institution in the County The National Bank of South Carolina $1,071,307.25 LEADERS Our steady growth tells the story ?New accounts each day?The largest bank in this section ol the State. Safety first. Preparedness all the time. Your patronage we want. C. G. ROWLAND, Pi es. K. L. McClY, Cashier.