The Manning Times

NOT IN FAVOR OF
FOREIGN COLONIES

Editor, Manning Times.

I read with a great deal of interest the article written by Mr. Rast the farm bureau manager, about his visit to Wilmington to see the colonies settled there, and what they are doing there to make prosperity and the community better. He, at that time, thought it was the best solution for the people of Clarendon. I also read Mr. Durant's comment on his write-up, and he said something should be done at once, and if we would organize a company and go down there and look them over, we could beat them at the things that they have been educated to do all of their days.

Mr. Durant is indeed a broad man in his expressions, as he speaks whatever he thinks, generally for the good of the whole people. This is substantiated by his reply relative to his views on the K. K. K's., or the hooded knights. While all he says is true. But I wish to say that it strikes the keynote for no colonies or anybody else would want to settle where neither life nor property would be safe. Lawlessness will always keep settlers away. Now colonies may do good, but a great many of us can remember the coming of several colonies into this State and we can remember their going. They don't stay unless they can mingle into the affairs of the government and own the soil that they till. You will find them well organized and strikes and all kind of troubles arise in communities unless they get things going their way. Governor John G. Richards speaks outright when he spoke of the Massachusetts case and the foreign element. They have their troubles up there and we have nothing to do with them. What he said is far-reaching, and should be studied by every citizen of South Carolina who think that colonies should be brought here. They will never come here and solve the farming interest of this country. Now then, I said much of what I have said to get to this. Mr. Rast's letter relative to Richard D. Miller, a negro farmer, living within three miles of Manning. He says this negro owns his own land, and all of his farming implements, and is completely out of debt. This should be an example for so many of the farmers around there, and in the State. He is worthy of emulation in many ways, as he made his without depending on King Cotton.

Now, just like Miller made his, we say that there are quite a number of good thrifty farmers now up in the northern climes, where they are exposed to the cold, that would be glad to come back to Clarendon County and other parts of the State, if the same protection and help was promised them, that would be given colonist. They would rebuild and clear the old fields that have grown up in the last ten years, and prosperity would again, from a farming standpoint, bloom. I think that if the same agency that seeks out colonist would seek these people, they would come, and then not be coming among strangers, but bringing back labor, and when you have labor, you have the keynote to the situation. I say this because I know that you have there a good colored farm demonstrator, that would be willing to lend out and give instruction in the many new ways of farming, and making the farm a place of pleasure, instead of a place of turmoil Just as he instructed Tucker Malette in the early potato bed making and getting on the market the earliest potatoes, so could other crops be made. Now I trust some good will come out of it all and that when Mr. Rast returns from the foreign lands, he will bring good news and enough to put farming on a higher plane, so that the negro will like to stay on the farm and that the white boys will also appreciate and cultivate the lands left them by their fathers.

The World War brought prosperity but in the end, it depleted the farms, and they are still lying in waste.

I trust some good-thinking man will get the good out of this, if any, and start out on new lines to bring prosperity back to Clarendon County and the State in general.

Yours truly,
R. A. White.