South Carolina War Effort
President Riggs was also important in leading the entire state of South Carolina’s war effort. Senator Benjamin Tillman, who was a good friend of Riggs, was important in compelling him to take a leadership role in South Carolina’s war effort. Riggs was asked to encourage farmers to grow more food in preparation of the war. This was focused mostly on the Upstate, but Riggs had connections with farmers all over the state as president of the states land-grant college and being from Orangeburg himself. Riggs also helped Clemson establish experimental agricultural stations in the Pee Dee and Sandhills regions of South Carolina, to help the farmers there (Reel, 229-230). These experimental stations helped South Carolina become one of the top fruit producing states in the country, especially of peaches (Reel, 229- 230).
In April of 1917, Riggs was invited to join the State Council of Defense, at the request of Governor Richard Irvine Manning III and David Coker of Hartsville, South Carolina. The State Council of Defense met regularly in Columbia to organize the states war effort. They helped to organize regiments, recommend officers, promote U.S. involvement in the war, plan for conserving resources, and suppress anti-war propaganda (SC Encyclopedia). The State Council of Defense was made up of the most prominent men from across the state, including college presidents, businessmen, and lawyers. Riggs membership in the council allowed him to have a direct role in organizing South Carolina’s war effort. Riggs would continue to work with the USDA, The State Council of Defense, and the War Department throughout the war as a leader of South Carolina. He helped recommend officers and organize regiments, encouraged famers to grow more food, and organized defense plans for the state.
