The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-09-10
Cotton SWindiing.

member ofthe Magnolia Grange No. 81,
Franklin, Miss, June 90, 1873, and
published by request in the Field and
Factory, we make the following ex-
tract without comments, leaving it to
the readers to Judge for themselves:
By some statistics which have come
under my observation, see that Sum-
nit has shipped between first Septem-
Der, 1872, and first May, 1873 IL, 1881
bales of cotton, and BroOkhaven 1929
bales.
In conversation had with neigh
Dor not long since, learned that one
firm in the town of Summit had the
control of 6D0O of the 1881 bales
shipped from that point. We went in
to Il calculation of the probable amount
of stealing, swindIing, or under-hand-
ed robbery practiced upon the people
in these little nests of vi|lany dotting
the line of the N. o., J. and G. N. r. R.,
independent of any other, and all ale
probably guilty of the same nefarious
schemes of rascality. The statistics
referred to 60 to show to what extent
the swindling is conducted at the
points mentioned. We set down as
the actual loss on each bale of cotton,
by cheating in weighing, at Is pounds
per bale. This, on the 5000 bales con-
trolle,l by one firm, amounts to 10000
pounds of cotton, which ut 20 cents
per pound, Melted the said firm the
sum Of SlS,O0D. Now we will take
the remaining 53}l bales--loss in short
weight, Is pounds per bale, 69,9G5
pounds, at 20 cents per pound is $751;
1913, which aggregated make the total
loss 70 planters at that single point the
enormous sum of $33, 1893. Well, now
add the 1929 bales shipped from Brook
haven, loss of Is pounds per bale,
and we have S29,764 as the steaIage
from the planters there. These put
together make the sum of the loss to
the planting community, by unfair
dealing, S63,757. This is the estimate
of loss at TWO points only, in COTTON
Then add to the stealage on cotton a
similar amount in short weight and
enormous charges for provisions,
another spec. of SG3,757, and we have
$I27 ,5l4. This was the amount for
last year. Take it as an annual loss,
and we see that the whole planting
community will soon be absorbed by
these sponges! What an immense
amount to be thus unfairly wrenched
from the honest and hard working yco-
many of oar country! These statis-
tics show, or give some idea, of the
losses to the .aboring man by this sys-
TEN OF having middlemen, or specuia-
tors, between him and the actual man
ufacturers.
Is it at all strange that the people
are waking from this incubus or night
mare that has been thus for years sap
/ ping the fruits of their Industry They
are just beginning to discover that
these mercantile communities called
middlemen are nothing more than
groups of parasites, that have been,
and still are. growing rich from the
labor of their brains and sweat of their
faces! Why should it appear strange
to these midd lemen that these facts
have come to light9 Resolves, great
and powerful, are making North and
South, by which the honest men of the
country will have the reins, not only
of the government, but of Transports
ton in their own hands. Merchants
and ringmen ofevery class and denom-
nation will lind Presidents and Con.
gressmen, Governors and Legislators
Courts and Juries, that will not, can.
not be bribed! There has been already
and there will be more Of the exhibition
of the spirit of such resolves in the
North! Spectators and rinsmen have
already read the hand writing on the
walls of their exchanges, and find the
Interpretation to he, "You have beer
weighed in the balance of justice ant
found wanting. Your power is wan
ing--your COVE rnment shall be taket
from you, and given to honest, uprigh
5 and worthy men,"
, The day, sir, is now. 1t is upon us
that we must deal justly by ourselve
! aud our posterity. The opportunit.
passed, we are perhaps a Il our chill
5 dren with It's, doomed to work out
e poor and miserable existence; to be til
: bondsmen of an Ubiquitous power tina
: will grind us and them to power.
t We must a ! begin at home, SIR
4 We must be our own politicians, an
t lawyers, and lawmakers. We mus
s b e our own officers from Presiden
g down to constable. When we get a