The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-03
THE COTTON PROBLEM.
How shall the Farmers secure Paying
Prices for the Staple.

How shall the Farmers secure Paying
Prices for the Staple.
CoKEsBuRY, S. c., July 81.
To the Editor of the Neos and Courier:
have read with pleasure, as you
doubtless anticipated, the communication
of your, correspondent rs" " in the Me,0s
and Courier of the 10Th inst. welcome
"S." to the ranks of those who for FIVE
long years have been laboring assiduous-
|ly to effect what he at this late day con-
sidered so essential to the prosperity of
the South.
| Nearly three years ago the National
Grange, assembled in st. Louis, and COM
posed of q representative farmer of every
State in the Union except Rhode Island,
issued "a memorial to the Cotton States" !"
urging the cotton planters to diversity
their farming and contract the area of
cotton. That memorial contained these
words: ...t.....
eff three million five hundred thousand
$780, ,000) bales are grown, they will be
consumed before another crop can be
gathered, and remunerative market
price will be sustained by the consequent
demand. If four millions FIVE hundred
thousand (4,5OO,O00) bales are grown, the
large marginal excess will control and
depress the market. Is it not within the
power of our organization to control this
feature of our condition? Alternatives
for success are numerous, but we need
rely upon the single one of cooperation
in the determination to subsist at home.
With this end attained, there is no reason
why we should not be the happiest most
Independent and prosperous people on
EARTH"
This memorial was signed by the Mas
ters of every State Grange, from North
Carolina to Texas.
1t has been read by thousands of indi-
vidual planters, to hundreds of grangers
in their meetings, and had q perceptible
effect in many places upon the planted
area; but, strange TO say, a diminished
area did not produce smaller crop.
Just in proportion to decrease in area
was there an increase of effort; greater
effort to fertilize, and an application of
more intelligence to the production Of
the crop. The result was greater yield
per acre, and an equally large crop upon
decreased area. ~
Mr.. Editor, I am an advocate of CO.
operative effort in every general industry,
and have labored for the Southern farm
ers until have well-nigh reduced myself
to poverty in my efforts to organize them
for their own recuperation and prosperi-
ty and I am prepared to assure 49,"
that there is already extant an organized
association of farmers more coherent,
more unified and more powerful than can
ever be created for any temporary relief
from present ills. The organization of
the Patrons of Husbandry is systematic,
complete, and admitting into its ranks
every man that could or would disinter-
estedly unite in the effort suggested by
"S.;" and the subordinate branches of
this organization meet monthly, and are
in constant or direct communication with
each other. Through them good effects
might be produced; but even then it
seems impractical, because our Southern
farmers are 10th to cooperate for any
thing, apparently, except their own de-,
struction. Out of the 10000 farmers in
South Carolina, only about one-third are
members of the Grange, and about the
same proportion are members in the
other Southern States. This one-third
might move forward solidly to accom-
plish the end proposed BY u.s." What
effect would this have upon the other
two-thirds7 And yet this one-third is a
vastly greater number than would ever
join Protective Association" or be
bound by its regulations.
The platform and resolutions adopted
by popular conventions avail but little
unless they are the sentiments Of a pre-.
viously organized body. Township and
county organizations must be formed be-
fore a State Convention can speak even
suggestively. These conventions are ex-
pensive bodies, and especially SO in South
Carolina; perhaps more go than in any
State in the Union. In Georgia the
farmers hold semi-annual convention,
to and from which delegates are carried
free by the railroads, and during the con-
vention private families extend the hos
pitalities of the town or city tothe dele.
gates. Almost everywhere else delegates
are transported at half the usual rates.
In South Carolina different policy pre-
walls, and hotel accommodations are more
expensive and meagre than elsewhere.
Of all men, now-a-days, farmers have
least money, and for these reasons the
conventions advised by 'S." would not
be attended generally, or, if attended,
would not sit long enough to effect the
end proposed.
The Georgia State Convention meets
in Gainesville on or about the 7th of Au-
gust. 1 suggest that 49," prepare pa
per upon the subject he has so well con-
sidered in your columns and submit it to
that body. I will venture to guarantee
it warm reception and favorable con-
sideration. If that body, in their wis
dom, should see fit to promulge a scheme
by which an effort shall be made in any
wise whatsoever to relieve the depressed
and oppressive condition of the Southern
farmers, I pledge my influence to make
the same practical among the farmers of
South Carolina.
Mr.. Editor, I have presumed to send
you this article only because my name
was mentioned by you in your editorial
and by 49," in his communication. 1t is
with no spirit of dictation that l would
speak, but so firm believer am / in the
power of cooperation that / say, if the
farmers of the South will but unite they
can exact tribute from the world upon