The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-08-27
Traffic IN Seed Cotton.
An Open Letter to Hons Geo. q.
Dodds, 4. j. MiIlsaps and b. A.

Dodds, 7. j. Mi''sdps ana ~ a.
ROpan.
GENTLEMgy:--
There is a strong and growing de-
mand among the farmers OF Copiah
county for the enactment OF a more
stringent law for the protection Of
agricultural interests. To the OBJ
lection that law enacted Tor the
benefit of the farmer would be con-
sidered class Legislation, We respect
fully submit, that as the welfare OF
the farmer is vital to the prosperity
of all classes, and rs agriculture is
tho basis and primarily the source OF
of all wealth, all legislation cffecting
that pursuit necessarily deprcsses or
promotes the general welfare accord
ing to its character and cannot be
designated class Legislation, because
all interests become beneilciaries.
There are several matters OF i'm
portancc to the farmer in your power
to remedy by adequate legislation, to
which we now cannot direct your at'
tention. We desire, however, to es-
pccially impress upon you the ncccs-
sity OF q law far.rcaching in its re-
suits, and demanded by public policy
MS well us individual intcrcst-a law
prohibiting the sale and purchase OF
cotton in the seed. This is matter,
gentlemen, of very serious conse;
qucnce to every farmer in copiah
county opposed to dishonest and
qucstionab G practices, and involves,
directly, his immediate interests. AS
you arc doubtless aware, the present
law is practically imperative, OF no
value, and so far as my observation
extends, no conviction has ever been
obtained for its violation. 1t merely
prohibits the sale or purchase Of cot
ton in the seed between sunset and
sunrise. See Code 1890, page 1913,
section 27G3.
This law offers to the farmer no
protection whatever against those who
rob him of the products Of his labor.
Seed cotton is taken in the broad
light of day as well as night to small
country stores and sold to unscrupu.
lous parties who buy it, knowing it
to he stolen. That the bulk OF the
trade Of those country stores is dc.
rived from this traffic in stolen seed
cotton, admits of no doubt. There
are, it is true, many upright and hon
est merchants who buy seed cotton
in good faith, but they often, UNI
knowingly, buy from second hands
stolen seed cotton.
The class of people who supply the
merchants with seed cotton arc well
known for their skill appropriating
the property Of others. l. is impos-
slble to detect them. The farmer,
while robbed daily, is powerless to
recover it after discovery of sale, be-
cause of his inability to identify it.
There ale, of course, among this class
OF people few to whom we are vii
ling to accord the merit of honesty,
but they are the exception and tot
the rule.
Now, what is the remedy tor this
state Of affairs! 1t is unquestionably
the passage of law strictly prohibit
ing the sale or purcha!e OF cotton in
the seed under the penalty OF fine
and Imprisonment. This alone will
afforl the desired relief. Besides
this simple act of justice to the farm.
or, thus upholding his hands in his
struggle for an honest livcliho d,
there are other important and unan-
swerable reasons demanding such leg
islation TO which VIC can but briefly
alludc-for instance, the retention Of
the seed in the country where II is
needed for fertiliAing purposesinstead
of Us present finding its way to the
cotton seed oil mills ut New Orleans
and other places, thus draining the
already impoverished land.
Such a system Is depressing in the
extreme and introduces false econ
omy, requiring the expenditure Of
thousands Of dollars annually for
commercial fertilizers. The absence
OF Legislation opens the door TO fraud
and is sotrce Of constant anxiety
to the farmer, anil a promiulnf on
crlne. 5oiii', ~. ,iHa" III e.,
Again, take tho individual whose
crop is mortgaged to the merchant.
Should he be dishonest he simply
secures the services Of a second par
ty who sells the cotton in the seed
| for cash or its equivalent instead of