The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
ABOUT TRUSTS.
Expressive Of the Feeling That
Exists.
president Northen'. C,rou1.r


MARION, Ga, September 15.-[Special.1-l
The following explains itself,
, me oagglng trust has aroused the indignation Of
ton planters are ready to annihuate the wicked
organization, if 1t is possible to id satisfactory
substitute that viii be acceptable to the cotton exl
change and the cotton underwriters. There Ia al
universal desire TO have this matter settled At the
solicitation of individual farmers and come agrculS
tural organizations, am AUTHORIZED by the faiF
committee of the Georgia State Agricultural society
to invite all farmers of the cotton states to meet af
OF cober, for the purpose of taking definite actoA
upon all uust> and combinations. that effect, hurtS
fnlly the agricultural interest of the south.
The Southern Railway and Steamship association
nave given to the state fair, from all points In North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia. tennessee. Als-s
the expenses of travel will be greatly reduced. !
Addresses, outlining the policy to. be pnrsued9
VIII be delivered by distinguished gentlemen.
Among Others the presidents Of the alliance fog
Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, and masters
Of the grange for the states The presidents Of
the State Agricultural society for Alabama and
south Carolina VIII also take part in the counsels Of
the meeting.
Condemn may the wicked principle of ex-
tortion that seeks to take advantage of our helpless
ness, 1t Is Just now more matter of concern as to
now we can save to ourselves the fifteen mitlions
OF money, that the cotton seed and bagging trusts
are demanding in their inordinate greed Shall we
Laying as de svhatever differences there may be
as to our organizations. lot us come together upon
the days named and form one grand combine, the
pulse OF which shall beat as that of one uan,
while we make war, to utter extinction, upon all
trusts ana monopoles that are destructive TO our
Papers throughout the south will please publish.
President Georgia State Agricultural Society.
An Atlanta Man Speaks About the Trusts.
prominent gentleman said on Wednes4
day,
to do irreparable damage to the commercial
system of the SOUTH"
I'm what way?"
Through the farmers holding back theis
cotton and not paying their debts The result
OF this will be paralysis and disaster through5
out the whole commercial system of the SOUTH"
rs the movement of cotton very slow?"
The figures will answer that. On yesterday
Atlanta received 67 bales; the same day last
year 1883. Up TO this date last year she had
received 7,143 bales. This season she has
received only 9o2 bales-less than one
twentieth"
"Does not the late season account for this?n
Somewhat. Cotton is undoubtedly two or
three weeks later this year than last Floods
also have something to do with II. But the
main thing is the agitation of the bagging
trust"
Have you any information on this point?"
why, every merchant in Atlanta has On
yesterday man brought a bag of cotton baled
in coffee sacks to Marietta. The merchant
refused to take it. "All right" said the farmer
II will take it back home, and when you geo
ready to buy it in coffee sacks [ will pay You
my bill. Let me know when you are ready
| know of cases where country merchants
have offered to give the farmer the
bagging, offered TO sell it to him at half prices
offered to sell it at last years figures in ordeS
to get them to bring the cotton In and pay theiS
debts, and the farmers refuse to have it at any
price. On yesterday all agent of o Georgia
alliance, representing "a large number of farrn4
ers. came to Atlanta with orders to buy somea
thing to bale their cotton in, but not to buy jute
bagging under any circumstances. He went
back home without anything and that cotton
mil h. lAs AnI.
chants in that vicinity break and throw their
losses on the city merchants"
lis this action generaY'
Eyes from every section, we hear that the
farmers are holding the cotton back, and not
paying their debts. 1t is human nature foF
some men to take almost any excuse to get OUT
of paying what they owe. Rainy weather, OF
hot weather, or sickness in the family-almost
anything VIII be enough TO keep some men
from bringing in their cotton and paying up
their debts. The bagging trust agitation is q
good excuse, and thousands Of farmers are
avaing themselves of it. In the meantime
business Is paralyzed and irretrievable disaster
Will come to the commercial system OF the
south unless the farmers come in promptly
and pay their debts.
"What do you suggest2"
"rhat the farmer shall sell enough of his
cotton to pay his debts. Then let him hold
his surplus II he pleases. This is best for
many reasons. Cotton is higher now than il
will be again this season. 1t 10 $3.50 bale
higher now than it was last year at this time.
The farmer who sells his cotton at the opening
of the season makes money nine times out Oh
ten by doing 1t. But this consideration is small
compared to the danger he subjects his whole
section to by holding back the cotton that be-
longs to the merchant who has loaned him the
prophet to see what this will come
to- The country merchant berrows money OF
buys supplies on credit for his farmeH
customers. He then advances this TO them on
lima tab inn that t.la 10 h t.rI,a
they make their cotton. If they hold their
cotton back he is unable TO meet his obligR-
tions, and that in turn embarrssses the city
merchant from whom he has borrowed or
bought on credit. That i'll turn embarrassea
the banks with which the merchant dealss
just think OF it. This city received sixty4
seven bales Of cotton yesterday and 1,O58 the
same day in 1887. 1t had I. 143 bales last year
up to this time. This year 1t has received 302s.
Run this through the country and yor yill SEQ
how trade is retarded, and how few Of the
debtor farmers are meeting their obligations
promptly"
wv hat will be tho outcome OF it?'
II am sure when the farmers look at the
matter right they will bring In their cotton,
and pay their debts. 1t is literally and simply
impossible to whip the bagging trust this sea-
son; The trust has already sold over twenty
million yards OF bagging. No substitute cah
be provided in time for this season. By next
season the farmers can be organized and can
protect themselves provided they meet their
engagements this year, so that their local mer-
chants will be ready to serve them again next
season; but il they hold off for q month
longer, they will find their merchants in trou-
BILE, and the whole commercial system Of the
south crippled, confidence between the mer-
chant and the farmer destroyed, and disaster
next year. The bagging trust would want
nothing better than TO produce trouble be.
tween the farmer and his local merchant,
Once crippled, the local merchants and tho
farmers are at tho mercy OF the bagging trust,
now and forever after"
Mr.. Somers and His Cotton Bale.
Mr. Jobn Gotnara ~ pauldfno nounku