Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-24
PLANT LESS COTTON.
REDUCE TIE ACREAGE AND
PRICES WILL BE BETTER.
ANA Act Promptly for 1s9H-An Open
Letter TO Southern Farmers.


TO the southern Farmers.
Pardon rs tor addressing you. Our apol-
oCy is our profound soiiciiude for your WEI
fare Not only the merchants are inter
eSted il your success but every class of
people, from the banker TO the fruit-dealer,
must confess That the success and prosper
ity Of our country depend on its agricul-
Iurai prosperity.
When our fields Weld theic increase ev-
erything has u basis of life and success.
In reality. vOcationS do not conflict; each
depends on the other, and the farmer
should occupy his proper pace-kinS Of the
financial world. He should De the most in
dependent man in the world. But can we
LOOK ~ the mortgage on the farms and the
condition of The farmer without ~ king
Nhui : the matter with our farmers!
Many OF our farmers are unable TO meet
their debts. They have hoped against hope
M one, with any degree of truth. can say
this condition has been brought about by
lack of energy. No class of people work
harder. use Us much economy aud have less.
The farmers economy often amounts 10
sacrifice, that hG may keep his head above
water. Their children in many instances
aI'n kept from The public schools in order To
Eeip lift the ''HiERrmare" of debt. Yet. for
all this 1uiling. planning. economiziug. what
C.'I the farmers show in return! What is
the trouble Something Is radically wr0n".
Can we ind 4 remedy Amid al the clouds
ran we not sec 4 silver lining!' is there
10 hope for better days for the Southern
farmers: Can the desert place be Nude 10
rejoice, We think there IS 4 remedy. We
desire 10 emphasize what we regard rs the
cause winch has brought about such 4 COL
dit:on. Il be price pf cotton Is below the
cost of production. ." And This is the 1rou-
be. Farmers may work and economic. aud
like TcnuysunS ''DrUolslCt go on forever:
hui a; long as they raise cotton when the
price IS below The cost Of production. there
Wi. bs stagnatinn ana agricultural death.
Cotton Is said - b" king. Ii So our king
has been very unkini to his subjects. for h.
has not paiu his subjects for their devotion
IL lis we!faTc.
Tx question presents itself-and it is the
question above all questions for the South
trn farmer: How can we raise the price %
cotton 90 living basis
The reason cotton j selling below the
cost OF production IS found in the fact that
the production N l>9G was greater than the
consumption The world could not con-
sumo what was raised Last year
The remedy. we think, IS to reduce pro-
uuCtiOu by tie reduction of acreage. Let
every farmer say that in 1892 we viii plant
oGr-third trss cotton than III 1891.
LEI the farmers rallyiug cry for 1892 be
oue-thigd Jess acreage in cotton and better
prices for same. The farmer will then
Lave time 10 change his meat market from
Chicago "a his own place and his corncriO
Will be tuuud at home instead of the West.
Let every farmer sign a written contract
10 plant. in 1892, one-third less acreage IN
cotton than 1891. This plan. We are sure,
viii give Won time 10 raise other products
than cotton and move the price Of cotton
from ana cents 10 l0anG II cents n 1872
VIII not the Alliance utilize this SuGgcS-
t.on3 Let there Oe no delay III the agita-
ton. We are n earnest. Something must
be done.
Let every lodge call an early meeting and
require each member to sign 4 written con-
tract That he will plant one-'hird less acre
age III 90, and that each lodge appoint a
committee - visit each farm next spring
ana see that The contract is kept, and when
parties fail To comply with the resolution.
let Them be- expelled Is traitors 10 the farm
ing interests.
l>"t u ask the planters Of the Mississippi
valley and RcG river basin to Join US in this
great movement 10 raise cotton 81 that the
price viii. he above the cost of production.
We appeal to our fellow merchants 10
turn none away because of this reduction of
arreagc. The farmers success is yours,
giving Us hfe and enterprise
We speak for ourselves that under no
circumstances will we turn any one away
on account OF this reduction III acreage.
Wa ask our commission merchants in New
Orleans. Galveston and other great cotton
centers TO help us TO assist the farmers in
this movement. and thereby raise the price
OF cotton above the cost Of production. We
believe they will.
Come cheer up, toil-worn farmers we
bedeve there is 4 better day for you. The
clouds OF financial depression are already
parting and the light of hope can be seen.
With best wishes for your success and
the assurance that your prosperity will give
Us great pleasure, We are, yours very SIN
cercly, ", 5. HowAup & Co.
Hazlehurst, Miss, Oct. 20 1851