The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-08-06
Ten Acres to the Mule.

The Alliance members of the Legis-
lature, over hundred in number, met in
the capitol the other night to consider
the cotton situation, and the following
resolutions offered by Hon. a. H. Smith,
the representative from Greene county,
were adopted:
Whereas, Cotton is the money crop of
the larger portion of Georgia and
Whereas, This fact has led to con-
slant extension of the cotton belt and an
increase, annually, in the acreage given
to cotton and in the number of bales
produced; and
Whereas, This large and increasing
crop, coupled with circumstances and
combinations over which the producer
has practically no control, has resulted
in prices that are both unremunerative
and discouraging; and
Whereas, Our best interests demand
that we should attempt at least to find,
in our own management, remedy for
this end therefore, be it
Resolved, By members of this confer
ence of senators and representatives, who
are alliancemen, that, in our Judgment,
the first step to be taken in furtherance
of relief is great reduction in the
acreage to be planted in cotton in 1892
this reduction to be made in each and all
of the cotton growing States.
Resolved, further, That q committee of
five from this conference be appointed by
the chairman, at his leisure, to bring
this important matter to the attention of
the State alliance, at the session to be
held in this city next month, to the end
that said body, speaking for the alliances.
men Of Georgia, shall declare in favor OF
the reduction of the cotton area as herein
recommended, and take all steps neces-
sary to secure the corporation of our
brethren in the cotton States and to make
sure the object of this movement as out
lined in the foregoing preamble and res
olutions. =5...=
Mr.. Smith, in talking about the matter,
put it this way: i.''
II don't care how much money comes
down here, if We 60 on planting cotton
this way We will continue poor. When
the alliance members of the legislature
met, I asked all who planted all cotton,
bought their corn and had q. dollar in
their pockets to stand up. I also asked
those who raised their supplies, made
cotton surplus crop, and had no money
to RISE. -Four or. five gave their expe-
riences, and said that they raised their
provisions, made cotton surplus crop
and had money to lend. One man said
he sold his corn this year for dollar q
bushel, spot cash.
Now, what does this mean? It means
that when we plant all cotton and buy
corn, We increase the supply Of cotton,
thereby depressing the price and increase
the demand for corn, thereby increasing
the price. We bear the price of cotton
that we sell, and bull the price of corn,
which ne buy. That sort of manage
ment will make. everybody poor. Let.
the southern States, through all the alli--
ances, adopt the policy Of planting ten
acres to the mule, and the price Of cot
ton next year will be 123 cents. Moth.
ing on earth can prevent it. It is the
profit In the transaction that should be
looked at. It is better to make five
bales to the mule and own it than to
make ten bales to the mule and owe
eleven at the end of theyesr. This year
it cost the farmers 8 cents pound more
to make cotton than they will get, and
the great cost is due to the high price of
provisions they are buying. g.-Atlaata
Constitution 80 !.