The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-03-13
60. Il. "tuN9g BHG #. b.J'.rV
TO THE COTTON GROWERS.
A southerncr on Change Appeals tc
the South to Think and Reason.

| S SoIlSN .SIScW BlSS. 4
! "A southerncr on Change Appeals tc
the South to Think and Reason,
The following article is from Mr.
John L. Roddy, Of New York, formerly
a citizen of Rock Hill, S. e. He is in
the cotton business, and his knowledge
OF the situation comes from constan,
study of the cotton problem. ArI".
To the Editor Of the State: H
/ The cotton situation should at pres.
ent cause more thought and agita-
tion than anything else with the think.
ing people OF the South, and it does
seem that with so many shrewd and
progressive Southerners that they
couid control the price of cotton,
which can only be raised in ten
Southern States of the Union.
Ihe Southern States should be able
to dictate, instead of having the price
dictated to them. Why will the
South not organize, and study more
closely the law OF supply and demand :
They should command the situation
and control their most profitable
staple, which affects their welfare
more than all political questions, to
the discussion of which SO much time
il given.
- W hioh 10 more prOnCaOle, TO raise
5000, 600 bales at ~ cents, or 1000, ,OOO
at 5 cents? Some argue that the price
o. cotton must equal tho cost Of pro
duction. This is misleading argu-
mont, because even so,no of the
southern State possess special advant-
ages, so that while at certain price
some communities would get a fair or
small profit, the same price would
mean ruin to others. Some farmers
will say: "Well, I mako enough of
everything to do me and can afford to
plant the balance of fmy land in cotton. 81
This extra planting is the cause of the
low price.
The worst trouble in some sections,
III seems, Tin my OpiniOn,) is the mer-
chant, because if q laborer can borrow,
buy, beg or rent u mule, he can easily
rent his land, and the merchant per-
mlts his lien to be in proportion to the
amount OF land he has in cotton.
Many farmers promise to paw bic
prices for corn, provisions and other
necessities, expecting an enormous
crop OF cotton to pay for everything.
Ihe big crop comes and the prices must
necessarily be low. Then the debts
cannot be paid. and, Of course, general
dcmoraliZation is the result.
why cannot farmers organize some
plan which would permit only so many
acres to be planted in cotton for each
horse and then adhere to the rule.
Diversity the crop. Let every family
raise everything at home except what
1T wears. There is no sense in the
South buying everything it uses, when
1T can be raised in that section. which
naturally should be the most prosper
Gus part OF the Union but it seems
thing, because, in my opinion. it
simply desires to plant cotton. Manv
farmers seem to know nothing else,
and care to learn nothing else.
If an organization could be formed
among Southern farmers to control
the planting of cotton, instead OF dis
cussing the silver bill and other
political questions, II to 15 cents per
pound could easily be obtained Tor
cotton.
Cotton is very different from wheat.
in that the latter can be grown all
over the world. Supply and demand
must control prices. When it is known
how many acres the South has planted
in cotton, spinncrs Immediately begin
to figure how low they can buy your
cotton next year No, doubt, Man
chester spinners have representatives
IN the South now, figuring on how
many acres you will plant, and for how
little they can buy your cotton.
There is one point | wish especially
to emphasize, and that is the tendency
of the South to send out false reports
in regard to the probable amount OF
cotton they will raise. This works
great injury to prices. Why? Experts
go South, look up the crop, estimate
the acreage and the amount yOu
will make. These farmers will say
five bales the to horse. The experts,
having taken in the situation, know
positively that seven bales of cotton
will be made to the horse, or at least
difference of easily 20 per cent
The reports of the farmers, who
estimate the crop at only five bales tC
the horse, are given to the govern.
ment and many large houses, who
send them out. Then, the South. with
this false idea, will imagine that the
crop is exceedingly small, and will
buy cotton. Tho experts give theil
opinion, which is usually correct, tc
many influential people. who then sci
you the cotton at high prices, base(
on the estimate of five bales to the
horse. When the time comes AROUND
for you to sell your cotton, it is ap
| parent that the crop will be sever
bales to the horse, and you will get the
low price on this basis. So you cal
readily see that hundreds of specnla
tors, cotton traders and merchants
| live-and comfortably too-on youl
false estimates of the crop.
am native SOuthcrncr, will
Southern interests and Southern
sympathies, and it is my dearest wisl
that the South may wake up. study
closer and be the once proud and pros
porous section as in antc-bcllum days
But unless they pull together in hal'
mony, and all work for tho individual
as well as the general prosperity, sucl
will not be the case.
JNO. ~. RODDEY.