The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-19

The man who wrote the letter 70 the
Charleston News and Courier. a synopsis
of which appeared in our dispatches yes
terday. proposing that each cotton farmer
tn the whole cotton belt pledge himself
10 plant only half as much cotton next
year as he planted this. and that every
cotton grower who failed 10 keep the
agreement should be vigorously boycOtted,
is not a safe adviser While 81 may be
true that II only half crop were pro-
duced next year the price Of cotton might
advance 70 10 cents a pound. the plan
proposed 10 reduce the crop one half is
not al all practicable. It is absolutely
impossible TO induce the cotton planters
throughout such an immense region Of
country 10 agree to reduce their cotton
acreage one half. and the attempt to do
SO by means Of the boycott would be pro-
ductive OF such bitterness Of feeling that
the courts would have 10 be in session
continually. and the military organiza-
tions would have to be under arms pretty
much all the time.
Again. the inventor Of the boycott plan
seems 10 overlook the fact that cotton
is grown elsewhere than in the southern
states OF this country. Its production is
increasing quite rapidly in several other
countries. and its production in those
countries would be greatly stimulated and
increased if the cotton growers Of this
country should adopt a course that would
make it profitable to greatly increase it
The only wise course 20 pursue. in fact
the only course that can be pursued. is
to let the cotton farmers follow their
own will in the matter. Those who can
not produce cotton for cents a pound at
a profit Will cease 10 try to do so. They
will turn their attention to the cultiva-
ton Of other and more profitable crops,
while those who can make money out
of scent cotton will continue to cultivate
it. There are plenty of cotton farmers who
find they can make a good living and
even save a little money, by raising cot
ton at cents a pound. There are others
who could not make both ends meet if
cotton were selling for 10 cents. or even
Is cents, pound.
The secret Of growing cotton at profit
is to plant more corn, potatoes, and goob-
ers and raise more hogs 1t is not at all
likely that the people will abandon
the growing of crop that
can be kept from year to year;
which can be stored in the garnet
and stuffed under the beds, and which
is as good as gold at the country store
at all seasons of the year 1t is nonsense
to expect them to do it. They would
continue to do 1t in spite of any kind
of boycott that could be proposed.
There is a steady change going on in
the cotton belt in the method of farming
| The great plantations are Disappearing
and the number of small farmers who
hire little or no help and who raise their
| own food crops, is increasing In this
way the cost of raising cotton is hardly
| felt. Instead. therefore of a decrease in
cotton production the chances are that
there VIII be a steady increase until a
100000 bale crop will be regarded as a
small one.
Five-cent cotton has hurt Of course the
anti-hog and hominy farmer badly. and
has worried considerably the old fash
toned live within my means" farmer.
It has hit hard the country store keeper.
and has made the city merchant think
these are real hard times. Indeed we
have all felt like we would not live al
way if this state of things is to continue.
but if the present low price of cotton
teaches the cotton farmers to plant more
corn potatoes, COOLERS, and to raise hogs
and fatten the pineywoods heifer and
make mich COW of her; if it teaches
them to do many other things that keen
money at home instead of sending If
elsewhere to buy corn and canned goods
then scent cotton in this year OF 1S9.
may prove a blessing to all for all time