The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-01-08
THE KU-KLUX PLAN.
what an Old Farmer Thinks About
the Proposed Boycott of Cotton.


the Proposed Boycott of Cotton.
Greenville MouEtaineer: \
The writer has seen an article form
ulating plai. to raise the price o.
cotton to 10 cents per pound. The
plan in nutshell is this: BY u Ku-
kluX fiat to order every farmer and
planter in this country to plant but O
half crop this coming season, and tC
boycott" and use mob violence on
any one that was SO bold as to over
step the half limit in planting. II
State government are so weak and i'm
becile as to fail to protect man in
the planting of his own lauds what
seemeth to him fit and proper, likely
the strong arm of the Federal govern
ment can and will protect him in it.
AS low as cotton is everything points
to an average Of one or two cents less
the coming fall. The farmer who is
losing money on cotton had better
quit the planting of it. Those who
either make u profit or comfortable
living at it will doubtless keep on and
in the race as by natural laws the fit
test will survive. There are many
thrifty white farmers that and will
make cotton, and who will not only
live comfortably, but even make
money by makiEg it.
Colored labor under many cireum-
stances can make it down to half the
present price, and will do it. The
weak point in low prices is malSinT all
cotton. To MAKE it all at ruling prices
the farm must be sclf-sustaining. not
only in hog and hominy," -" but in all
other necessaries which can and were
formerly made at home. Five-cent
cotton won't purchase buggies, organs,
pianos, carriages, china and luXuries,
either of food or fine raiment, but in
1887, '3S and 80 the people who we're
then living made money on it and lived
l. Cotton will be lower next year,
Why? This crop will certainly carry
large surplus.
2. Our low prices have blockaded
lndia's cotton, put ours to cents,
and next year India has two crops for
the worlds markets.
3. Southeastern Russia has began to
export cotton.
1. Some of the South American
countries have entered the worlds mar
kets with their cotton.
D. Egypt now makes three million
bales, and by extra irrigations from
the upper Nile, promises to triple her
crop. We import Egyptian cottons IA
to IL cents per pound. Why, we can't
make the same staple, so we have ri
walls.
Now, our Ku-Klux friend may ac-
cept q few suggestions, as what this
volcanic section makes counts little in
the worlds markets.
lst He may have tho Mississippi
River damned up and flooded all Of the
valley in the great cotton producing
country and thus keep them out Of
the markets as long as he can hold his
water
I'd The Gar OF all Russia may be
notified TO stop his pauper labor from
making cotton.
3D. John Bull CONTROLS Egypt. lie
may notify Mrs. Bull to have Egypt
ian cotton raising stopped and further
that she shall burn and destroy all ac.
cumulated cotton in her Indian pos
sessions.
4th. He might send committee to
have the same stopped in those miscr
able South American States, very pro-
ductive cotton countries.
9TH. He might have the fertilizer
mills all burned. Fertilizers not only
increase the crops but cheapens pro-
duction of same.
In conclusion, the farmer who makes
everything at home and buys little on
nothing abroad may safely plant more
or less cotton, and the unthrifty man
who wants to make nothing but cotton
and buy everything he wants with ithad
better go at some other calling. He
is in the wrong pew for these times.
The consuming world will buy its cot
ton from the cheapest producer.
AN OLD FARMER