The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-15
TO SOUTHERN COTTON CROH-
EIS.

GALvEsTos, TEXAS. Aug. 1o--The
following was issued to-day
40 the cotton growers Of the south
AS President Of the American Cot
ton Growers Protective Association.
cognizant Of the great wrong that ha-
been perpetrated upon the masses Of
NV fellow farmers. the cotton growers
Of the South il becomes my duty az
far az my limited ability extends 70
warn YOU Of the dangers that environ
YOU and the devices and plans that are
being IaId by cunning and un-crupu-
Ious men to rob yOu OF your honest
toll to further impoverIsh You and to
enhance The discord and dissatisfaction
that is now dominant in the heart o.
agricultural classes in knowledge 81
the fact that there is something radl-
cally wrong in our systems. No longer
is the product Of honest toll adequate
to our subsistence and no longer l. the
cost Of the production Of an article any
standard OF its valuation and the law
OF supply and demand has been dis
placed and in Its stead, interveneo the
results attained by the commercial
mountebank the most insidious and
merclless Of which is he that with a
tongue Of an Ananias and the heart OF
the Malta, Is numbering the material
prosperity of our country and making
paupers of our people. | refer to that
man who wears deseryedly the name Of
bear He that Of false prophecy and
wilful misrepresentation, robs us Of our
I1i- ip1nnri1 IL
and leaves us nothing but poverty III
our homes and hatred in our heats.
Tine warning note has been sound
ed, let 'forewarned be forearmed.'
''That there is powerful and system
attic movement to again depress the
value OF our staple this season is patent
to all intelligent men, and it rests with
the planter of the South, individually,
as to whether he will submit to thus be
sheared again like sheep as he was
last season. Tie time has arrived for
heroic acton. The alternative is to
either renOunce growing OF cotton en-
tirely as a profitable crop or to take
up arms against a sea Of troubles and
by opposing end them From these,
rumOrs of the immensely of the coming
crop have already been widely and
recklessly circulated to intimidate the
farmers into rushing their crops upon
the market hoping to receive better
prices before a decline. This action
upon the part Of the farmers VIII ac-
cOmplish the intention Of the manlpu-
lators of the market and is to be depre
Gated as suicidal to their interest. The
crop ought to bring fair values, should
be iudiciously distributed over the sell
ing season without allowing the dellv-
cries to be too great at any time. And
| advise that all farmers that can do so,
without violating a contract, should
market their crops as slowly as they
can, or at ratio of ono .t;rd les titan
last season f.; the equj!i1riunl at--.--'~
will be thus fairly Cet1'-''c.>- nrd we val,
.Gat4s~ tuch nearer receiving the COM
1nercial value Of our r-Uduct.
at will be remembered by many
that previous to our civil war, on ac-
count Of tho lacl- of transportation Ia
cllities, it required from seven to nine
months to market the common cotton
crop. We now sell the bulk of 1t,
| which is three or four times the size,
IN about three months, thus cOngestlng
the market, making competitors OF our
selves in the mad rush to get rid of our
product, while upon the other hand a
judicious gradual distribution of the
same over greater period Of months,
would be conducive to competitor be-
tween the manufacturers who are oblig-
| ed to have our material and their run
ming after us to buy our product In
stead of our having to run after them
to sell 1t to them.
And [ desire to impress upon the
cotton growers the imperative necessi-
tv Of organization for the accomplish
ment of this purpose, and all instru-
mentalities should be engaged in the
achievement of this cOnsummatiOn de-
vOutly to be wished. Doubtless this en-
deavOr will meet with strenuous OppO-
sitiOn at the hands of those who reck-
| lessl y speculate upon the labor of the
farmer of the South. He would be OF
fered little more than the market
price to bring in his crop. The argu-
ment of risk of fire, loss IN weights.
would follow with the usual denuncia-
/ olO1 VI ',uNlCc, bit Ill pore you lOf
the sake OF your families rendered des-
titute by these despoilers and for the
love you bear for our Sunny Southland
for all that is sacred to our hearts ard
to our homes to resist this current that
is insidlously, day by day. drawing us
into vortex OF poverty and shame and
depravlng our manhood and increasing
crime.
"There never was a more cruel and
relentless war waged upon the people
than upon the South by England and
her emissaries and tory allies, reducing
her people from alfiuence to the pit
lance Of ten cents a day for their labor.
which cotton at five cents per pound
means.
HECTOR ID. LANE, President.