The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1896-02-19
Observation-Disclosures I
q fsIg1e o 1T,N ]. q s:5 Editor.
W ednesSsy, February l9, 1895.
BE YE NOR DECEIVED.

s3s IN Hereof late wo have Ind a great
4 deal to say to our farmer friends iii
regard to the decrease Of the acreage
to DO planted III cotton this year,
and really some times feel that we
have Ind too much to say, as they
are men Of brain and should know
what they are doing.
All that wc have said or may
hereafter say has been and shall ever
be for your good. When the farmer
is prosperous every one else is pros
porous also. The farmer is the
backbone of this country and when
ho fails every other business feels
the result Of his fall. There is no
question but that we have been de-
Gluded by false statements and gross
Misrepresentation in regard to this
cotton problem but admitting that
I tho enormous crops purported to
have been made in years past, there
is no doubt in our mind but thnt
B these false reports and misrepresen-
tatlons have caused the decrease in
the price Of cotton.
Years ago cotton was worth 10
and II cents pound, and to-day
the same cotton would not bring
more than z OF s cents. This is
wrong. The fact though summed
I up in q nut shell is this: The huc-
tuation in the market is caused by
the reported receipts at tho central
cotton market headquarters, and
from this report, whether correct or
false, the farmer cannot appeal and
must take what he is offered or can
get for his cotton. Tho time has
come for every intelligent mind to
go to thinking and acting. This
low price will continue until the end
Of time if there is large crop pro-
duced year after year. Farmers,
why be deceived longer? It seems
to us that you have been expert
menting long enough and hoping
against hope. The day Of salvation
with you is to-day, and your most
prosperous year is 1896; that is if
you will bury your false ideas Of
the "more we make the moro we
( will have" The. experience Of the
pasth has or should nave taught you q
lesson, but if it has not, then go on
and dig your own graves, financially
speaking, and weep over the corpse
Of your own lifelcss and empty
pocl1etboolSs.
We hear it Oh al sides that more
fertilizers than usual have been
bought, and that the cotton crop is
to be increased. We have counselcd
you against this and have cndeav-
ored to show you where you were
standing, but it seems that you have
& been blind, or else ifrcports arc true.
SOU have hecdc'i rs nof Wu
mindful OF wbaS NJ hayc aIrca,lg
SAID, conc again % you asking
you before you t,l.o INC step to make
a larger crop this year, to pause
and think awhile as to what will be
the result. 1t is but a short while
before you will SOW the seed that
will bring to your doors a harvest of
misery and wretchcdness, or Old the
other hand will fill you, poclSetbooks
with grccnbac]z, gold and silver dol
lars. IF you plant large crop, SO
will you reap. A big crop means
a low price and low price means
want in many q home. Be wise and
decrease the acreage and thereby
increase the price and your bank
account, if you are fortunate enough
to have one, and if you have not
this is the only way to get one.
We heard q man say the other
day that he intended to decrease his
crop to 10 acres to the horse. IF
! every farmer would lay aside avaricc
and do likewise, there would be bet
ter times in Marlboro this fall than
has been known in many years. 1t
will be too late to wish you had
done SO when you arc offered 5 and
8 cents for your cotton and are forced
to take it this fall. The thing and
best thing for You to do is to stop
even now and look upon the scene.
Look back upon the canvas of the
past and behold the fearful picture
Of no money and hard times. Take
warning from the past, plant less
cotton, make fewer debts and grow
rich and happy.