The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-25
ADDRESS TO COTTON GROWERS.
Strong Reasons Are Given for Reduction {
ACREAGE THIS Year.

Strong Reasons Are Given for Reduction o.
Acreage THIS Year. r..
To the Cotton Growers of America:
The Cotton Growers Protective AS
ISOLATION of America, in convention
assembled at Memphis, Tenn, on this
the 2lst day Of January, 1896, again
come to you with an urgent appeal for
cooperative action in planting the
crop for 1896. 1t is a matter of extreme
congratulatiOn hat the appeal made
to you last year was SO generally re
sponded to and that the crop of 1895,
made upon the diminished acreage,
has had the effect of greatly increasing
the price and bringing prosperity tt
the country. The crop of 1895, though
estimated to be 3,400, 600 bales short o
the crop OF 1891, was in the markets
of the world worth more by nearly
S. 200, 600. In the face of this result,
to abandon the idea of diminished
acreage would be to sound the retreat
in the face of victory. 1t is the con,
census of opinion among the best
thinkers that of by any means the cot.
ton crop of America could be held
within the limits of 1000, 900 bales PEI
annum for ten years, the people OF
these Southern States would be the
richest and most prosperous agricul.
tural people in the world. How can
this be brought about? The answer
Is with you. We appeal to your self.
interest and to your patriotism to dc
all in your power to keep down the
production of the staple. Do not
abandon the ground you have won
Fight on upon the lines laid down,
make the Cotton States self-support-
ing, put more land in clover and
grasses for your hogs to run on,
diversity your crops. and when you
have done all this the area devoted TO
cotton will yield more profitable re-
turns than II you sought to increase
the number Of your bales.
1t is felt by the. most thoughtful men
thas,we are entering upon a year of
gcaat uncertainties, and that even a
small cotton crop may fail to give
adequate returns for its production.
Inc mutterings of q storm are disturb
ing the country and unsettling all bust
ness calculations. The prudent man
will trim his sails to meet it. With
the commerce of the country inter
rupted by war-anl war may come
cotton would be unstable except at
nominal prices. Every consideration,
then, OF patriotism, of self-interest and
OF rudence dictates that you adhere
strictly to the rule of diminished
acreage. Earnest men are earnestly
working to lead you and guide YOU
into prosperity. Do not let them
labor in vain, but cheerfully and hope-
fully respond to their appeal.
In conclusion, we desire to saw to
every cotton grower, whether his crop
Is lO bales or 1000 bales, see to 1T first
that your place Is acknowledgement
we mean by this to be sure you grow
on the farm an abundance of corn,
meat, hay, oats, peas, potatoes, etc.,
Tor all the people on the place, both
white and colored. If the tenant will
not produce these articles, sell them
him, and you keep the money in
your W pocket, in place of sending it
OF n country. When you have
this, or provided for it, grow what
cotton you can.
LII every farmer or planter In the
cotton-growing district will make this
his rule OF action, and live up to it, it
will accomplish the results we so much
desire, OF making us all prosperous
and happy, whether our cotton, which
VIII be q surplus crop, to make sure
first OF q cheap, home grown living for
all the people, and all the animals.
on the place, and then make what cot
you can.
Press this idea on your neighbors
and friends; talk 1T In season and out
of season, at home and abroad |; in
your papers to write 1t up, and
keep 1T before the public-at least,
Until after this years cotton crop IL
Remember, this is purely q labor OF
owe for the benefit OF all, and IL every
will participate, and lend a
hand, by cooperating in q
and vigorous affort IN reduce