Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-12-25
atlistellaneons 8eaaing.
RODDEY TO THE FARMERS.
Facts and Observations ON the All-Impor'
tant Cotton Question.

tant Cotton Question.
Editor of The Enquirer:
Kindly allow me the use OF your
columns for the purpose of addressing
some facts and observations to the
southern farmers. For several years
now have closely studied the financial
condition of the south. 1 know the
advantages of this section, and noting
that with every reason why it should
prosper, it does not do so, 1 believe l
have found the reason
When your labor was first traded in,
| in 1871, your average price for cotton
for the year was more than 20 cents
in 1872, 1S cents; in 1873, IL cents
in 1874, Is cents; in 1875, IL cents
| in 1876, III cents in 1877, 1T cents
| in 1878, 1O3 cents gradually lower
market each year, and the price re.
duced half in seven years trading.
wrote several years ago, when cotton
was 8 cents, that you would consider
s cents an average in few years.
Now you have another SO per cent.
reduction, and if you will submit
either from want of knowledge, lack
of ambition or false pride, what will be-
come of the southern farmer? l
firmly believe if you submit, the aver.
age price for southern farm labor will
not be above 10 cents per day within
10 years. Why should it not be 7
You seem not to care. You do abso-
lutely nothing to help yourselves.
You meet, pass resolutions about
planting, etc. !; but with it all, unless
false Misrepresentation are made
about the crop, you get not over q
fixed figure. You are figured at 80
much per head-present price now,
about 500 per annum. There has
never been any over production, be-
cause over production naturally means
an accumulation and if a legitimate
price was allowed to prevail, and you
had been allowed to create a demand,
there would be no surplus.
Why is cotton $50 per bale less than
it was in 1890? I will tell you why,
though many may say differently.
Over 95 per cent. of the cotton goods
trade of the world is in the hands OF
Great Britain, Germany and France.
You produce, and they control the
price of your labor. They would be
fools, if they had perfected system
10 hold you down, if they did not do
80, and you are either blind, cowardly
or ignorant if you do not protect
yourselves.
Your farms have been considered
the original source of our nations
wealth and income; but at the pres
ent day this fact seems ignored, and
it is largely due to the fact that the
farmers have either forgotten or slept
on their knowledge of their impor-
tance in creating our wealth. Lands
were considered in early days the
foundation of all financial security
but now large companies, with loan
able funds, have struck this security
from their list.
Statistics prove that the farm yet
produces the nations wealth and In
come. Why is it, then, that there is
no profit to the agricultural toiler ?
The farmer feels that he is poor and
is growing poorer. He sees bis profits
dwindle from year to year; he sees
the value of his farm decrease to
where the mortgage takes it, and he
must, of necessity, be discouraged.
Before your farms can be considered a
loanable security, you must increase
the price of their product.
If you would but consider that COT
ton exceeds in value any other export
ed product, and is indispensable in set
Ting our balances abroad, you would
know your real position and know
ing this, if you are willing to simply
exist, there is no one to blame except
yourselves and your so-called advisers.
Other sections and countries best
understand the possibilities of such an
organization for your own protection
and have been in dread of it for years
but every year you get in a worse con-
dition to protect yourselves. Tamely
submit, go to the expense of meeting
and offering resolutions as often as you
please; but do nothing to protect
Yourselves and await results.
From the 9TH day of October when
March cotton in New York closed at
6.63, until the 10th day of November,
when cotton closed at SIS, there was
steady decline in the price of cotton
of nearly $500 per bale. No day
during the time was there reaction
of five points. On the night of the
10th of November, a proposition was
made to a southern cotton convention
for the farmers to protect themselves
by large financial organization. On
the 18th day of November, the market
advanced $1.0O per bale, the only real
advance since the cotton season open
ed. On the same day, later reports
were sent out that the farmers op-
posed financial organization, and on
the 18th day of November, the mar
ket broke Is points. Was there any
reason given to the public for the sud-
den advance and equally sudden drop
except nervousness and covering by