The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-02-26

ANhCA1 - W uSuL Tic uGNll WITH
fire, meet organization with organ
ization.
Do not be led into the error that
you can combat this power without
systematic organization. You cannot
deceive the great firms that buy your
product. They have their emissa-
ries in every town and village; they
are ever scrutinizing your actions,
and know more in regard to the gem
eral conditions than you can possibly
find out.
Destroy the annual surplus of cot
ton, that is the active coadjutor of
cotton "bear." This can be accom-
plished by increasing the acreage
of food crops and consequently the
iudicious diminishment of cotton
acreage. You will be better off with
a seven million bale crop selling at
10 cents, supplemented by ample
food crops, than with a ten million
bale crop selling at cents.
MONEY FOR AMERICAN COTTON.
The world spends about three
hundred and thirty-fve million dol
lars annually for American cotton.
If we make a seven million bale crop
they will run after US for our pro-
duct. If we make a good ten mill
ion bale crop, we fall over ourselves
to sell it to them.
The ten million bale crop of 1894
and 1895 brought the South in round
numbers two hundred and ninety
three million dollars.
The seven million bale crop of '95
and 30 brought two hundred and
ninety-two and quarter million dol
lars, demonstrating the fact that a
small crop brings more.
Our only hope of protection lies
IN intelligent concert of action.
We should keep ourselves informed
of crop condition, amount of pro-
duction, etc., throughout the cotton
area. Then by a systematic and ju-
dicious marketing of our crops we
can realize inestimable benefits that
never can be secured permanently
otherwise.
1t is not my desire to incite pre-
judice, and l deprecate the arraign-
ment of one class against another,
nor would | wish to ''tire the South
ern heart" to any action beyond a
legitimate resistance of commercial
vandalism, but l would that l could
inspire the spirit of the Southern
cotton grower, without reference to
class or color, to a proper apprecia-
ton of the unfair attitude that we
are forced to occupy in the CONNER
cial world, and l wish deYoutly that
| could arouse you from this leth-
argy which has grown upon you so
inslduously that it can be likened to
that of the freezing man who lies
down and becomes actually comfort
able through dormant sensibilities
though even in the icy grasp of
death.
Believing this to be of paramount
importance to our material interests,
and that these questions in their
most comprehensive form should be
gravely considered, l deem it advis-
able that the cotton growers meet in
convention, that we may adopt some
rule of action by which we may be
enabled to combat these agencies
that are daily growing more destruc-
tive to our interests.
Persuant to the advice of my asso-
ciates, and with the view of meeting
the greatest number of farmers, three
will be held, and in ac-
cordance, respectfully request the
farmers of Texas to meet in conven-
tion in the city of Waco, Monday,
March, 8. The cotton growers of
will meet in Memphis,
Wednesday, March, 10. Those east
of Mississippi will meet at Augusta,
Ga, Monday, March Is.
respectfully request the co-opera-
ton of the Commissioners of Agri-
culture of the respective States, all
agricultural societies and those
directly or indirectly in
the growing of the South's main sta
pie. / remain respectfully yours,
HECTOR ID. LANE,
President