The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-23
GRN. BUTLHR's yIRws,
Eadorsas Pesitton Of w. Y. Bradley 10 Re.
duoe Acreage.

10 tho Editor Of The State:
The suggestions of Mr.. w. II.
Bradley in his communication to
your paper Of tho 10th inst, in re-
gard to the present low prioe of cot
ton, are the most sensible and prae-
tieal have seen. II the cotton
raisers of the south could be in
duced to act upon them for five
years we would be the richest, most
prosperous agricultural people in the
world
Tho two prominent and controll-
ing factors that depress the price of
cotton are (Ist) the oyer production
of cotton and under production Of
food crops; (2nd), the inadequaoy
and inequality in distribution of the
Tols;ue Of currency. The first VIC
can control il we will in the manner
indicated by Mr.. Bradley and other
practical farmers, and tho second
can, and I trust will, be corrected in
time by appropriate legislation.
If we could limit tho production
OF cotton to 100000 Or 100000
bales per. .annum, the demand would
necessarily enhance the price, and
make cotton the best and surest
money Drop in tho world, and a
money crop that would remune-ato
the producer.
This is 80 perfectly clear to my
mind that I cannot conceive Of any
suocessful argument against it.
The limitation on the crop in this
country would, perhaps, stimulate
tho production elsewhere, but not to
a degree that could seriously affect
us. So far, tho efforts to find soil,
climate and conditions to produce a
fibre comparable to our upland cot
ton have proven failures. + do not
mean to say that we are complete
masters OF the situation in cotton
raising, but we do occupy such
commanding position az to defy suo-
cessful competition, il wo are true to
ourselves. Just how we arc to re-
duce the acreage and limit the pro-
duction is difficult, some think a
hopeless, undertaking, It can only
ba done by close concert of action
and good faith Oh the part of the
principal cotton raisera ip the cotton
bolt That a reduced acreage and
| production would result In enhanced
renunerative prieea, seeu,a too clear
to require argument,
| When the Confederate govern
mont restrained, by law. the planting
of cotton to 80 many acres to the
plow, and thereby encouraged the
production of food crops, the south
was full of corn, wheat, oats, sorghum,
bacon and boef. In fact, we had an
abundant supply in every line Of
food products. In times of peace it
is, Of course, questionable whether
suoh restaint, could be imposed by
Law. If, however, such Legislation
could be had 1t would be wise
thing to adopt and enforce it.
If time enough has been allowed
to secure a representative convention
from tho cotton gro"ing States in
Atlanta on the second Tuesday of
next month, I shall have hopes of
suoh effective and earnest concert Of
action as will improve the pros
poets of cotton planting throughout
the South .@... -,
1t 10 sad to think that an agricul-
tural people 30 favored by nature as
ours should 30 often be made tho
play thing Of speeulatora and drones
of the industrial world. It is our
own fault, however, and we have
nobody to blame but ourselves.
If we will only plant less cotton,
moro grain and encourage cotton
manufacturing in our midst, the 80
luton OK our present depression
would, in few years, bo made in
our favor.
Mr.. Bradloy's example is enc that
would pay every farmer in the south
to follow. -. 49, IA. O. BUTLER