The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-19
The Cotton Growers Association.

Mr. EDITOR: One, and perhaps tbs chief
object OF this Association, is to advocate
and encourage farmers in the production
of more liberal amount of home supplies,
and thereby indirectly decrease the yield
of cotton and increase its price. Had the
price of this staple kept up to reasonable
standard, it is not at all likely that such
an Association would ever have existed.
But with such low price as farmers have
had to take for several years past. and
especially the present season, it became
evident that something had to be done to
rescue them from financial ruin a better
price for this, the leading money crop of
the South, is the great need OF every man,
woman ard child in this latitude. II
matters not what may be their calling or
profession, high or low rr;ce for cotton
is an item of vast importance to every
one. But as there may be. as no doubt
there are, some misunders tandiug and
opposition to this Association. it is proper
that these be considered. And first, some
merchants may object because of the
probable decrease in the sales of GER
tain necessaries of lifc-as corn, faur
and bacon. But it should heremem bered
that these are the goods that yield but
very small profit in their sale. and il far
mers make these things at home, the
same, or more money, would be expended
for other articles giving better profit.
Besides this better price for cotton means
more clear money, and this means more
trade-more liberal purchases. Go in any
direction you may and you will find few,
if auy, persons who have half enough OF
money to buy what they actually need
All could and would proftabiy expend
ten times the amount if they had it. They
are like the Texian who said he could
have bought fine plantation for pair of
old boots, but unfortunately he did rot
have the boots. And the only way that
farmers can obtain the amount necessary
for decent living is by getting fair price
for their produce, especially cotton. Every
day, yea every hour in the day, merchants
miss the sale ofnumerous articles simply
because the people have not the money
with which to buy. Some merchant miss
ed selling the writer nice suit of clothes
the other day simply because be did not
have the (boots) money. Oh, ye mer
chants, you must help the farmers to get
more clear money if you want to increase
your sales. 1.-THE Cotton Growers Asso-
citation will help to do that. you ought to
go into it chin deep. There is 40 disposi-
ton on the part OF any one 10 antaeonzs
your interest, but rather to encourage you
and give you patronage.
Another objection may be urged against
this AssociatioI-that it will go into poll
tics like the Alliance. There is no more
need for this than for any other organiza
ton to do so. Nor is there any indication
of such thing. Ifany man is initiating
himsel! with such notion, from Hector
D. Lare down, he has not yet peeped up
high enough to expose even the top of his
head. The entire sentiment of the Asso-
citation is to keep out Of politics The
whole movement looks alone to the BET.
termenr Of Southern farmers, and Indirect
ly TO that Of all classes in the cotton belt
BUTT may be said that it will not last
long, aud these who go into it will not
abide By its intentions. To this it may be
answered thatits permanency may depend
upon the existence of the causes which
led to its origin, but there is good reason
to believe it has come to stay as long as
needed. Already it has accomplished
much in encouraging farmers to SOW moro
largely of small grain, and what effect it
may have had, or may yet have on thu
price of the present crop of cotton, no one
knows -Aud that it will lead to an in
crease this year of a large~aiea for home
supplies and a necessarily corresponding
decrease of cotton acreage is DOW evident.
Whether all who go into it will faithfully
practice its precepts is not Of cours known.
but there is good reason to believe large
majority will. Farmers in the Eastern
States ought to highly favor the move
ment, as the West. the great cotton coun
try. has sgnified willingness to help the
East in this matter. We cannot, on our
worn lands. cope with the West in making
cotton, and any assistance it will give de.
serves to be appreciated by us. In con-
clusion, let me say something must be
done We can't get decent living out Of
) cents cotton. Unless we get move on
Us some way the day may come when our
and our children's children. will
be the ';hewers Of wood aud drawers of
water for future landlords.
SENEAH
--rs-----
- Little Mamie had heard her Sunday
school teacher speak of backsliders, and
Oua raiuV Sunday tpOruiDr when l,el