Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-10-01
8liseellaneous &eading.
ADDRESS To FARMERS.

ADDRESS To FARMERS.
Cotton Growers Are Urged to Perfect an
Organization.
To the Cotton Growers of South
Carolina: The special committee ap-
pointed by the Cotton Growers union
of the state, held in Columbia on the
goth instant, desire to say that the
exceedingly low prices of cotton at
the present, with the indication of
lower prices still in the future, pain
fully admonish us that we have reach
ed a crisis in the history of the indus
try. Prices today are not only far
lower than they have ever previously
been at this season of the year; but
lower than they have been for so years,
and the months of November, Decem-
ber, January and February are selling
on the Liverpool market lower than
during the great depression of the
forties, and even at these figures Eng
lish agents are advising the spinners
of Great Britain to withhold their pur-
chases upon assurances that prices will
soon be so points lower. In view of
these conditions we desire to call the
attention not only of the cotton grow
ers but of every business association
in the cotton belt to the portentious fact
that for the want of organization,
directed by ordinary tact and fore
sight, we, as people, are allowing this
great element of wealth to pass be-
yond our borders for mere song; that
our birthright is going for mess of
pottage, and our great natural advan-
tages sacrificed with the careless in
difference of a drunkard who fings
from his lap his treasures. Foreign
spectators and manufacturers, fully
aware that the staple is passing out of
the hands of the growers at figures far
below the cost of production, never
theless hold aloof from the market to
allow the maturing obligations of the
farmers to force the crop out of their
hands for a mere pittance. Defantly
claiming to command the situation,
they boldly propose to avail them
selves of conditions which could be
remedied by combination of the
cotton growers and business element
of the cotton belt, to rob the growers
not only of the profits of their years
toll J.; but of nearly one-half the value
of 100000 bales of cotton, and
thereby impoverish the most favored
section of the globe. Blessed with the
natural advantages of climate and
soil which alone can produce this great
staple in quality ard quantity sufficient
for the demands of the world, we
should be the most prosperous people
on earth. Efficient organization, which
would control the volume of produc-
ton and regulate its marketing, would
make these advantages a mine of
wealth; but with every cotton grower
separately and independently striving
to increase his acreage and nullify his
bales, first above and then below the
cost of production with a vicious
financial system that causes the claims
of the local merchant and banker to
force the entire crop on the market in
four months, these natural advantages
are distorted into blight and curse,
and the cotton grower is made to
become prey to the usurer, the spec
ulalor aud the manufacturer. Never
was there situation which more per-
emptorily challenged the wisdom of
economic stateSmanship; never was
there more inviting way, a more
imperative field for organization never
was there an exigency which would
more fully justify it. Yet we are told
that the cotton growers are an igno-
rant class, devoid of leadership and
without the power to organize that 1t
is impossible to organize 500,0 900 cotton
growers. Why even the lower animals
will rally for defense and self protec-
ton. Can it be possible that the cotton
growers constitute the only element Of
the animal kingdom which cannot
unite? Are they so devoid of man
hood, intelligence and foresight that
the strongest Observation-Disclosures
dence, competency, the welfare Of their
section and the maintenance of their
families cannot induce them to unite :?
If it be true that as q class they are
so devoid Of spirit, so ignorant, SO
helpless and supine that the most
direct and forceful appeals to senti-
ments the most calculated to stir the
human heart cannot induce them to
organize for purposes of mutual pro-
lection and self defense, then truly we
should hear no more complaints of the
oppression of trusts and combinations; /;
but as class we should meekly accept
that law of nature which DEGREES that
the improvident, the weak and the
careless shall serve the vigilant, the
active and the strong then should we
Join in the refrain Of the other avoca-
tions.
81 hold the farmer simple tool
Born to labor and not to rule,