The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-05

pointed at the OilNcnIloi 81 INC tot-
ton Growers 'niun Of the state, held
in Columbia on the 10Th instant, de-
sire to say that the exceeding low
price, Of cotton at the present. with
the Indications Of lower prices still in
the future, painfully admonish us that
we have reached crisis in the history
Of the industry. Prices to-day are
not only far lower than they have
previously been at this season Of the
year, but lower than they have been
for fifty years, and the months Of No
vember, December, January and Feb
ruary are selling on the Liverpool
market at figures lower than during
the great depression Of the '-lO's, and
even at these figures English agents
are advising the spinncrs Of Great
Britain to withhold their purchases
upon assurances that prices will soon
be fifty points lower. In consdcra-
ton of these conditions we desire to
call the attention, not only Of the
cotton growers, but Of every business
avocation in the cotton belt, to the
ominous fact that for the want Of or
dinary tact and foresight We are allow
ing this great element Of wealth to
pass beyond our limits for mere
song; that our birthright is going for
mess of pottagc, and our great natu-
raj advantages sacrificed with the
careless Indifference with which
lrunkar" filings froin his lap his lloas
urcs. Foreign spectators and manu-
facturcs, fully aware that the staple is
passing out of the hands Of the grow
crs at figures far below the cost Of
production, nevertheless keep aloof
from the market to allow the maturing
obligations Of the farmers to force the
crop out Of their hands for mere
pittancc. Dcfantly claiming to com
mand the situation, they bold
ly propose to avail themselves of con-
ditions which could be rcmcdied by
combination Of the growers and the
business element Of the cotton belt.
to rob the farmers, not only Of the
profits of their years labor, but of
nearly onchalf Of the value of ten
million bales Of cotton, and thereby
impoverish the most favored section
of the globe. Blessed with the natu-
raj advantages of climate and soil
which alone can produce this great
staple in volume and quality sufficient
for the demands Of the world, we
should be the most prosperous people
on the earth. Efficient organization
which would control the volume of
production and regulate its marketing
would make these advantages mine
of wealth.
But with every cotton grower scpa-
rately striving to increase his acreage
and multiply his bales, first above and
then below the cost Of production;
with vicious fnanciai system that
causes the claims of the local mer-
chant and banker to force the entire
crop on the market in four months,
these natural advantages are distorted
into blight and curse, and the cot
ton grower is made to become the prey
to the spcculator and the manufac-
turcr. Never was there situation
which more pcrcmptorily challenged
the wisdom of economic statesman
ship, or presented more inviting,
nay a more imperative, field for or
ganization. Never was there an exi-
gency which would more fully justify
It. Yet we are told that tho cotton
growers are an ignorant GLASS, devoid
OF leadership and without the power
of organization, that it is impossible
to organize five hundred thousand
cotton growers. Why even the lower
animals will rally for the purpose Of
sclfprotection. Can it be possible
that the cotton growers constitute the
only element Of the animal kingdom
who cannot unite? That they are so
devoid of manhood, intelligence and
foresight that the strongest incen-
tivcs, independence, competency, the
welfare of their section and the main
tenancc Of their families, cannot
induce them to unite? If it be true
that as a class they are so devoid Of
spirit, SO ignorant, Surinc and help
less that the most direct and forccful
appeals to sentiments most calculated
to stir the human heart cannot induce
them to organize for purposes Of mu-
tual protection and self-defcncc, then
truly we should hear no more com
plants of the aggrcssions of trusts
and combinations, but as class we
should meekly accept the law of nature