The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-29

with every cotton grower separately
and Independently striving to increase
his acreage and nullify his bales, first
above and then below the cost of pro
duction; with vicious financial sys
tenn that causes the claims OF the local
merchant and banker to force the en-
tire 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 prey
to the usurer, the speculator and the
manufacturer. Never was there a sit
uation which more peremptorily chal
lenged the wisdom of economic states,
manship; never was there more i'm
perative 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 organiz9; that it
is impossible to organize 500, 900 cotton
growers. Why, even the lower ami
AA0A0 "444 AG4AY 4O4 OOLCASO G8AO SO4I-
protection. Can it be possible that the
cotton growers constitute the only ele-
ment of the animal kingdom which
cannot unite9 Are they so devoid OF
manhood, intelligence and foresight
that the strongest incentives -inde.
pendence, competency, the welfare of
their section and the maintenance of
their families, cannot induce them to
unite9 IT it be true that as a class
they are so devoid of spirit, so igno
rant, so helpless and supine that the
most direct and forceful appeals to
sentiments the most calcula led to stir
the human heart, cannot induce them
to organize for purposes of mutual pro,
lection and self defence, then truly we
should hear no more complaints of the
oppression of trusts and combinations,
bat as class we should meekly &C
cept the law of nature which DEGREES
that the improvident, the weak and
the careless shall serve the valiant, the
active and the strong; then should we
join in the refrain of the other avoca
tiops:
II hold the farmer a simple tool,
Born to labor and not to rule;
And l will do unto him that which
see
Will bring the money to mine and to
me-"
Prompt and concerted action on the
part of the cotton growers would
change present conditions in 80 days.
Through the complete organization
which would enable them to act as a
unit, would place them in command of
the situation in three months and
change their condition from one of
bankruptcy and distress to one of COM
potency and profit.
By what means can organization
effect these ends3 Adopt the recon.
mendstions OF the National Cotton
Growers Union, organize promptly,
hold all the cotton on hand and firmly
bind ourselves to reduce the extent of
this years acreage 80 per cent. the en-
suing year. No intelligent man of
business experience will dispute the
soundness of this proposition. AS soon
as effective measures to these ends
have been taken and become certain,
ty, cotton will Immediately advance
aud more money can be borrowed on
it than it is worth to day, because it
would then become security con-
stantly anticipating in value. The
visible supply of cotton is not above
1 500 900, and the invisible supply or
stock at the mills is estimated at $780,
900, making total of 1000, 900 bales.
To be certain not to over estimate, we
will put the amount of this stock
which has passed beyond the control
of the growers into the hands OF specu.
lators and manufacturers, say at g.
400 OOO The consumption ranges be-
tween 800, 600 and 1000, 900 bales per
month. If the farmers should with
hold their cotton from the market for
three months, the entire surplus be
vond their control would be consumed
and the manufacturers would be at
their mercy for supply. The entire
situation would be changed; instead of
the speculator and manufactures die;
tating the price, the cotton grower
could FIX his price and say pay it or
shut down your mill. A reduction in
next years acreage of so per cent.
would insure such diminution of the
supply as to make cotton scarce, and
bring about an active competition
among the manufacturers for their
stock that would ensure steady and
no rid Vsiso of Y,rico