The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-28
COT TON GROWERS
ARE ORGANIZING
They Plan to Control Product
and Prices.
-,-@~.- 49,
THERE'S NO POLITICS IN 1T
Three of the Big Cotton States Are
Already Organized.
OTHERS WILL BE ORGANIZED THIS WINTER
Success Of the Organization Depends Upon the
Cooperation Of Cotton Planters, Ware
housemen and Bankers During
the Cotton Season.

In another year the farmers or the
South will be organized as never before
in the history of the country. Unlike
former movements of this kind. politi-
clans are not at the head OF it. The old
Grange organization promised to do good,
but quickly went to pieces when it enter
ed politics. The rise and fall of the Far
mers Alliance was even more noted. 1t
was nurtured by politicians and became
giant in a year or two But with nothing
TO accomplish but getting offices for the
schemers the organization sickened and
seems to have died q natural death.
The new movement which promises to
accomplish more for the farmers is the
Cotton Growers Association. The States
of South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama
are already organized, while during the
fall and winter the work of organizing
Mississippi Louisiana and Texas will be
pushed. There will probably be three
headquarters for as many districts-one
at Atlanta, COR the Atlantic cotton States
and Alabama: one at New Orleans. for
the Gulf States. and the other in one of
the Central Texas cities for that State.
Each State will have it's own organiza-
ton, with a president. One general head
will be selected by the several States.
He will be strong financier, who has the
confidence OF the bankers and capitalists
of the South. because in this new move
ment the farmers are not trying, as here
tofore, to do everything alone. They are
dependent on capitalists. The success of
the organization depends on the co-opera-
tion os FIVE hundred thousand farmers,
bankers, merchants, warehousemen and
ginners, and this. it is claimed is as
sured.
Pending the organization of the other
States, Harvey Jordan. president of the
Georgia association, is acting as the head
of the association organized, and is push
ing the work in the several States He
has just organized the South Carolina
farmers Speaking of the purpose of the
association. he said:
1--WE will obtain within our own ranks
and for the protection of the producers
correct statistical information in regard
TO the condition of the cotton crop prior
to and during the period of harvesting.
The secretaries of local sub organizations
in the various counties and military dis
tricts will be kept in close touch with
the producer, and weekly reports will be
mailed to headquarters. Gnners are in
vited to ioin the association, and through
them we expect to obtain absolutely cor
rect information. Every bale of cotton
must pass through their hands. / al
ready have in my possession the name
and address of every ginner in South Car
DINA, Georgia and Alabama-about ten
| 81 do nd m
headquarters will be in the hands of every
ginner il the cotton belt. and they will
mail every Saturday night a statement
of the number of bales ginned that week.
BY December /. the close of the ginning
season, we Will know exactly the size of
the crop. Under existing conditions this
information cannot be obtained for twelve
months, or after the crop has long since
been marketed
1.-The association, knowing the amount
of cotton to be produced, based on the
must Trustworthy set of statistics ever
obtained will be in a position to fix a
fair price for the raw material. Before
fixing the price, however, we propose to
find the true amount of American cotton
required for consumption in twelve months
and the price at which the finished fabric
is offered for sale. With all this knowl-
edge, it will be an easy matter to fix a
fair price for raw material
ITO force the buyer to give a just price
it will be necessary to furnish the supply
commensurate with the demand. This can
be done only by marketing he crop through
a long period of time and furnishing spin
ners their stocks as needed. Here is
where we seek the cooperation of our
bankers. Cotton in a bonded warehouse
properly insured is recognized by banks
as as good security as government bonds.
farmer can store a portion of his crop,
using warehouse receipts for collateral
security, to borro money to meet matur-
ing obligations. Thousands of independent
farmers can hold their cotton at home
This will give a healthy market to those
who are compelled to sell.
'The cotton mills of the South are a
unit in favor of this movement. They
prefer to pay higher price, buying when
needed, than to be forced to buy twelve
months supply in ninety days at lower
prices. They are forced to borrow money
to do this. and must have a wide mar
gin.
1--WE shall never have better opportu-
nifty of becoming complete masters OF the
situation than that presented at this time.
There is no surplus cotton, while never
before has the demand for finished goods
been so great The mills must have raw
cotton which will be in our possession.
s.Insurance or cotton stored in ware
houses built according to insurance specl-
fications can be obtained at rate of one
half of / per cent per annum. This would
be a tremendous reduction from the pres
ent rates of from 21a to per cent. This
movement has already attracted the at
tention of men with money, who pro-
nose to erect first-class warehouses for
storage OF cotton. and who claim they
can insure. store and advance money to
the farmer on his cotton at total cost
of 6 per cent per annum. They will charge
Q per cent to cover insurance and storage
and lend money at per cent. In Georgia
money is being advanced at the rate of 5