The Atlanta constitution., 1900-01-15
COMBINED EFFORT AND THE COTTON CROP
Ex-CommIssoner of Agriculture r. T. NesbItt Points the
Way to the South's Golden Opportunity.

30 pay . fair price. for which service ttho
merchants ana oankers) VIII be repaid
In the largely Increased business which
viii eventually come to them.
Here we have q plain statement OF
strictly business proposition. mutually
profitable to those who are mutually de-
pendent At first the stupendous scope
OF the work may discourage the hesitat-
ing and doubling. but we have the weap-
ons OF Justice right and opportunity in
our hands. and when these are welded
by intelligence and energy a signal victory
VIII be won
The higher price OF cotton may tempt
thouFhtless men to invest largely IN
fertilizars. even at the present high
quotations: 20 plant largely IN cotton
az TIE sacrifice OF food crops. and also
70 contract debts 60 be met IN the early
fall months. Tho merchant 10 perhaps
better informed and moro fully aware
OF the disastrous consequences OF such
a policy than the farmers themselves.
many ct whom arc tenants and a large
number irresponsible negroes. and for
strictly business reasons each merchant
can AFFORD 20 discourage increased cotton
production and every form os unneces-
sary ceht. It 10 only by thus making
common cause against a common enemy
that ws can hope TO discount she oldtime
tricks OF the bears ana crush their
ascendency out OF the market Coop
Grafton" and cotton factories Ehouid
be our watch words. The worIa needs
our cotton now and will continue TO
need Il from year 70 year. A compact
organization Of our varied but mutually
dependent interests whereby we may be
enabled TO control both the production
and the sale OF our annual crop means
prosperity for al concerned.
Heretofore every organization looking
to the agricultural emancipation OF tho
south has failed because OF q more or
less prosoriptive policy. Tho grange and
alliance movements were built on the
soundss, principles. but membership was
unduIy restricted and when partisan
politics and blind real to advance party
lines and Individual interests crept in
the structure crumbled.
At the south we are q peculiarly no.
moseneous people. and need no such d.
vicinG lines. What we want is an or
ganiration taken from all classes Tho
banker is aware that his success depends
upon the merchant. and the latter knows
fun we'll that his fate is IN the hands
Of the farmers. who constitute fully 20
per cent OF our population. Let these be
brought into closer business relations
with each other and all enter into more
direct business communication with the
manufacture. Properly managed much
OF the expense OF handling cotton will
be eliminated. and whom the farmers
get better prices that means prosperity to
the united south.
OF course the perfecting OF such a far
reaching plan means patience. time and
work. but / believe the campaign The
Constitution has inaugurated VIII finally
succeed. Let us tackle the difficulties at
once The methods for obtaining and
publishing accurate crop reports and for
various other details necessary to perfec:
this grand system will be gradually
evolved. What we need TO do now is to
realize our opportunity and not allow It
to slip from our grasp. The Constitution
has already led the movement-will it
keep up the good work? Yours truly.
r. T. NESBITT.N
Marietta. Ga. January 6. leoo