Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-14

from the farmers at their own figures
and break the demand Of spectators
who are now wanting higher prices. The
spectators are not 10 be blamed for the
position they have taken. neither can the
mills be eensured for their action, as the
whole matter Is a purely business propo-
sition, and the side which can hold out
the longest viii win. The people who
arc to be censured, however, for allowing
themselves 10 be used so numerically by
both the spectators and spinners, are
the men who produce the product. The
men who are today toiling laboriously
under the fierce rays of an unrelenting
heat to make the staple which, when
packed into morchantable condition, is
rushed of TO market and dumped into the
willing hands Of the buyers at their own
price.
There Is no business in such a system;
Il amounts almost TO a madness for which
there can be no reasonable excuse given
by those who are able TO either hold their
cotton at home from a glutted and UNI
righteous market. or who can make ar
rangements through warehouses and
banks TO hold their staple until such time
as the market reaches a fair and just
value. The whole scheme OF marketing
the cotton crop by farmers is based large
" upon custom and habit which Tor
years has been I'm force. or a surrenderfng
OF their hard practical and sensible views
TO the siren tongues OF those who want to
secure immediate possession Of the crop
for selfish purposes OF their own.
Nothing more and nothing less, for sure
~ no man can be so blind to his own in
terests OF to facts, as not to know that
when the market Is overburdened with
any commodity and the buyer has the all
powerful and unrestricted right to die
tate the price at which such commodity
shall be sold. that the seller must suffer
the penalty OF the position in which he
finds himself placed The marketing OF
cotton is no exception to the rule. The
same thing Is true Of every other commod-
ity. whether It be the raw or manufac-
tured article, in every market In the
world. The seller will never secure his
rights until he has some voice in the
price at which his possessions shall be
sold.
Right Of Possession.
The right Of production and possession
OF the finest and most valuable staple
and money crop In the world. give the
producers the highest right 70 demand at
the hands Of the spinners a price based
upon the fair and legitimate value Of
their cotton. The duty which every south
ern farmer owes to his family and to his
beloved country should actuate him by the
strongest incentives to stand guard over
his cotton In the thoroughfares OF every
local market and with steadfast and I'M
rc -enting determination, say to every
buyer, that a price commensurate with the
value Of HIS staple must be offered before
a bill of sale can be issued.
II southern cotton producers would only
band themselves together in a brother
hood Of strength and cooperate along the
lines Of business methods the coming crop
could easily be made TO command a max
in1um value OF $50 for bale. There can be
but little or no profit to producers at
less price and II by reason OF enforced
sales the price is forced down to last
fa--'s figures, with heavy time accounts
20 meet for high priced corn. meat and
guano out Of a short crop the gloom OF the
coming winter will fall like a mantle Of
darkness over the homes Of thousands Of
farmers before the coming OF another
year. HARVIE JORDAN.