The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-10
|. Grasty in Manufacturers

Thomas P. Grasty in Manufacturers Record.
 Just as the people and the resources of the South have been underestimated as elements of national strength. so has the importance of the South's chief staple cotton-been undervalued as a factor in the nations prosperity. Recently, how ever, by reason of the higher prices wnich cotton has commanded, people all over the country are beginning to give more consideration to what cotton means to American industry and commerce. And there has been more or less discussion Of the question whether the South's capacity for producing cotton may not be dimin- ishing. and this has awakened fee ing not very far removed from alarm lest cot ton famines may become possible in the course of time. Even today there Is a shortage in the supplyi and if the steady diminution of the cotton crop which the last few years have witnessed shall con- tinue much longer we shall be face to face with a national calamity.
 During the last few days have had several very interesting ta ks about the cotton situation and outlook with the man whose movements are being watched more closely by the alert element both North and South. fin city and in country, as we'll as across seas. than are the m ove-
 
 statesmen. flnanciers or captains of in dustry. This much-observed individual is Daniel J. Sully-a man to whom the peo- pie of the South very naturally feel pro- | foundly grateful for having led the move- ment for higher prices for this years cot ton crop beore it had passed out of the growers hands. For some years past one of the various hardships that the grower has been beset by has been a low price at | hu frna he ah1 fo na a higher price after the fruit of his labors had been bought up by mill owners and spectators in this country and abroad. During the past summer after Daniel J. Sully had put the price of May cotton to II cents, he went to Europe to rerup- crate his energies for a campaign which he had planned several years ago, for putting the price of this season's cotton up to what he believed to be it's real value. While in Great Britain and in Continen- tai Europe he tells me that he spent much time studying cotton conditions from the | standpoint of the South's and the nation s prosperity. His observations while abroad | led him more than ever before to consider | cotton in the light of a great national | asset. He impressed upon foreign buyers the importance of entering the market early in the season. and convinced many | of them that they might look for higher levels than they had been figuring on. He opened the eyes of some of the Old Worlds largest buyers to conditions war; | ranting continuation of high prices giv- ing convincing easons for his opinions and conclusions. How serious was the impression made by him upon foreign cotton buyers was shown by the imme- diate cabling to all the world of his pre- diction. made to a great Russian concern | that in five years cotton would bring 25 l cents a pound.
 Returning to this country in September, he began where he had left off in May and in the face of the most determined opposition from various combinations be- gan the movement that has, by the enor-