The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-15

the SplnnerS and SPECTATORS by tne rapid
ity with which the ginned and marketed
their cotton. How much better off cot
ton producers would have been today. II
they had used some business Judgment in
their sales, and moved the crop to mar
ket slowly, selling one-tenth of their pro-
duction each month. every man can now
figure out for himself. Fully twothirds
of the entire crop has been sold in the
/ last three months, and the heavy advance
for the past three weeks will go into tic
pockets of people who did not spend a
single day in working or producing the
crop which is so valuable to all the civil
ized nations of the world. The middle
man. the spectators and the spinners are
the people who will revel in the untold
millions that this crop will ultimately
command, while the farmers who produced
this fabulous wealth are hardly making
both ends meet.
! 1t is estimated that thousands of far
mers have been unable to meet their obi
cations, and their creditors are being
forced to carry them over for another
wear.
! The sensational advance in prices re-
! Gently, due to the fact that the govern
ment report was to be issued on Deem
Der Bird, and the public could no longer
be kept in the dark, comes in ninety days
after the opening of the cotton season,
and yet we find but few farmers who have
much cotton on hand for sale. The
staple has passed from their control into
the hands principally of foreigners.
PAYDAY TOO EARLY.
Southern cotton producers have this sea
son, as they have done for years IN the
past. lost millions upon millions of dol
lars in being forced to market their e.
tire crop early in order to meet the years
obligations which fall due from October
Is to November /. Making the years
debts due on a single date, which requires
the forced sale OF almost the entire cot
ton crop to hquidate, is bad business Tor
the producers. and is a matter which
needs prompt correction.
As the president of the Southern Cot
ton Growers Protective Association. l
have for the past three years earnestly
urged action upon this matter by the pro-
ducers. Our accounts should be gagged
20 meet the situations, SO that we could
without delay begin the plan of market
ing slowly. One-t bird Of our accounts
should be paid in October and November,
one-third in January and February and
the balance paid in April ana May. Under
this arrangement receipts could be held
down to gradual movement of the crop
and prices maintained at a much higher
level each season.
All these things will ccme to pass only
through better education of the farmers
as business men. Subscribers Of this pa
per for the past three years VIII remem-
Der that in the summer of 1900 l actively
began a campaign for ten cent cotton, and
while many farmers ridculei the idea OF
ten cent cotton ever coming again, it
must be admitted that we have each year
since that time had months in which cot
ton has easily sold for ten cents per
pound. The writer's recent prediction for
II cents cotton, and it's fulfllment in our
local markets today Is intensely crafty
ing.
The agricultural editor of this paper is
heart and soul interested in the better
ment of the material and financial con-
dition of the farmers of the South, and
spends much of his time in the investi-
cation Of the actual supply and demand
of cotton by the country and the world
at large His predictions. therefore. are
not matters of speculation hit are based
upon sound business propositions, which
are borne out by actual facts. 1t is hard
to say what price cotton will now COM
mand by spring If it be true that the crop
this season is not over 100000 bales.
This means a shortage Of 100000 bales
for consumption and Is cents may be seen
by April IOur only regret is that the
producers have sold out too soon. I have
not sold my crop as yet.
HARVIE JORDAN.