The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-09
THE BLESSING OF HIGH COTTON.

Some manufacturers, who are now
forced to pay twelve cents for cotton for
their mills, cannot see any blessing in
high cotton. They are in the same posi-
ton that the farmers were when cotton
was bringing six and seven cents. Then
starvation stared the cotton farmers in
the State; now loss stares the cotton mill
owners in the face
Then the farmers sought salvation by
|diversifying his crop and six cent cotton
drove many splendid young men from the
farm into the towns because farming was
almost starvation. What a lasting loss
to rural life came to the South through
six and seven cent cotton! Many young
men, who felt that they had to leave the
farm, have done well in the towns.
Others, having no home and no hope of
an independent business, have lost that
feeling of love that goes with at
tachment to the soil. Twelve cent cot
ton, plus better roads and better schools
and free delivery, will keep most of the
boys now growing up on the farms, and
and good citizenship found on successful
farms.
Those cotton mill men in the South who
look for prosperity in cheaper cotton
take one-sided view of the future. What
cotton manufacturing needs may thus be
enumerated 1. Better financial condl-
lions so that orders will be large and
steady instead of small and periodical;
2. Larger markets, for the time has pass
ed when any great manufacturing interest
can prosper as it should without tearing
down or battering hole through the
Chinese tariff walls that restrict Ameri-
can trade; 8. Higher prices for their pro-
ducts, in the same proportion as the price
of raw cotton has advanced.
A little while ago we were told that
the policy of imperialism would make cot
ton manufacturing more prosperous than
ever. The policy has not provided an
additional market for enough cotton
goods to count. England sells to Cuba
more cotton goods than the United States
does. The high protective tariff is
great barrier in the way of larger mark
cts. The interests of the cotton manufac-
turer as we'll as the cotton grower, de-
mands a sweeping reduction of the tariff.
The curtailment of production would be
a serious blow to North Carolina. The
operatives need every days employment
to meet the increased cost Of living. Any
curtailment on large scale would fall
heavily upon them. II the reduction
should be great enough to secure re-
duction of the price of cotton ut is
doubtful if curtailnent could effect the
price, it would be a serious blow to those
farmers who still have cotton to sell.
The only hope for the manufacturer is
to increase the price of his product, carry
on his operations on as large scale as
he finds necessary to keep his employees,
and work for larger markets. There is
nobody in the South who will object to
paying more for cotton goods. The mill
men may have to borrow more money
than they wish in order to carry a large
surplus of stock, but the demand will
come.
There is little danger that the high
price for this low crop will cause the
farmers to make a tremendous crop next
90
the crop some, particularly in
North and South Carolina, where
tobacco will be replaced by cot
ten, but the South cannot largely increase
the crop unless it can secure labor. The
worlds demand for cotton will probably
Increase more rapidly than the size OF the
cotton crop even under favorable seasons
and the increase of labor. Without more
labor, there can be little increase in the
crop no matter how great the induce
ment in the way of price.
1t is to be hoped the day will never
come when cotton will be sold at less
than ten cents. When normal times come
and the mills have re-arranged the price
OF their product, it will be in the long
run better for the mills and the whole
country for cotton to bring falr price.
ANYTHING less than ten cents upon good
crop year leaves the farmers no fair
profit. To be sure the mills are now
having n hard time and some OF them feel
nc hl,,o c,ver if as farmers felt over SIX
cent cotton. But better days came Tor
cotton farmers and better days viii come
for the mills without getting cheap cot
ton.
There is a widespread opinion that the
Labor Committee in the House has
baan "6xed so that no bills that can