The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-11-18
KEEP YOUR COTTON SEED.

It will be remembered that We
devoted considerable space to
the subject Of cotton seed, IN
which we endeavored to write
solely in the interest Of the
farmers, and in doing so, we be-
lieve we were writing IN the IN
terest of all dependent upon the
farmers. Our editorials were
read with interest to the extent
that many farmers who hereto
fore disposed Of their seed to
the oil mills have this year held,
and are determined to either get
fair valuation for them or return
them to the soil. The agitation
of this matter has aroused inter
est in other parts Of the State,
as will be seen from an extract
taken from the Bennettsville
correspondent of the News and
Courier, which is as follows:
Mr.. J. Furman Allen, q prominent
farmer living in Brownsville Township,
has offered to furnish so,OOO TOR the
purpose of advancing money to farmers
VINO are forced to sell their cotton seed:
He desires the entire State to enter
into combine for the purpose OF hold
INC cotton SEED, buy from small farmers
who can't hold, and in this way keep
the seed out of the hands of mill men
until they be forced to pay the farmers
something like full value for the SEED.
Should such a movement assume any
thing like general proportions the MILL
men could be forced to advance the
price or be deprived OF the seed. 1t IS
claimed that the present price PAID Tor
seeaIs inadequate and far below what
should legitimately be paid.
7 II the moneyed men, farmers,
throughout the State would unite, as
Mr.. Allen proposes, they should relieve
their unfortunate small farmers, ana
would control the bulk OF the seeo,
which sooner or later would command
much larger price than is now oter-
ed. Mr.. Allen is willing to invest So,Ooo
in this direction, and has written let
ter to the Pee-Dee Advocate, 10 which
he has made public his proposition.
The oil mill combination claim
that ewing to the falling off in
the price of oil, they cannot pay
as much for seed as heretofore,
and are now paying less than at
the beginning of the season, We
take no stock in their contention,
even granting the price Of oil
has been lowered. The enor-
nous profits ground out Of the
seed is a convincing argument to
prove they have never paid a
fair price for the raw material,
and the depleted condition Of
lands is a strong argument to
show the inadvisability Of get.
ting rid of this valuable land
food for a mere pittance.
The fertilizer trust has already
advanced the prices of it's pro-
duct, and when it comes time to
sell meal we look for an advance
in that article also, notwlth-
standing the present low price
paid for seed. Big dividends IS
what both trusts are after, and
the farmer is the victim they
will prey upon. In our opinion
the cotton seed oil magnates will
soon raise the price of seed in
order to induce those farmers
that have determined to hold, to
relent and bring the product to
the mills, and upon the higher
price paid for the seed will they
base the price of meal.
We urge the farmers not to
give up the fight, they may not
meet with success this year. but
as sure as fate if they will hold
their ground the trust will real
ize that it must pay a fair value
for the raw material, and sell
the manufactured product at a
reasonable and just price.