The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-12-13

plant so as 10 nave llO SUI PlIS, Out ~
meet the requirements Of the trade.
This is an illustration OF the condition
that confronts us in the cotton mar
ket. II we expect the world to pay
us a rcnuncrative price Tor our cot
ton. we must either carry our surplus
ourselves. fix Z price on the amount
the world demands or raise just so
mitch as is necessary for the consump-
ton of the trade. Therefore, as
farmers organization We call upon
each man to exercise good common
business sense, and if we have pro-
duced 10 per cent. too much. which
has cost a 50 per cent reduction in the
price, let us so regulate our next
years crop that we will raise just
what is necessary to meet the demand
at 10 per cent. below consumption
and realize the 5" ser cent. protlt.
Last year taught the so per cent.
profit. This year has very forcfully
taught the 50 per cent. loss. 1t has
been said, and truthfully. that an agl-
tation of reduction of acreage means
an increase of acreage, and acting
upon the presumption that the other
man is truthful and that he is a liar,
the farmer pledges himself to reduce
his acreage, goes home and increases
his acreage in order to reap the bene-
fit of the other mans sacrifice. We
are not fools any more, so that by
resolutions adopted last night we
have appointed that there shall be
township organizations, and each
mans name who goes on the list
pledges a reduction in acreage and III
commercial fertilizers that does not
reduce shall be published in the list
after May ed as being the man who
made a promise and in order to catch
the neighbor mapping tried to profit by
his own deception.
We offer this advice as to a reduc-
ton in acreage and in commercial fer
tilizers because we believe, in fact,
we know, that each individual will be
prohted who heeds it, whether his
neighbor does it or not, for this reas-
on: If so much cotton be raised next
year as to depress the price below the
cost of production and he has curtali-
ed his crop and raised his own sup
plies on the acreage not planted IN
cotton. he has lost less money than
his neighbor, who has ignored his ad-
vice and raised cotton at a loss and
has no supplies to fall back on. Hence
from every standpoint, from every
economic view, reduction of the cot
ton acreage means increased pros
perity to the south and to every in
dividual. It is needless for us to null
tiply words. The wayfarlng man,
though a fool cotton farmer, need not
err. We wish to appeal to every farm
er simply to Use every effort in his
power to save the profits that he is
now in possession OF. the cash that
he has realized from last years high
priced cotton. to live more economl-
cally now than he has ever done be-
fore. not to exhaust his cash surplus,
so that he may have fund upon
which to fall back in case Of disaster
of any kind.
We note with pain the disposition
among our farmers to spend their
money for that which is not essential
such as new buggies, fashy harness,
snowy appearance, when the old
would have served the same purpose
and left him his cash. which could
have been used in the permanent i'm
provement of his home and farm.
In conclusion we are glad to say
that there is a concert of action
through the cotton belt looking to the
reduction of acreage and the mainten-
ance of a -enunerative price in cot
ton. Texas, Oklahoma, Indian Terri
torv and Georgia wired us last even
ing that on the 18TH day of December
meetings will be held in every county
in the states mentioned for the pur-