New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1904-04-23
PROPER PRICE FOR COTTON.

olhce my early h0yhood (and
AN a farmer ) SOM | have been
taught that this government was
founded npon Il bnSiS of equal
rights to all Since have been
able 10 reason have been irving
t" discover single instance where
III equal rights came.
Again ! am tuId that govern
inrnG~ ale established among men
to protect the weak against the
strong. In this instance also | am
al loss to discover this effect
\ fal nirr working for wages re-
celvts about $lJ.50 per month.
A section boss, working for cor
p"rate greed, gets $50 per month,
anu government corporate officials
get from $1,000 10 $40, 900 Der
year.
A man Of family usually makes
five bales IF cotton-at l6 cents a
pound 800 pounds bring $50. or
S4OO per year, az result of his labor
and out Of this the exorbitant sala-
rles are paid, and vet the thought
less and selfish people say lG cents
per pound for cotton is too high.
1t is true, that if the slave farmer
makes $50 per year more than he
has for any year for the last ten
years-he is more than satisfied !
with results. 1t is because Of the
ignorance Of his robbery aud the
result of his slavery.
When we know that the few
Southern States produce seven
eighths Of the cotton used in the
world they hold a monopoly un-
laaled in the history of agricul-
tnre; and ye: at l6 cents per pound
they can barely clothe, shelter and
feed themselves. Aud greed and
ignorance and bestiality are salts
fed at 1G cents per pound for cot
ton for the worlds supply Of cot
ton is not 100000 bales, and
hat it takes Il, 100000 to supply
conditions, fair minded people
would think that l6 cents per
pound is not enough for cotton.
fhe producer who works fifteen
months Il season to make a good
'rop Of cotton should get al least
lalf the price for the raw product
hat the manufactured article
brings, which only requires short
lme to manufacture, and on this
)asis he would receive as a mini
mum estimate never less than 1926
'er bale This wonld give US a re-
pectable and intelligent set of far
ners who could conduct their bust
Tess without the aid of papers tell
ng us how to make living
Cotton made into the average
hirt would bring $3.50 per bale
t the farmer gets $40 Of this he is
'iddy with success. If
In spool thread bale brings ,
500 and in many fabrics more. !,
'hina has so enslaved her people /,
hat the nations are anxious to own
!, and the statesmen of other ma q
ions would have them follow the [
anne course if equal rights We're \
OF thought of and in many in. !,
tances sought
Any man who says l6 cents per c
Onnd is too much for cotton is an {
nemy of his race, though he may $
0 it ignorantly or innocently. If 4
were not for corporate Influence =.
10 people would have their rights. '
We hear that consistency is the
lrtne of FOOLS" and, Judging from o
lis standard, our politicians are T
ltelligent-up to-date-for they i,
ondemn Hearst and seat Clarke of
|ontana; fight Mormonism and .
'lerate prostitntion plead the "
ghts of the people in platform, a
ress and speech and work aSsidu- il
lsly for corporate popularity p
ght the price of products, and !,
Use taxes. All in the greatest ~
alton that egotism supports. j. 81
Gay iN Houston Post. $,