The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-15
SOUTH CAN FIX It
Hon. Ashley Horne Talks
on Cotton Situation.
Calls on the Farmers to Stand Firm
and Not to Be Whipped Out by Gam
blers and Spectators in Cotton
Who Feed on Them.

| crop to be large or small next year
| Will the farmers get together and
hold? Will they stick? These and 9TH
er interesting questions are uppermost
| in the cotton world now, and here
comes u clarion call to the Southern
! cotton growers.
Mr.. Ashley Horne of Clayton, is
a man who keeps thoroughly in touch
! with the cotton market one who
whose judgment is sound. AS a farm
er. a merchant banker, manufac-
turer and a capitalist he is a success,
and finding him in Raleigh a reporter
Of this paper talked cotton at him.
and had the following interesting in
| terVieW:
The reporter led off by asking him
What do you think will be the re-
suit of the great slump in cotton?'
TO this Mr.. Horne replied: "Oh,
/ can't tell. Nothing but, time can
solve such a grave problem. / fear
the merchants, bankers. and bust
ness men generally don't realize what
may be the result Of the sudden de-
/ cline in cotton. 1t is sure to make mon
| ey matters tight for a while
/ "Will the farmers hold the balance
| of the CROP?
Yes, don't you see them lining up
for the fight that is now on
! can they 90 II!
Eyes, sir, by the help of the mer-
chants, bankers, newspapers and pub
lie sentiment
do you think the South will be able
to control the balance of the cotton
crop?''
Yes, sir
why do you think so?'
"The small one and two horse far
mers, who represent nearly half of
the crop, have sold, paid their debts,
and are out of the shuttle, which will
strengthen the price of the balance
still unsold. 1t will not require any
$25 a bale to carry the balance of the
crop from the fact many of them will
need no assistance
! "Will the farmers stand together
and put the cotton on the market
slowly?"
Yes. 1t has been demonstrated in
the South for the last few years that
our progress comes from agricultural
prosperity, hence you see the whole
South with its varied industries. man
ufacturerS included, Will stand togeth-
er for a while at least to maintain our
present progress. 1t would be a shame
for them not TO do it, We cannot
take step backwards because the
? gamblers and spectators seem to be
. determined to get the balance of the
! crop under its value.
ment report of December 3rd?'
Il think il a very full estimate. $
Were you surprised at the report
| yes | was surprised at its coming
so late in the season after the govern
ment and the authorities and experts
making such efforts to get at the
quantity. 1t could not have come at
q better time for the people of the
South because it gave the opportunity
to the small farmers to sell their
crops and have q lesser quantity left
behind for us to control Besides the
bulk Of it went to England and the
continent, with high priced goods and
high priced cotton, and the American
spindIes which have been standing idle
for a year or two, With goods piled
up in their mills at high priced cot
ton, therefore it would not be to their
!. interest from a business standpoint ia
want cotton so extremely low.
, What do you think will be the
ruling price for the balance of the
CROP"
"Oh, / can't tell, this will depend on
the combined action of the South.
: rather think s - to &c. in the near
future, or as soon as the operators
can catch their equilibrium and hold
their caucuSses and see the combi-
. nation and determination of the farm
ers of the cotton belt. This will set
tie the pflce OF the Dalance OF the
crop
What with 1862, 900 bales?"
Yes, sir. You take Hester's report
Of eleven million bales for consump-
ton ordinarily, and the famine condi-
: lions for the past two years, and the
. million bales that will be hid away in
the woods, and the spindlea that are
standing idle and have not run in two
years, and Roosevelt prosperity, and
ia
scramble now at Toe for cotton in
: August. Go back TO your office and
: tell the people throughout our South
! crn land that the. time has come for
the farmers 90 stand together again
for agricultural prosperity, and not
To be whipped out by the gamblers
and Spectators who make their mon
cy by the iabOrS OF others.
: you failed to mention your views
: as to the acreage"
: well the train is coming and /
: haven't time but that is in the dis
lance and that will be determined
: by our action in managing the crop
| between now and planting time
would recommend taking hold of the
: wolf that is at the door and this will
settle the acreage question:
And Mr.. Horne had gone with the
train. Behind him he left much good
advice, advice and reasoning that is
, worth bordering over for Mr.. Horne
, is man of sound Judgment.
,
Writing of the cotton situation. the
Monroe Journal says.
The lessons learned last year have
made an indelible impression, and as
} q practical farmer says in an article
: in this issue. the manufacturers taught
: the bulls last year that cotton could
go too high, so the farmers can teach
, the bears that it can go too low.
: Another thing that is left out Of the
question Is. that the manufacturers
are now suffering from low priced cot
ton, strange as this assertion may
: soem. Never before have so many OF
them spoken out against it. They are
loaded up with ten cents cotton. anC
the slump in price retards the rise In
their goods. Besides this, many OF
thcnf arc loaded up with futures or
which they are losing money. Ada tc
this the influence of Southern bankers
and merchants, who, almost to man
are being hurt BY the decline, and il
becomes apparent that the farmers
} row have allies which they never be
a.,