The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-28
HOLD COTTON SURPLUS.
The Farmers Co-Operative Union
Organized in Anderson.

Organized in anderson.
With the purpose Of erecting large
ware houses all over the State OF
South Carolina in which to store sur
plus cotton, thereby in a measure con-
trolling the price OF the staple, a
Farmers Co Operative union has been
organized in the thriving county OF
Anderson, and the organization now
has on its rolls the names OF more
than five hundred of the substantial
farmers OF the county. Mr.. Joseph j.
Fretwell president OF the Peoples
Bank Of Anderson, and a business man
OF large experience in the cotton
market, has been employed by the
union as its selli7g agent. Mr.. Fret.
well was in Charleston recently and
when seen by reporter OF the News
and Courier courteously consented to
outline the plans Of the new and
much-talked-of organization.
Suppose, for instance, " said Mr..
Fretwell when asked to make a plain
statement, sthe world demends eleven
million bales Of cotton for consump-
tion. This much cotton is necessary
for the filing Of contracts, ETC., and
the manufactori,s are obliged to have
it. Now suppose thirteen million
bales are produced-there is a demand
for only eleven million, yet thirteen
are produced and sold. 1t is nothing
but natural that the surplus should
be sold at a low price for there is lit
tie active demand for it. Now the
object OF the Farmers Cooperative
union recently organized in Anderson
county, is to have warehouses erected
all over the state or maybe the South,
to carry the surplus cotton crop, and
as each county organizes, let the in
stitution be known as the Farmers
Cooperative union, for that's what it
is. Let warehouses be erected at all
the impo 'tant villages whose cotton
receipts warrant such action, and let
the entire crop be handled through
these house, a selling agent being en-
plOyeQ OY UHe uulOu.
1.-THE purpose Of the organization is
to place the farmer in an independent
position, regulating the amount OF
cotton to be sold each month and
thereby controlling the price. Of
course, it is not intended to hold the
entire crop, but we only want that
part of the crop held for which there
is little demand-in other words, we
hope to regulate the price by regulat-
ing the amount sold-don't sell merely
because you happen to have a bale
ginned, but wait till the manufacturer
needs it. II a man is obliged to sell
to provide the necessities of life, Of
course he is at perfect liberty to sell
at the market quotation, but if possi-
BILE don't sell too rapidly.
''True it is that our organization Is
but in its infancy and it is probable
that we shall meet with some opposi-
tiou at the beginning; but we hope to
show what can be done in this direction
and trust that other counties will fail
in line, for the more extensive the
union, the more efectual will be its
action in retaining the surplus crop.
We believe Anderson county alone
will be able to carry her surplus as
figured out by the agriculture bureau
in Washington.
Personally, I do not think that
there is a farmer in that county who
will not be able to carry his surplus
this year and I believe With others,
that should the whole South take this
matter in hand and regulate the
amount Of cotton placed on the mar
ket and force the surplus, that the
price can be controlled. United effort
is what we desire and We think that
no man, when he realizes the impor-
tance OF the movement, will treat it
lightly. Anderson county has organiz-
ed a union, an Office has been opened
and seller employed. We are meet
ing with gratifying reports from all
sections Of the county and believe that
we will be successful IN our enter
prise. ."-Charleston News and Cour-
ier