The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-12-21
Stand Firm Together.
'HE ADVERTISERS:

EDITOR, Tue ADVERTISER:
To the Farmets OF South Carolina:
am in hearty. accord with the move
ment as to handling and marketing
the cotton crop and hope soon TO see
South Carolina in line with other
States. Yes, hold the cotton. That
which has been ginned up to Nov. 1st
must be at least one-th!rd in the
planters hands, and all the crop to be
gathered and ginned from now on Is In
their hands, at least one half the crop,
How long can the manufacturers be
contented with such small stock? The
idea Of marketing the crop slowly and
demanding 10 cents or more a pound
has in my Judgment been reasonable
and correct, and no doubt has gone
very far towards causing the planters
to hold so much OF their crop until
now. As see it, their conduct in this
matter has in measure at least,
aroused in the spinners and speculators
sense of contempt for and resent
ment of their course, having so long
dictated to them the price they should
have for their cotton, 1t now seems to
them foolish and silly that the farmers
should essay to be considered and con-
suited as to the price they shall have
for their cotton = the result of their
arduous toll. They have observed in
the pact that producers become i'm
patient and sell on declining market
and they now undertake to alarm and
cause them to sell for lear of further
decline. Now farmers, what folly Is
all this il the planters will only stand
together against these two classes and
say to them: Keep your money u.tll
you get ready to give us price that
will justly reward us for our to'l In
making this cotton. Statistics show
that only small amount more cf co.,
ton has gone forward up to this date
than was taken last season at O. cores
ponding date. Then the mills were
compelled to shut down, number of
them in the spring. Well, now suppose
the farmers continue to hold their cot.
ton until spring and one or two things
must necessarily result-cotton must
go up or mills must shut down. Now
urge the planters to stand firmly to
each other in their purpose and effort
to obtain fair price for their cotton in
this figh. which is now fairly on al!
over the solid South and the cotton belt
of the Wes'. Let us fight agaiust the
spinners and spectators who seek TO
wrest from our grasp our money crop
at price that means privation ard
want to ourselves and families. If
farmers don't stand together for
mutual help and thereby secure just
compensation for their work they must
inevitably submit to drag out their
lives for others who laugh at their
stupidity and submission while thoy
luxuria,e ia the good things they have
provided for themselves. / will say
now that [ believe the farmers are
ready TO push this fight 20 the finish, il
you can only make thom believe that
they can succeed.
You know that they have 50 long
submitted that it has become habit
with them and they need much en-
couragemcnt to inspire sufficient conf
denco to enable them TO stand per-
sistently against their former c;n-
querors. The pcice of cotton ia three
cents below its real value and there is
but one way to restore the price, and
that is to refuse to sell single ba'
Farmers are urged to organic, and put
their shoulders to the wheel in order
that their property may be saved from
confiscation By small element of
spectators 'cho are now dominating
the cotton market. Let us hear from
other farmers through the press.
Respectfully,
j. B. COSBY,
Pleasant Mound.
The Herald please CODY