The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-09
Y,OO YOU KNOW
ANY SUCH FOOL 2
Read This Plain State
ment and Them
ANSWER THE ABOVE
An ApdeaI to Cotton Planters and
Others Who See the Folly Of
Working Twelve Days for
Less Than They Can
Make in Ten.

months since the newspapers were full
of letters from cotton manufacturers
and other writer's. asking what could
be done for cotton to run their fac
tories. and why the land had deter
iorated in production SO the farmers
could not raise a sufficient supply of
cotton to run the mills. They advised
farmers to raise all the cotton they
could, and some of them said the
farmers would get ten cents a pound
for a twelve miliion bale crop. Other
writers said il they did not increase
the crop, that it would be raised in
Africa, india and other countries, and
Southern planters would regret it. We
raised twelve million bales this year,
and what do we hear now?
On Dec. Bird. 1904, when the gov
eminent reported 12,162,000 bales.
some of these same men helped to put
cotton down to Z ~ cents per pound,
with threats to put it lower next week,
thus giving the farmers a Knockout
blow. If that is the best they can do.
l say Farmers, hold your cotton and
cut off the next crop"
1t has been demonstrated to the
satisfaction of cotton farmers during
the past two years 19031904, that Il
ten million bale crop will bring more
money than a twelve million baIe
crop. Ten million bales at eleven
cents, the price on Dec. 5, 1903, would
bring $550,000,000; twelve million
bales at IL cents, the price on Dec.
3, 1904, will bring S450, 000,0 600, or
500, 900, 900 less than ten million bales
brought last year. Ten million bales
at IL cents, the price on Dec. 3rd. last
year, would bring $175,000,OO0 more
than ten million bales at Z IL cents.
the price on Dec. 3rd, 1904.
N l<nnNy nf fool
enough to work twelve days for less
money than he can get for ten day S
work? | know YOU don't; but the cot
ton farmers have allowed themselves
to be fooled into making twelve bales
of cotton for 500 less than they re-
ceived last year for ten bales.
| ask the farmers to stop and think
of the result before they sell this crop
and plant another.
If we let the spectators get this
crop at IL cents, and plant another
big crop, it means ruin now, and star
walton prices next year. They will use
the million bales of surplus cotton 10
beat the price down next fall. Do
you doubt it? Remember that when
there was a surplus before, they gave
YOU 1-2 TO cents and told you that
you were fools for planting so much
Keen the surplus in your own hands
until you get what it is worth Don /
be deceived by the price being raised
just before planting time, as it is just
a bait to make you plant large crop,
after which they will slaughter prices
without mercy
| don't blame the manufacturers
for buying cotton cheap but the farm
er can only blame himself for letting
him have it at or below cost.
[ said last winter that it was better
for the farmer to make not m"re than
ten million bales. Since the govern
Of 1eD 000 halpC
am convinced that farmers have made
a great mistake in making over TO-
500 bales The price dropped in an
hour to SIS cents, which means ruin
to the farmers. l believe most of the
farmers will agree with me that we
can't pay from $500 TO $3.50 for mules.
and pay hands SIS er month, to make
cotton at Z IL cents and make any
money.
If the farmers rush their cot
ton to market at IL cents
il may go lower, and that rice is lit
tie more than cost. They can store
and insure a bale for seven months,
for S175 and borrow $50 on it for
seven months for $1.06, making $3.50
i'm all. | think the farmers who do
not need money had better keep their
cotton at home; and others, VINO must
have money, can store ana insure lnelr
cotton and hold it until july the first.
it.
Reduce acreage twenty-five per cent.
lSeS than last year. In June, Wnen the
government reports decreased acreage.
and the manufacturers are convinced
that there is twenty-five per cent. less
nlanted. which will cut the crop to d
little over nine million bales. then Of
fer your cotton for sale. Remember.
There will be a million bales of sur
plus cotton this year, which VIII nave
to be used next season: so hold the
crop down to ten million lncludlng
the million surplus bales
appeal to the bankers, and ask
them TO stand by the farmers in this
fight. and he'll them with their money
and advice When the farmers pros
per. they deposit their money in the
banks. and when they fail, the banks
suffer too.
appeaI to the merchants, and ask
them to refer TO their books in the
DAYS of five and six cent cotton. ana
compare their losses then with thelr
gain in 1902-1903, when cotton was
ten to sixteen cents. and then declue
where they belong in this nght. Inc
farmers prosperity is the merchants
prosperity and they stand or fall to-
gether.
| appeal to the Commissioners of
Agriculture in all the cotton States
for their help and advice. They have
Spelt thousands OF dollars on L arm
ers institutes, to show farmers how
to make cotton. Now let them give US
their t'mc and advise us how to get
living price for our cotton. No one
knows better than they what seven
cent cotton means for the farmer.
| appeal to the press of the South
ern States. thank them for their help
i'm the past, and ask them 10 give The
farmers the use of their papers. and
To help make this fight against six and
seven cent cotton-our common
enemy.
Farmers | appeal to you. to re-
member the days of ID and cen
cotton. when YOU sold two horse Ioa fls,
of cotton for less than $10e, and after
selling the last bale. and paying IL All
Oh your debts, Leaving; a balance due.
you returned TO your homes with
heavy hearts. Think of the MANY
homes lost by five and six cent cotton.