The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-08-19
CoLFAx, GRANT PARISH, LA. SATURDAY. AUGUST 49, 1906


Cotton Raisers Urged to stand
Firm for Higher Prices.
Atlanta, Ga. Aug. 1.-THE following
was made public to-day:
A recent meeting of the international
Cotton Spinners held at London, Eng
land. on Aug. 1, indicates very clearly
that the producers are to be bitterly
fought by the spinners during tho next
three months. AT ths meeting above re-
ferred to foreign spinners we're advised
to buy no more cotton for ninety days
except in such cases where the raw ma
terial was absolutely needed. The effort
will be made to deprpss the cotton mar
ket here by reducing the demand for the
raw material as far . possible in order
to break down the present movement OF
the farmers to demand fair prices for
their staple. The present plan Of the
foreign spinners, it now appears. il to
crush the Southern Cotton Association
and its efforts at the opening of the fall
season and force the farmers to sacrifice
their cotton on a depressed market
brought about by combination and con-
cert OF action among the spinnera and
''bear" spectators. Every imaginable
device known to human ingenuity will be
brought to bear to depress prices during
the next four months.
The Southern Cotton Association will
meet at Ashevllle, N. c., Sept. 6, and at
that time will fix minimum price on
the present crop which will be fair and
just to both the producers and spinners,
based upon carefully prepared report
on the condition of the crop up to Aug
ust 18th, and the estimated percentage
of yield. as compared with 1904. When
this minimum price for spot cotton is FIX
ell by the representatives of the different
States on Sept. 6 at Ashville, every pro-
ducer Of cotton in the South will be call
ed upon to stand by the action of the
Association and force the consuming
world to pay fair price for the staple.
There will be no raw cotton from the
crop of 1904 What is left over uncon-
'sumed on Sept. will be only small re-.
serve stock. The mills are now consum-
ing 10000 bales per week, and the de-
mand for cotton goods is enormous at
high prices. The farmers are in good
financial shape to protect their staple,
and il money is needed Southern bank
ers are amply able and quite willing to
finance the situation.
The producers have just won notable
victory in the face Of the largest crop
ever produced in this country, and by
concert of action forced prices up from 6
cents in January to 10 cents on July 3,
encountering each day the most intense
opposition.
The present crop indicates a short
yield compared with 1904, while the con-
sumption of cotton will 60 forward una
bated for the next eighteen months.
Present prices for spot cotton are not
high. They represent only small profit
to the producer.
II the fight must come it will be forced
by the spinners and will be met by de-
termined and effective opposition on the
part of the producers. The crop of 1905
must not be sacrificed. Let every man
measure up to- the highest standard of
Southern manhood and do his full duty.
The mills have got to have our cotton.
and If they want to stop buying at pres
ent prices We can stop selling, and see
whose corn crib and smoke-house will
last the longest. On the eve Of the crises
which threatens the South the Southern
press is earnestly called upon to publish
this article and comment upon the same
editorially. The farmers all over the
South are rapidly organizing, and the
Association has no fear of the final out
come in the struggle which lies just
ahead. Very respectfully.
HARvIz JoURDAN.
President Southern Cotton Association.