The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
~\%%N~~N ANA\%H
Farm. ers' Educational
and Cooperative Union
A. F. CALVERT. .

Can Iue STo"eis seiA uiieC' w tno
mills?
We might answer this at once by
asking another question, viz:. Do the
mills cUr tract for all their coal through
the coal speculatoIs, or do the mills
deal directly with the producers of
coal?
If the mills buy their fuel from the
mines it goes without saying that II
cotton growers will bulk their cotton,
and nut themselves in the same posi-
ton as the business mine owners do,
the mills will then come to the cotton
producers without any asking! '''.
AS the situation now stands the mill
men cannot deal directly with the far
mer, for the simple reason that the far
mer is not in shape in his unorgsnized
state to get his cotton in sufficient
bulk to enable even one of our local
mills to contract for bis seasons sup
ply of cotton direct with the farmer.
No one can sell lO0 bales unless he has
100 bales! Therefore, our local mills,
as we'll as others, are compelled to
either contract with the cotton specu-
lator for their cotton or hire a lot of
men to 20 out on the markets and pick
up their supply in a competitive way
one mill bidding against the other.'7
Good business farmers, as we'll as
mill men, have learned to avoid what
they cali cut throat competition busi-
ness, and most mills now are forced" t.
contract with the cotton speculators
for their cotton.
When our local mills thus place
their contracts with the speculator,
this is virtually loaning all this vast
capital to the cotton speculator, who In
turn uses this money power to depress
prices Of cotton, and robs the local mill
mans neighbor, the cotton farmer.
Does this system of our local mills
foster community interest In the up
building of the So nth? .- ''t' T..
Organized bus iness farmers have
learned from experience to handle
this mill conference business rather
giDgerly, somewhat after the fashion
of the ass that nubleth the thistle.
On several occasions the Farmers
Union of Anderson has invited mill
men to q conference with them on the
subject of selling directly to the mills,
with the result that only one mill man
has ever appeared at these meetings.
This snub has caused the organized
farmers to drive down their no good
stake at this mill station, and look for.
ward for relief with the full know.
ledge of the truth that the fault of the
situation is not in our stars or the
mills or in anybody else except our
selves!
The .up-to date organized farmer
has learned from experience that If
farmers want anything done for their
interest that the farmer is competent
to do for themselves the things they
want done, and that the farmers must
do their own work, or 1t will not be
done!
Our way out of this dilemma is just
here. We are convinced that the only
safe plan by which cotton producers
can have absolute control of their
business is to organize at least 500 of
the best cotton counties in the seven
best cotton States, put their cotton In
the hands Of one farmer In each Of
these counties, and one State. agent In
each Of the seven States, and the bal
ance of the business Is easy. When
this is done 1t will be immaterial to
the cotton grower whet ther he sells to
the mills or the cotton speculator. It
is then an easy matter for this organi-
zation to hold control Of at least three
million bales for their own set price
and let those who refuse to organize
remain outside as prey for the cotton
speculator. When this ia done we
need not invite .spinners to come to
the grower for bis cotton, The natu-
raj thing for q business man to do Ia
to look out for his interest, which is
not, in this case, to employ q great
army Of cotton manipulators to gather
In his supplies when one direct deal
with grocers will do 1t.
The trend of all the business world
is along this very progressive line, and
the sooner the cotton growers learn
this, the sooner will they come out of
the muddle;. in fact, this 10 the very
way they have 80 successfully won out
lin sentimental way-the victories OF
the last two crops. But this senti.
mental business Of running things by
fit and starts has its days numbered,
and the working men at the head of
such things naturally become tired OF
working for glory, sentiment, good
water and air. Such things are good
in their way, but they are not among
the prominent factors of the business
world. We cannot long continue q
thing Of this kind with the passing of
resolutions and open pledges,
We must put up our stuff In tangi-
BILE form by placing our cotton abso-
lutely in the hands of our country
agents, and each and every man that
has anything to do in this matter must
be paid q stipulated price for his labor,
and be compelled to give sufficient
bond to insure safety to owners of cot
ton in hand.
All good farmers ought to know that
he reaps that which he sows, and na-
turally q cheap MAI usually does cheap
work; we must employ our best men
who are competent to DO our work, and
then pay for that work at current rates,
or We cannot hold our hands up against
the pressure Of our striving business
men of today.
In our attempts at organizing far
mers we should not be discouraged If
we do not succeed in getting all the
good farmers In each section; In fact,
in order to accomplish cur work We
don't need one.fourth of them to get
control of enough cotton to demand a
profitable price and get it. Our expert
ence-in 8 sentimental way-during
the last two wears ought to drive il