The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21
a LAST APPEAL
TO Cotton Farmers to Reduce Their
Cotton Acreage,

And Save Themselves and All o ther
Business MoH from Bank.
ruptov Next Fall.
The recent government report esti-
mating the total cotton yield of last
season at 13, ,5s7,7S bales should for
ever dissipate any furtiye deluslons
on part of large or snall planters
that they can play fast aud loose with
their restriction Determination and
depend on fate and Sully or any other
factor to beat of q return of the low
price era next fall, says the Atlanta
Constitution. Unless we are greatly
mistaken in It's gruging of the situa-
tion, the agricultural interests OF the
south will grasp the full meaning of
this omtnous report and oling to the
programme outlined by their state
and general Organizations as the one
sure rock Of safety for the coming
season.
1t Is extremely probable that the
total crop of 1904 05 will touch four
teen million bales, with all of the cot.
ton not yet In sight or otherwise un-
accouated for. or this sum large
proportion will be consumed, part OF
IL at fair prices aud part at prices
compelled by the bears in the time of
market distress. A large percentage
of the current crop will likewise be
held over and added to next years
yield, IL the present tenacity OF the
farmers continues.
Ii, therefore, the south duplicates
this spring the acreage OF last spring,
little imagination is required to fore
see that calamitous cons 1luence. To
a degree, Of course, the bumper crop
OF last year was due to abnormal cli-
matte conditions, which will hardly be
repeated in their entirety during the
impending season. 1t is a matter uf
plain logic, however, to anticipate an.
other overwhelming yield, should
There be no restriction in the 1904
acreage. even though the meteorOlog-
ical conditions of the two seasons
were at radical variance.
For the southern farmers to 90 to
market next fall with a thirteen or
even a twelve million bale crop, to
which must be added the one or two
millions admittedly to be carried over,
will be- to precipitate, at the very be-
ginning Of the marketing season, the
disastrous prices which prevailed last
December. Indeed, with unscrupulous
speculators armed by the middle of
June with the knowledge that there
has been no perceptible decrease in
acreage, and with the anticipated glut
In the market from the present hold
Ing movement, 1t would be by no
| nc f-f
we're able to BANNER Gown prices to
new low-water mark. Tits needless
to enlarge on the meaning of such a
catastrophe to every state in the
south.
Right now In the thick of the plant
ing season, when they have it Ia their
power to dictate the autumn prices for
their product more surely than the
most ingenious clique OF speculators,
taey must dlvest themselves of the IA
tai delusion that somehow, by sem:
unfathOmab!e, mysterious necroman-
cy, they cau produce an overwhelm-
ing crop and obtain for 1T the prices
paid for smaller one.
The case is one of plain self-prf ser
vation, the confronting Of proven
: condition, not casuisfi1 theory.
Whether from speculative ,inggIery,
!; the bona ade laws of supply and de
mand or any other agency, theNpertin-
ent, inescapable fact stands odt-- that
crop even approaching the dmen
slons or the me OF last year means
low prices and consequent disaster to
the farmers and the cotton states gen.
orally. This being the case, it Is not
only the duty, but the interest, OF
every cotton farmer to reduce his acre
age radically, flinging finally from him
the temptation 10 co otherwise, Low
prices for one planter mean low prices
for all, fact that should secure the
universal observation OF the restric-
tion propaganda.
We have no intention of assuming
the hysterical pose of the alarmist.
But, In common with the most Oh
scure farmer, we cannot view with re-
liAh the poSs bilty Of repetition Of
the old, hagsard, low price years, with
private and public Gre 1t PROSTATE In
many localities, business s'agnant and
tevelo nent 1T 4 standstili. Yet, In
Our sincere Judgment, that is one of
the risks contingent on the produc.
tion OF another record. breaking crop
next year. We cannot believe that the
southern farmers, bearing in mind
these nightmare possibilities, will de-
liberately elect to exchange for them
che comparative ease and affjuence OF
the last three years.
Fatal Saloon Brawl.
Roy Joyce, a bartender, was killed
and John Doyle, one Of the proprie-
tors and waiter, uamed Weston,