The Tupelo journal., 1905-03-03
Planters Urged to Stand Firm.

The committee appointed last week
by she Mississippi State Cotton Con-
veErion to issue an address to the
cotton planters of that State, gave out
the following:
THE Mississippi organization of
the Southern Cotton Association in
vites your attention to the necessity
and method of organized efforts on
the part OF those affected by cotton
production.
The South, if its opportunities are
properly utilized, will become the
most favored and prosperous agricul-
tural part of the earth. Climate, soil
and seasons give it a practical monop-
oily of one of the worlds most needed
prcducts-cotton. During the four
years of our civil war, when the price
OF cotton reached about 81 a pound,
and ever since, especially when prices
were high, all other parts OF the earth
endeavored to deprive us of Jul SUI
premacy. but only about a fifth OF the
total yield, which does not appreciably
affect The price, is their utmost at
tainmert. By proper regulations,
limiting the amount of cotton raised
to what will command a remunera-
tive price, by increasing consumption,
by cutting off all %avoidable expense Of
intermediary handling, and by judi
cious marketing, the land and labor
employed in cotton production car be
made the most profitable OF the world.
Ali OF this can be certainly accom-
plished by sensible and well organ
lied effort. The cotton manufacture
ers OF all countries are combining into
one association, which will act
through one set of buyers and utterly
destroy competition. By organization
cotton producers can treat directly
with this organized body, discussing
conditions, agreeing on prices that Will
be permanently remuneratiVe to both,
ending gambling in futures and artih-
cial fluctuations Of values.
"A crop of 10000, 900 or II ,0000, 900
bales is now worth 500, 000,00 more
than a crop Of Il, 000, 600 bales. Had
one-siXth OF the time employed in pro-
ducing this crop been spent in idle
ness, cotton producers would have
been more than 500, 900, 900 the gain
ers. Industry should neve be pun
ished, nor is it, when properly direct
ed, nor should idleness be encouraged.
If. instead of spending one-SiXth of the
time in idleness, the producers OF the
South had devoted that proportion OF
their energy, labor and capital to 9th
err and diversified crops-cOrn, forage,
trucking, livestock, etc.-our section
would have been more than $500 1000,
600 the net gamer. This proposition
is manifest to all well informed peo'
pie who give the subject thought.
Some contend that scent cotton is
better than 10-cent value, but this is
a delusion, unless poverty for cotton
producers and a starvation scale OF
wages and living constitutes a public
good.
"Mississippi's present crop is esti'
mated at 1,500, 900 bales. An advance
OF l cent per pound, SIS per bale
mean; 81, 500 900 brought into our Dor
ders, chiefly from England-a larger
amount than is needed to pay all
State. county and other taXations. An
advance of 4 cents per pound on a
1000, 900 bale crop means 100000, OOt
brought to us from the outside world
and 80 evenly distributed that not a
man, woman or child in our borders
would not be immensely the gamer
With just prices for cotton the wealth
Of our State could be soon doubled
and its prosperity become unsur
passed.
Organization will certainly attain
all of this, and is no more difficult
than were the formation of the Goa
miners, locomotive engineers and 9th
er unions which are now in success
fu! operation.
Our plan Of organization, promul
gated at the New Orleans convention
| ratified at the precincts on February
II. al the county conventions on Feb
ruary 16 and at the State convention
On February 81 is modelled after oul
| system of civil government. Those
| engaged in cotton raising and in al
lied industries associate themselves
together by signing petitions and pay
ing dues. Each supervisors district
organizes by election of officers sim
liar to those of county and State or
carnations, through which they act
by reduction of acreage and of fer
tilizers the world will be convinced
that the South knows and will uphold
its own interests. AS soon as this is
made manifest by reliable reports O.
the crop planted, there will be a sub
| stantial and permanent advance in the
| price of cotton. If those holding cot
ton. who are able to do so, will con
| tinue to cooperate and to stand shout
der TO shoulder until it is definitely
known that the proposed reduction
has been actually made, and h mar
ket that cotton in the manner com
mended by u organization, the price
will further advance permanently
By organized effort a surplus vii
rarely occur and "a then be handled
| by our organization, when successfully
launched, without any depreciation O.
price. r.
HE q NOET.