The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-03
ELEVEN CENT COTTON.

The Charlotte IN. CD Observer Say
that the example 1t gave of a farmer
who refused los cents for his cotton
because he could not be a traitor to
his association was copied in The Will
mington Messenger and a number of
other papers. and thereat r~eioices be-
cause. it argues. it is helpful to have
the papers on the side of the farmers
association. Through them" contin-
ues our contemporary. much may be
accomplished with the farmers in
stimulating the ~stand-pat policy. which
means 11-cent cotton"
The Observers farmer. having OBJ
ligated himself to the association.
could not dc otherwise. but none the
less it is a question whether the stand
pat policy for soaring prices for cot
ton is a sound one. If persisted in it
cannot but stimulate efforts to raise
cotton in other countries and if these
efforts should prove successful on a
large scale what would become of the
south's practical monopoly? Don't run
the risk of killing the goose that lays
the golden egg.-Richmond News
Leader.
There are one or two points in The
above comment OF The News Leader to
which we wish to call attention. That
paper gays 1.-The farmer, having obliga.-
ed himself to the association, could
not do otherwise implying that he
deserved no credit for having refused
to sell his cotton at a price which some
months ago would have seemed very
high. We think he should be COM
mended for his action, because he le-
fused to do as so many other meal-
of his association have done-violatei
their obligations. Were all the mem
bers of the association to stand by The
agreement, then. 1t could be said that
none of them deserved praise for so
doing; but when a man sees his neigh
price and refuses to do the same
though, possibly, greatly in need of the
cash the sale would bring him he
should be pointed to as a worthy exam
pie to be initiated by his farmer
friends. He does deserve credit-and we
believe the notice by the press of Such
instances will have a good effect in in
ducing other farmers to pursue the
same course.
We know that there are many far
mers who cannot hold their cotton as
long as they would wish; their debts
falling due force them to put it on The
market. Still there are many others
who Cd sell II violation of r. Il. a.,ra
ment without being forced to &c SO.
These are standing in their own light
and are preventing the price going
higher, and at the same time giving
more prominence to those who stand
by their agreement.
Again, we do not think there is an!
danger of the cotton farmer killing
the goose that lays the golden egg"
by trying to force the 2.rice up to elev
en- cents. Greata- stimulus could not
be given to other nations in their de-
sire and efforts to raise cotton on the
other continents. They have already
put forth their best efforts in the at
tempt to do SO and have failed. We do
not believe that the south has any oc-
casiCn to fear competition from the
cotton fields of Africa and Asia. Wher
cotton was much lower than it is now
ST. efforts we're made to break
the south's monopoly. 1t did not take
eleven cent cotton to cause there at
tempts to be made. and eleven cent
cotton wont aid in making more sue
cesstnl any that may be undertaken
in the future. The mill men of Eu.
rope must have the American cotton.
They know tnay can substitute no
other for it. and they cannot scare
the southern farmer into the belief
tnat they can do SO.