The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-06
coNrRoL.or COTTON MARKET.
Plan Outlined by Which Producers
Might be Protected and Reason
able Prices Maintained.
Baltimore SUM-


Messrs. Editors.
great organizations and great combina-
tons: indeed. 1t seems that nearly every
commodity of importance has in some
way peer brought under the influence Of
these organizations or combinations,
thereby benefiting those specially inter
ested in that particular commodity,
either as producers or manufacturers,
as for example, sugar. tobacco. oils and
many other articles. It is not the writ
er's wish TO criticise the methods en-
ployed blythe combinations that con-
troll the above articles, but to call at
tention to conditions as they exist. Ger
tainly no one will deny that the combi-
made a financial success and, in most
cases, under the most adverse condi-
tons. This shows the wonderful power
of organization, when directed along
specific lines n judiciously handled.
This leads to what l want to write
about, namely: The absolute control
of the cotton market by friends of the
staple lin his I include the manufac-
turer as well as p~roducer), and not, as
now, by the bulls and bears of Wall
street.
In the beginning l wish to explain
why I include the manufacturers with
tho rroI,,oorc a . friends Of fha Stor1a
For~the last five years the price of cot
ton has varied so much in every II
months that with the manufacturer it
has been a case Of pure speculation, and
with most of them on the wrong side
of the market. If they were fortunate
enough to buy at the right time they
could reap a profit; if not, it meant
great loss and, in many cases, the clos
ing of mills. I am sure the manufac-
turers would much prefer a regular
market, even if above the average,
than the conditions that have existed
for some time, as they would have a
basis Of values to work On and make
their contracts intelligently. This plan
not only has in view the idea of keeping
the price up, but also to keep it from
going too high, as was the case in the
last year, for everyone familiar with
the facts knows that the exorbitant
price Of cotton asst March was a curse
to both producer and manufacturer. s.
Note the idea is to control the cotton
market by it's friends. Our first impress
sion is that this is the most gigantic
undertaking of the age. Perhaps this is
the reason it has never been successful
ly don We think it such a big under
taking, when as a matter of fact it is
not, when we get the right view of it.
It is not the whole crop that we have to
consider; it is only the surplus, and of
the combined crops for 20 years the sur
plus has been, say, only LOCO, 600 bales.
hin of it! One million bales of cot
ton in 20 years! Yet that 1000, 900 bales
has cost the producer many times its
market value. Who can count the cost?
To begin with we must dismiss from
Our minds the Ten million OF eleven
million bales the 'sountr., nee Is ana w IL
pay a fair price for, and treat only III s
| surplus. Well, what about this sur
plus? Buy it UP, Who: The rcdnc-
ers. How Let every ba'e Of cotton
be taxed 81, this lax &c go TO j fund 10
buy the surplus. WIZ vii nav charge
of this fund and - ;.;al oversight of
1 lie lldll AL OIliCCiS tO4 o1llCClSJ dp~
pointed by the govern y -. tsa state,
kncwn as cotton commission or COM
misSioners, laws having bee passed by
legislatures authorizing the same an |
other laws of such nature as will tend
to successfully carry out the obpects
desired. AS, per Die, ohibi any
transportation com:.an: fcam rasAive-
| .ng q ba'> Of cotton cnos'x:iad aotsile
Of states with similar laws, unless the
cor4o haC n aho01 or cnro - roorL nv, / r
showing that it mas been taxed the 81
fee. Further, make the cotton weigher
an officer of ten state(if desired), whose
duty it shall be to put the tag Or check
on the bale of cotton when weighed and
collect the 81 fee from the seller. And.
in order to protect the organization
from any loss, the cotton Weigher may
be required to purchase the tags, or
checks from the main office, thereby
protecting the organization against any
loss through misappropriation or dis
honesty. These checks o. tags are to
be made in duplicate Or half duplicate:
one to be fixed to the bale of cottol,
the other to be retained by the person
paying the tax, as it may be Of some
value in the future. This gives an out
line of how the tax might be collected.
So far the cotton grower has borne the
burden. How is he to De benefited?
Undoubtedly to carry out this plan L
will be necessary for all cotton-grow-
ing states to act in harmony; w2.k
along the same lines mi pass similar
| laws and act in unison. Let each CT
ton growing state appoint one or three
men Of unquestioned integrity and non-
esty. for upon them will rest great =.
sponsibility. Their duties will be va
ried, commencing early in the spring.
They are to get all information as to
acreage planted, Iabor, as to croD con-
ditions, also to ascertain as nearly as
possible the amount of cotton needed to
supply the requirements Of the country
| the coming year. The commissioners
Cor eommission) from each state are 70
:! meet in joint session just before the
season opens, and after thoroughly can
| vassing the cotton situation issue a cir
cular to the pubic, declaring that only
a certain number Of bales Of cotton will
be put on the market the following
year. That number should be about or
a little less than the needs Of the