The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21
A LAST APPEAL

a LAST APPEAL
To Cotton Farmers to Reduce Their
Cotton Acreage,
And Save Themselves and All Other |
Business Men from Bank
ruptoY Next Fall.
The recent government report esti-
mating the total cotton yield OF last
season at 13, ,5s7,7s2 bales should for
ever dissipate any furtiye deluslons
on part of large or small planters
that they Gan play fast aud loose with
| their restriction determination and
depend on fate and Sully or any other
factor to beat of a return of the low
price era next fall, says the Atlanta
Constitution. Unless we are greatly
mistaken in its gauging of the situa-
tion, the agricultural interests OF the
south will grasp the full meaning of
this omtnous report and cling 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 O5 will touch four
teen million bales, with all of the cot.
ton not yet in sight or otherwise un.
accouated for. or this sum a large
proportion will be cJnsumed, part OF
| fD
con- PEELED 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, II the present tenacity OF the
farmers continues.
Ii, therefore, the south duplicates
this spring the acreage or last spring,
little imagination is required to FORE
see that calamitous consequence. 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. It Is 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 twelve million bale crop, to
which must be added the one or two
millions admittedly to be carried over,
will be to prec!pitate, at the very be-
ginning of the marketing sessop, the
disastrous prices which prevailed last
December. Indeed, with unscrupulous
spectators armed by the middle of
juno with the knowledge that there
has been no rerceptib]e decrease in
acreage, and with the anticipated glut
In the market from the present hold
Ing movement, 1t would be by no
means surprising or unnatural II they
were able to BANNER down prices TO
new low-water mark. It Is nee dless
to enlarge on the meaning of such
cato ostrophe to every state in the
south.
Right now in the thick of the plant
ing season, when they have it in their
power to dictate the autumn prices Tor
their product more surely than the
most ingenious clique OF speculators,
tacy must dlvest themselves of the IA
tai delusion that somehow, by sem.
unfathomab!e, mysterious necroman.
cy, they can produce an overwhelm-
ing crop and obtain for 1T the prices
paid for smaller one.
The case Is one of plain self-pri ser
walton, the confronting Of a proven
condition, not a casuisff: theory.
Whether from speculative inggIeTy,
the bona fde laws of supply and de
mand or any other agency, theNpertin-
ent, inescapable fact stands @t.. that
crop even approaching the dlmen
sions OF the me Of last year mears
low prices and consequent dlsaSter 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, tllnging 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 slarmist.
But, in common with the most on
scure farmer, we cannot view with re-
lish the poss bility Of repetition Of
the old, haggard, low price years, with
private and public creii 1t prostrate In
many localities, business stagnant and
development 1t n standstili. Yet, In
our sincere judgment, that is one of
tie 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.
hberately elect to exchange for them
che comparative ease and af11lence OF
the last three years.
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