The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-14
Farmers stand Fast.

Or. J. Redding in Atlanta Constitution
AS the time draws nigh for planting
cotton every farmer should nerve him
self and his neighbor to the perform
ance of duty in the matter of curtall-
ing the output of cotton the present
year. 1t is not going too far to say
that the issue now to be determined
by individual and cooperative effort
is the gravest that has confronted the
farmers of the South in many years.
There has been no such crisis IN
the past history of cotton production
certainly not since the war, as that
which must now be met and its dan
gers averted. 1t is estimated by those
who should know that there is sur
plus of cotton on hand of no less
than 2,0e0, 900 bales, which means that
with an average crop of cotton or say
10. 100000 or 100000 bales, there
will be no demand for consumption
for this surplus.
AS body of producers the farmers
are imperatively called upon to cut the
area to be planted this year so as to
bring the output of the crop to within
not more than 100000 bales Will the
farmers stand fast and stand together
as one man and determine that thing
shall be done? Many have expressed
confidence in the sincerity of the pro-
ducers of cotton. The farmers talk
! that way and they are freely adopting
resolutions to reduce the usual area
by not less than rs per cent.
The opinion of one man as to what
all the farmers are going to do doesE'
amount to much. 1t 81 largely guess
work. No one knows what proportion
of those who have agreed to reduce
area did so with a mental reservation,
nor how many have remained away
from the meetings and have not made
nor do they intend to make, any prom
Uses at all.
If any one farmer, when planting
time comes, believes with all his heart
that every other farmer, or nearly
every one, is going to cut his acreage
down to a two-thirds of crop basis.
that one man would be wise in his
generation" to plant all out-of- doors
in cotton and make his jack" 1t
would be hard thing to resist the
inclination to break faith; it would
require no breach of faith where no
promise has been given. But where
is the farmer who assumes to be wiser
and smarter than all the other farm
ers, who believes that all the others
are going to stick to their promises
While he, and just a few like him,
will quietly and cunningly spread out
their area and endeavor to make even
larger crops of cotton thar they made
last year? Who among the farmers IS
willing to say that he believes every
body is going to be faithful excepting
himself?
The truth is, it were better in the
case now before us to take counsel Of
our fears as well as of our hopes; to
be Influenced by our expectations as
we'll as by. our desires. TO be per-
fectly plain, il will be infinitely the
safer course for each farmer to as
sumo that the temptation to plant for
the usual sized crop will be too great
for the great mass of the producers
to Withstand and then govern himself
accordingly. In other words, he should
mark out his own course and resolve
that whatever others may do he will
cut down his area, in order to reduce
the cost of production to within safe
limits, so that he may be prepared for
the worst next fall. If a farmer doubts
the faith of his fellow farmers it would
De exceedingly foolish to Ego with the
multitude to do evil" De cannot be
justly accused of acting in bad faith
because ne lacks faith in his fellows
provided he does not violate his own
pledge, but sticks to it all the closer.
The sum of it all is this: The inGi-
yldual farmer (and every one is an
individually should act precisely as if
he We're afraid the mass Of his breth
reE are going to backslide from theil
professions and their vows and take
care not to do as he fears they will
do. 1t would appear a little conceite,,
in him and would seem to reflect on
his brethren, but what may now ap-
pear to be conceit may pass curren,
for wisdom next fall. "A word to thu
wise is sufficient