The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-14
PRICE FOR THIS YEARS
SMALL COTTON CROP.

ton ASSOCIATION at ASHeVllle, dlleI
long consideration, issued it's address
urging upon every cotton grower not
to sell pound of cotton for less than
eleven cents. cotton was selling in
Raleigh at 10 IA to 10 SIS cents per
pound.
Yesterday, in less than a week af-
ter the eleven cent minimum pro-
clamation. cotton was selling in Rat
eigh at 10 to 10 3-16 cents per pound
IA decline of rs to IA cents.
That fact shows that the world Is
upon the eve of a gigantic struggle
between the growers of cotton and all
Southern interests on one side and
the spinning world on the other side.
The South wishes cotton to bring
every cent it is worth and insists that
with the small crop this year the mini
mum price ought to be eleven cents.
1t believes the price will go much
higher if the crop is as short as every
report indicates. The spinning world
(most of our cotton is eXported)
wishes to get cotton as low as posi-
BILE and wishes also to defeat the or
ganized effort of the farmers to have
the controlling say-so in the price of
cotton. Therefore having enough cot
ton on hand for present needs, the
spinners are resolved to keep the price
as much below eleven cents as posi-
bic while the farmers are determined
that cotton shall go to eleven cents.
1t is battle royal. The spinners are
few i'm number comparatively, they
know the value of organization, they
have the sinews of war. The farmers
are numerous and widely scattered.
they find it difficult to organize and
fight, and they lack the sinews of
war. Here is the strength of the
farmers: They have the cotton and
the spinners must have it. If the farm
ers can provide to prevent the sale
of cotton at prevailing prices, the
spinners can be forced to pay the
eleven cents. for before Christmas they
must have million of bales of cotton
or shut down their plants.
Mr. A. c. Green, president of the
Wake County Cotton Association, has
called a meeting to be held in Raleigh
on Saturday Ito take into considera-
ton the action of the Asheville
meeting. President Smith, of the
South Carolina association. in calling
a meeting in that State says-and it
has equal application in North Caro-
lima:
ut matters not now whether it
was wise or unwise to set the mini
mum indicated. There is but one thing
left to do and we can do it, and that
is to stand by the convention al
Asheville, and demand Il cents. 1t is
useless for me to call attention to the
fact that, with the 100000 bale
crop. by our loyalty, determination and
manhood we can win it. Various
things will be brought to bear and the
fight for the next thirty days. per-
haps longer, will be the bitterest ever
waged in the South. If, however, the
bankers. merchants, in fact, all par
ties interested in Southern welfare
which means in the Southern cotton
crop, we will see that the weak are
assisted by the strong; we will win
this fight as we won the other and be
rewarded by much higher price
than IL cents for our work.
1t is a great fight. 1t is. as Mr..
Smith says, too late to consider wheth-
er. it was wise or unwise for the as
ISOLATION to fix an eleven cent mini
mum price. That has been done. The
question is: Can the South win? OF
course the man who grows cotton is
primarily interested, but his success
South. Fortunately the farmers UNI
derstand that in this fight they need
the cooperation of the business men
and bankers, and they have put their
fight upon broad grounds. While OF
course, temporarily, any cotton mill
would be glad to have cheap cotton,
the Southern cotton mills would be
glad to see the farmers win. They do
poverishes the farmers. They would be
glad to see cotton always range be-
tween, ten, and twelve cents. =, They are
hurt when cotton fluctuates in one
wear from seven to seventeen cents,
and most of them are in sympathy
with their neighbOrs in the fight for
eleven cents as the minimum for cot
ton.
The South is solid for fair price
for this years small crop of cotton.
ROTH FOR REGULATION.