Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-02-21
HOLD YOUR COTTON;
The FIGHT is WON
Declares President Jordan of
Cotton Growers Association
VICTORY IS NOW CERTAIN
Exporters Are Short and Need the
Spot Cotton and Will Pay for 1t at
Advanced Prices-Reduce Acreage
25 Per Cent, and Stand Pat.

Advanced Prices-Reduce Acreage
25 Per Cent, and Stand Pat.
Jordan, of the Southern Cotton Asso
citation, has issued the following letter
to the cotton planters of the south:
The delegates to the state and ter
ritorial conventions on the 21st should
pass ringing resolutions endorsing the
| policy Of the Southern Cotton associ.
alton to secure a reduction of at least
25 per cent IN the cotton acreage and
use of commercial fertilizers to be
used under cotton for 1905; also call
ing upon every spot holder of cotton
to tighten his grip and refuse to mar
ket a single bale until the price ad.
Vances to fair and legitimate figures.
The New Orleans convention adopted
a resolution, which was unanimous,
calling upon the people to hold their
spot cotton until prices reached 10
cents per pound delivered at the ports,
which would make the price about
$50 in the interior The only way to
break the present advancing market is
to throw spot cotton on the market
| and enable the buyers to fill their
contracts.
Exporters Are Short.
Recent Investigations at all promi.
nent cotton centers show beyond all
doubt that exporters are heavily short
of spot cotton to fill their contracts
with. They will be utterly unable to
| carry out these contracts at pres
ent prices if the holders will stand pat
and refuse to sell. The crisis in the
situation is rapidly crystalizing, and
but one of two things must happen in
| the near future. Either the farmers
and other holders of cotton must re-
| lieve the predicament the buyers are
In by selling at present prices, be
forced to go actively into the spot
market and bid prices up to a point
where the spot holders are willing to
sell. The fight is now whipped and
all the farmers have to do is to con-
| tinue to hold their cotton and force
the buyers to pay what the cotton is
worth. The exporters are heavily
short for all the future months; there.
fore, when sales are made, sell only a
small portion of your hondings and
keep the buyers strained up to I'LL
their contracts. The price of cotton
can be advanced 2 cents per pound
within the next 60 days if cotton is
held firmly as at present. Let there
be no wavering anywhere in the
ranks.
Reduction of Acreage.
"From many sections inquiries are
coming In asking If a farmer who
planted only ten acres of cotton to
the plow in 1904 should reduce his
acreage 25 per cent also. The general
cut of at least 25 per cent should be
made on every farm, no matter what
acreage. Extensive cotton fields
should be cut 33 per cent. 1t is bet.
| ter to work eight acres in cotton at
profit than to cultivate 10 acres at
loss. The man who does not re
| duce his acreage will be making a
| profit on the cotton he raises at the
expense of his neighbors who do re
| duce. Let every man put his should
der to the wheel. Let the reduction
be prorated according to the acreage
| planted in 1904, on a basis of at least
| 25 per cent less, and no man will
have cause to regret his action next
fall
| Reduce the use Of guano at least q
| per cent and in no instance increase
| its use under cotton. We must de
crease production this year, and this
is the only way to do it. Plant more
food supply crops.
"The movement to retire the sur
| plus of 100000 bales from the mar
ket until next fall will soon be started
and will be successful. With the sur
plus out of the way, and the reduction
of acreage and use of guano an &C
complished fact, the balance Of the
crop left in the hands of the holder.
/ will be needed for immediate consump
tion and can be sold easily at mucl
higher prices than those at presen
prevailing.
"The state conventions on the 21s
should also pass resolutions calling
upon landlords to divide up their ren
netes, taking part rent in cotton ant
pGrt in corn, peas, etc. Also cal
upon the warehousemen, merchant
and bankers to aid in bringing abou
a reduction in the acreage.
Continue to perfect county and sub
civil division organizations and by &C
| tive cooperation and unity of actor
along business lines the Southern Cot
ton association will soon be able t
emancipate the south from foreigl
| domination and bring back to our pee
pie genuine prosperity through tn
srotection of the great money croI
| of the world. Harvie Jordan.
"Pres. Southern Cotton Assn"