The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-07-19
Fair Price for Cotton.


Southern Cotton association, has just
sent out the following:
''The South is to be congratulated
on the prospects for general prosperity
during the next Is months. The 10y
atty of Southern farmers in standing
together during the last three months
of the year and holding their stap!a off
depressed cotton market and follow
ing this by curtailing production for
1903 by materially reducing the cotton
acreage and use of guauo under cotton
is more largely responsible for the
present condition. of good prices than
all other causes combined
''The loyalty of Southern bankers,
cotton men, fertilizer companies and
business men GENERALLY who have SO
generously contributed funds to the as
sociation, and the Southern press
which, during the hard struggle Of the
farmers for the past six months to
whip in the fight they had undertaken,
has done such valiant and effective
public service without price and other
highly important factors unite in
making possible existing conditions.
"All of these things coupled with
bad seasons following in the wake of
heavily reduced acreage and an en-
ormous demand for spot cotton by the
spinners Of the world gives to cotton
the strongest statistical position it
has occupied in many years. If crop
conditions do not rapidly improve tho
supply of raw cotton for consumption
in 1905 will fall far short of the de-
mand aud prices will GO very much
higher. But abnormally high prices
will be as dangerous for the future to
the producer and spinner as abnormal
ly low prices, and we must endeavor
to be conservative and consistent.
"It will be the part of wisdom for
all cotton producers to discourage
speculative interests that would tend
to drive the price of spot cotton above
12 cents per pound just as it is i'm
perative that no farmer should ever
again sell pound of middling cotton
under 10 cents per pound. Let us not
encourage inflated prices that will
hamper the mills, curtail oousump-
tion of cotton and encourage the
growth of the staple in foreign selds.
We hold complete monopoly of the
cotton industry of the world up to 12
cents per pound and at that price good
profits to the producer can be real
lied.
''The recent advance in cotton is in
ducing many farmers already to sell
their crop for delivery in October.
This is bad policy and generally in.
dulged in will deluge such an enor-
nous amount OF the staple on the
market during that month as to break
prices and prove Injurious to those
who must sell. hearn to market the
crop slowly and do not go into specu-
lative propositions.
"By cooperative action refuse to
sell any cotton under 10 cents and so
market the staple as to keep the legit-
innate demand active and healthy at
good prices.
''The Southern Cotton association
in it's meeting at Memphis, June 80,
1905, endorsed the plans for immediate
construction of warehouses under the
plans and specification of the insur.
anoe companies and to be owned and
operated by the local communities in
which they are built. The rapid de-
velopment Of o cotton warehouse sys-
tenn is absolutely essential to the best
system Of marketing cotton for high
prices and this matter should be push
ed ct every cotton point in the South.
1T is now imperative that the farm
ers rally in each county sld build up
the membership Of the association.
Those counties which have not yet OK.
ganised should get into line ct onoe.
Those that are organised should be
pushed by the local officers and the
membership Of each rapidly increased
after the crops. are laid by.
1--WE want to be in strong position
by September to handle the situation
next fall and winter. The outlook is
most encouraging. The State and
county officers Of the association are
to be congratulated ON the splendid
work they have done and now that
success is assured they should redou-
BILE their efforts.
''We have everything to be proud
of and must not let the golden oppor-
tunity now in reach to still better for.
tify our position fer the future, slip
lby or fail to measure nm 70 the hi1heat