The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-04-20
APPEAL TO TfE FARMERS



tsre Psteersor.
Hon. g. l. Patterson has sent ost
he following appeal to the farmers Of
Worth Carolina:
To the Cotton Farmers Of North
Carolina: So much has been said and
jone-and wfseiy-io convince the
sotton farmers OF the South Of the ad-
Tantage To themselves of growing less
>otton In 1906 than was grown in 1904.
here seems little necessity Of saying
more And yet the subject Is OF such
sast importance. so fraught With veal
)r woe of their material interests. |
beg permission of the North Carolina
farmers to make one last appeal to
them to stand solidly together in sup
port Of the resolutions CT the New Or
leans convention.
1T has been stated time and again
and this statement is true-that the
small crop of cotton brings more mon
ey. not only per pound. but In gross
amount, than the large crop
Last years record breaking crop
may prove an exception to this rule.
II prices advance, or even remain at
present figures. But If the government
report in June shall show no material
reduction of acreage. present prices
cannot be maintained
There are many estimates, differ
ing widely, OF amount CT American
cotton needed for the worlds supply.
one:
Europe will need at least 100000
bales; United States and Canada. A.
100000 bales; Japan and Mexico 300.-
900 bales. Total consumption, Ii 500
900 bales of American cotton.
Suppose 100000 bales can be
handled b. spinners, surplus Of one
and one-half millions still remains 10
depress the market, unless it can he
protected by the executive committee
of the Cotton Growers Association.
Still this one and a half million
bales, carried over into next years
crop, if that crop is a large one, will
utterly demoralize prices. If the gov
eminent report shall show another
80 600, 000-acre crop, we may expect
this panic in prices, and no power on
earth can prevent it. The greatest
factors now-the only ones, as | see
it-maintaining present prices, are the
New Orleans resolutions to reduce
acreage and the hold Of the executive
committee on the present surplus.
THE farmers have never been in
such an Independent position for re
ducing cotton acreage. Plant corn,
peanuts, chufas, cow peas make for,
age crops for sale, let the land be
idle and save fertilizer bills-anything,
to prevent such unwieldy cotton sur
plus. 1t will be better for the individ-
ual farmer it will be better for the
farmers at large.
Il make this appeal with all the
earnestness of deep conviction. and
to all the cotton farmers of the State,
whether or not they belong to the As
ISOLATION.
"The greatest obstacle in the way
of united action is the apprehension
among the farmers themselves that
they will not all hold together. If each
individual farmer will hold together
the whole body will take care Of it.
self. The man who will deliberately
seek to take advantage of his fellows
in this crisis, and, while they are striv.
ing for the common good, to advance
his selfish interests, is untrue to the
cause and unworthy the fellowship of
good men.
1T Is not worth while to prolons
this letter, bat in all seriousness and
sincerity | appeal to the farmers to
cut down their cotton acreage at leas;
rs per cent, and hereafter to continue
TO diversity their crops. Such a policy
will bring degree Of prosperity to
the State such as has not been know.
since the war.
IS. L. PATTERSON,