The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-04
THE COTTON STU
ALTON
81 yt~s
Farmers Need to Nerve
Themselves For a Long
Fight.
Letter From Col. Peters Giving the
Texas View Of What Cotton
Farmers Should Do, The Farm.
ers Evidently Mean
Business.

10 center around the cotton situation
and many and varied are the predic-
tons as to the final outcome 4
few seem to think the farmers will
back down and the bears will have
genuine love feast over low priced
cotton, not a little of it being the
products of long days labor of wo-
men and children--labor made lighter
in anticipation of the comforts to be
had after the harvest. But these
anticipated comforts and pleasures
have turned to ashes on their lips.
How long? The manhood and de-
termination of the cotton farmers of
the South will answer that question.
Others think that in sixty days cot
ton will be selling for a very much
better price-that as soon as the
bears see the determination of the
cotton farmer written in unmiStaka bic
call off and prices rapidly advance.
With many, in both classes the wish
is father to the thought.
The best way to arrive at a correct
conclusion is to take calm survey
of the situation.
AS to the bear side of the ques-
ton, they argue that a big crop of
cotton has been made, and must be
sold; and they also evidently think
the cotton farmers will plant the
usual large acreage in cotton. They
evidently underestimate the financial
strength of the farmers, and their
ability TO hold cotton longer than at
any other time since the war. Look
ing at the situation from their view
point it is probable they Will not yield
until they are fully convinced that
cotton will not be put on the mark
ct at unremunerative prices to the
growers, and that the acreage to be
planted will be cut to a point that
will make large crop impossible.
This of course, will require months to
do possibly May or June. Therefore,
the farmers need to nerve themselves
to hold on until the enemy is COM
pletely crushed; which can not be
done by Offering cotton for sale. even
slowly, at the present nor until the
price agreed upon at the Cotton Grow
ers Convention has been attained
Many plausible and innocent looking
schemes to get cotton may be put in
motion, but the cotton farmers must
net touch thera at all. To accept
them will be TO Illustrate the very
aims they are working for. One OF
them and an exceptionally plausible
looking scheme. is to offer storage
and advance on cotton for sixty or
ninety days without charge for stor-
age or interest on the money adj
Vanced / have heard that PROPOSE
lions to advance six cents per pound
are being made by exporters. and by
mill men who are short of cotton, With
promise to settle for the cotton at
any time within the sixty or ninety
DAYS, and pay the ruling price at the
time of settlement. TO accept any
such propos TINS is 70 keep the mills
running and the exporters filling their
contracts with six cent cotton, the
very thing they are fighting against.
Another "bear'' tactic is to tell our
North Carolina farmers that the Texas
farmers are paying no attention to
the movement to hold cotton and de-
crease acreage next year, Ibut are
ignoring meetings and preparing 'ol
another big crop. But letter just
received from Col. &c. s. Peters, pfesi-
dent of the Cotton Growers Conven-
ton of Texas puts quite a different
light on the situation down there.
Colonel Peters is a very large cottol
farmer and is entirely familiar with
the situation i'm all parts Of Texas.
Colonel Peters letter is as follows
"Calvert, Texas. Dec. %. 1904.
sMy Dear Mr.. Parker: Replying
to yours of the 10th inst. would say
that | have just returned from North
err Texas where We Completed the
organization of the National Cotton
Association as endorsed and recon-
mended by the National Cotton Con-
yertion held at Shreveport
You can rest assured lildf the
farmers of Texas, and / believe of the
entire South. viii continue 10 stand
together on this vital question. ana
receiving letters ever vtlay from farm
ers, merchants, bankers, farmers or
CARNATIONS ana reports of meetings
held in 4 Harent sections Of the State
endorsing our work
you have probably noticed by this
time the material dropping off in re-
ce,pts, and what is being held now is
;.,4n 20 he carried mill next Iall.
if necessary, and as you see there is
no use of carrying cotton unless we
intend to materially reduce the acre
age planted next season. All inter-
csts are effected and all are united
for n reduction of acreage in 1905.
"As to the reports you see that
there is but l:ttle attention paid 10
tho cotton meetings would Say that
they are sent out by bear" operators
to try and discourage and disor-
game the farmers. No attention
Whatever should be paid to them as
there is practically no truth in them.
Hoping to hear from you as to the
condition in North Carolina at an
early date, and wishing YOU happy
and prosperous New Year, l am,
Yours very truly.
''E. S. PETERS,
President Texas Cotton Growers as
sociation."
This letter should quiet all fears asl
to the position of the cotton farmers
Of Texas. They realize the necessity
OF holding back part of The present
crop and materially reducing the acre
age for the next crop, as do all cot
ton farmers who have the best in
terests of their fellow farmers at
heart.
The proceedings of the meeting OF /
Raleigh Township cotton farmers
Saturday are mighty Interesting read |
ing, and ought to be read by evarv
cotton farmer in the South. THAT
band of brave and determined farm
ers evidently mean business and show |
their faith by their works. | com |
mend their action to all cotton farm
erS. Letters received rro,, nther
places show the farmers of AL Sec
ticns are no less determine Than
those of Wake county
letter from Goidsboro in regard
to the meeting there states
We had a big county farmersI