The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1905-06-08


1900, $94. .300,000,000: farms, 1850
| $3,967. .345,5S0: 1900, $20,5l4,o0l,,
838. Farm products; 1850, Sl,95S,
030,927; 1900, $3,764,l77, ,706. Man.
ufactured products: 1850 $l,0l9,-
106,6l6: 1900. Sl3,039,279, 900
This shows that wealth has increased
over 1900 per cent. farms not quite
600 per cent; farm products not
quite 200 per cent; manufactured
products over 1900 per cent, Thus
we see that the farms in these num-
ber of years have increased only 600
per cent, while the manufactures have
increased 1900 per cent. The
greater part Of the increase in the
farms, has been in the grain states
and not in the cotton states, which is
seen from the following table, show
ing the increase in value of farm
property since 1890, which is as fol-
lows: Alabama, $56,000,000; Geor-
gia, S74,0O0,000; Mississippi, $780,
100000; Indiana, 100000, 200; Iowa,
$500,000,000: Illinois, $70000O,000.
From this you see that the farm
wealth of the South has increased far
less than 900 per cent. To show
you how the unjust legislation has
diverted the wealth of the land from
the pockets of the agriculturists into
the Golfers of the different manufac-
turing industries, we refer you to the
government statistics, which show
that in 1900. the capital invested in
manufacture was not quite $l0,000,-
100000. net profits on same nearly
$3,000,000,000. Total capital, in
farms little over $50, 900, 100000, net
profits a little over $2,000,000,000.
In manufacture, Sl,500,000,000 of
the net profits is due to protection
whereas in farming no part of the
net profit is due to protection When
we find that our manufacturers sell
steel rails and all other articles in
the foreign markets from 20 to 10
per cent cheaper than they will sell
them to us; then why not cut down
this protective policy to a tariff for
revenue only, or better take it off
on many things entirely? Why not
let our manufacturers and merchants
go out on the open seas and purchase
merchant ships and hoist the stars
and stripes tas other nations do their
flags under the protection Of their
governments that they might carry
in safety our products to the differ
ent countries which they might wish
to seek trade with, instead of forcing
them to buy of the shipbuiItling trust,
by denying them the use Of our flag
on ships bought elsewhere Let our
government do as England, France
and Germany: send out agents to
seek trade and make treaties at the
governments expense with China and
all other countries where our advan-
tages are unknown and show them
such of the American goods. This
it never has done in the interest of
the cotton growers, but has in the
interest of the grain producers. If
this were done it would enlarge our
trade in cotton fabrics, better prices
would be obtained and you never
would hear of over production even
if we should make 20,0O0,O00 bales
annually. We need an expansion of
markets. There are millions of peo-
pie who can be induced to consume
our cotton goods, and it can be done
in the above way.
In conclusion, | wish to say that
the Almighty has already reduced the
acreage more than all the efforts of
our association would ever have done,
because every man is going to act for
himself and do as it suits him best.
Therefore, it appears to me, that
there is no better way to start at
making better prices for cotton than
to appropriate the greater part of
the cash we are spending on this line
in having such documents printed as
will be found in the speeches delivered
in Congress of our two senators, and
especially of our congressman, ]. S.
Williams and A. NJ Byrd, (the lat
ter's is strictly on this question: and
have them mailed to the people of
the western and middle states the
wheat growers and manufacturers
that We might make Democrats out
of Republicans by convincing them of
the error of their way, upon a strict
business plan. Let us show them
that the protective policy is wrong,
and is not for their, or the masses
interest, and hence induce them to
vote for those who will abandon it.
DO this before campaign year for
then it will be more effective in get
ting votes for the needed changes to
be made. Show them that in so do
ing our cotton would bring more than
double what We have been getting
for it, hence our purchasing ability
would increase in the same proper
tion, and we are a people who know
how to spend money when we have
it. We would buy double the quanti-
ty of flour and everything else, espe-
cially that which we can wear.
The cotton growers of the South
make the money for the world. All