The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-13
ADDRESS TO THE
COTTON GROWERS
From Commissioners S.
|. Patterson.
ENDORSED BY GLENN
1.-The Man Who Will Take Advantage
of His Fellows in This Crisis is
Traitor, Unworthy of the
Fellowship of Good
: Men,
ENDORSED BY GLENN


Hon. Samuel l.. Patterson, commits
sioner of Agriculture, yesterday issued
an address to the cotton growers of
North Carolina. urging them to reduce
their acreage, stating irresistible rea-
sons why this must be done, and APP
pealing to them to stand true to the
resolutions which were adopted by the
New Orleans convention for the pro-
lection of cotton growers.
He declares that the man who will
take advantage of the present condi-
tions. to promote selfish interests, is
traitor, and unworthy the fellowship
of good men.
The suggestions of Commissioner
Patterson are heartily approved ana
his letter strongly endorsed by Gov
ernor Glenn and Secretary of State j.
Bryan Grimes.
The full text of the address is as
follows:
go the cotton farmers of North Car
DINA:
80 much has been said and done
and wisely-to convince the cotton
farmers of the South of the advantage
to themselves of growing less cotton
in 1905 than was grown in 1904, there
seems little necessity Of saying more.
And vet the subject is of such vast
Importance SO fraught with veal or
woe of their material interests, l beg
permission of the North Carolina
farmers to make one last appear TO
them to stand solidly together in sup
port of the resolutions OF the New
Orleans Convention.
at has been stated time and again
and this statement is true-that the
small crop of cotton brings more
money, not only per pound, but In
gross amount. than the large crop.
Last years record breaking crop
may prove an exception to this rule,
if prices advance, or even remain at
present figures. But if the Govern
ment report in June shall show no ma
terial reduction of acreage, present
prices cannot be maintained.
There are many estimates, differ
ing widely. of amount of American
cotton needed for the worlds supply.
l give what seems to be a conserva-
tive one.
Europe will need at least 100000
bales; United States and Canada, A.
100000 bales; Japan and Mexico,
100000 bales. Total consumption,
ri 500. 600 bales of American cotton.
Suppose 100000 bales can be
handled by spinners, a surplus of one
and one-half millions still remains to
depress the market, unless it can be
protected by the executive commit
tee of the Cotton Growers Association.
Still this one and one-half mill
lion bales carried over into next
years crop, if that crop is a large one
will utterly demoralize prices. If
the government report shall show
another 30,000,000 acre crop, we may
expect this panic in prices, and no
power on earth can prevent 1t. The
greatest factors noW-the only ones as
see maintaining present prices,
are the New Dreams resolutions to.
reduce acreage and the hold of the
executive committee on the present
surplus.
1.-The farmers have never been in
such an independent position for re-
ducing cotton acreage. Plant corn,
peanuts, chufas, SOW peas, make for
age crops for sale, let the land be
idle and save fertilizer bills-anything,
to prevent such unwieldly cotton sur
plus 1t will be better for the In
dividual farmer it will be better for
the farmers at large.
81 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.
1.-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 to-
gether,' the whole body will take
care of itself. The man who will de-
liberately seek to take advantage OF
his fellows in this crisis. and, while
they are striving 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 prolong
this letter. but in all seriousness and
sincerity 1 appeal to the farmers to
cut down their cotton acreage at
least 25 per cent and hereafter to
continue to diversity their crops. Such
policy will bring a degree of pros
perity to the State such as has not
been known since the war
(Signed.) IS. L. PATTERSON,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
Governor Glenn's endorsement is as
follows:
Having carefully read the letter of
Commissioner Patterson, | most
heartily endorse his suggestions, and
urge our people to act upon them.
"R. b. GLENN, Governor"
Secretary Grimes endorsed the adj
dress as follows:
81 most earnestly urge the farmers
of North Carolina to heed the above
appeal for their own protection.
-. BRYAN GRIMES,
Secretary of State
INCoRPoRATIoNs.