The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-04-15
INVESTIGATION.
Something to Sell Every Day.
SOUTHERN COTTON ASSOCIATION
E. s. Peters. Vice President, Calvert,
Texas-0bject of the Association.
By Harvey Jordan, President.

Reduction acreage and better sys-
tenn of marketing the cotton crop is the
solution to the business problem of the
South, offered to the cotton growers.
of disposing of a two million surplus
and the other to relieve q condition
which compels the producer to become
the victim of over production.
He declared that east of the Missis.
sipppi, organization of the cotton farm
ers for the purpose of reducing acreage
had been perfected and the purpose of
his visit here was to perfect the organi-
cation in Texas, without whom the
other States would be unable to accom-
plish anything. After stating that the
primitive system of marketing used in
Texas was very he advocated the estab-
lishment of bonded warehouses, stat
ing that as far west as Middle Alabama
this custom obtained, and as cons
quence farmers were getting $5 more
per bale for their cotton than farmers
in Texas.
Do you know that there are only four
competitors to American cotton and
none Of these can compete with it in
the market as long as our American
cotton is no higher than lac per pound.
Until the price reaches that we have
an absolute monopoly of the fabric
that goes into the cloth that makes the
world supply, and we are only getting
half what it is worth if it were in open
competition with other materials.
The fact is, that the only competitor
American cotton has is American cot
ton, and that condition is brought
about by raising more than is needed.
Last year we raised 100000 bales more
than the world could consume and we
brought the price down below the cost
of production. This surplus is still up
on US, and, as we are responsible for it,
it is our duty to get rid of it. If you put
it in the hands of other people they
can use it against you. Keep it your
self and create demand for it by fall
ing short of the worlds consumtion,
NO MARKETING SYSTEM.
Another reason for poor prices is that
we have absolutely no system for mar
keting our cotton. We follow the old
primitive methods that were in use be-
fore the war. That is, we simply let the
people who live 5000 miles from our
shores put their own price on our sta
pie. The reason they can do this is
that you put an enormous over-supply
on the market within short time.
The price of cotton is regulated by
speculation and not by the legitimate
means of trade bosed on supply and
demand.
We,want TO meet this emergency that
confront us. We want to reduce pro-
duction. We can 60 into 1905 and raise
5000, 900 bales, which, with the 1000.
600 surplus we have on hand, will give
just about what the world wants.
1t is deplorable truth that we have
to develop our wealth out of the raw
product. We are an agricultural coun-
try and not country of factories and
business acumen.
Cotton is the product that has sup
ported the United States foreign trade.
Last year we exported 81, 900, OOOO worth
of stuff for every day in the year and it
was due TO cotton. Cotton is the only
thing that prevented a financial de-
preston in New York twelve months
ago. If it were not for the cotton she
exports the United States would be in
the Nations list of debtors instead of
creditors,
In the next two months it will be de-
teruined whether the wave of pros
perity that has passed over the coun-
try shall continue or whether the
South will be facing disaster inside of
eight months.
| SHOULD CONTROL PRICES.
Up to the present time every attempt
to produce cotton anywhere else has
been failure. We have the only coun-
1 m