The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-12
GOOD PRICES FOR COTTON.
Organization Everywhere-The Ware
house.
Editor Press and Banner :

house.
Editor Press and Banner
To those who have held their cotton until
now their fondest hopes have about material
lied, and once more King, Cotton's market
value Is ten cents. What has brought the
price Of cotton up from 81 cents TO 10 cents?
The reduction OF acreage. unfavorable wealth
or conditions and an ever increasing demand
lem. What is the resultf The result is that
1t brings out a lot Of cotton that has been
stored and business ls increasing everywhere,
and the farmers who have held their cotton
what they demanded.
I would not ask any intelligent man what
would have been the condition Of affairs TO-
ed TO sell for 6H centsHthe price 1t dropped to
about six months ago2 Would not business
still be demoraliZed and %stagnated as II was
then? We all remember too we'll what the
result was. and the wish of every one Is that
81 cents cotton will be q thing OF the past,
| never to return.
Had the farmers not organized and refused
no doubt but what 1t would have been but lit.
tie better than that today. Now II the farm
ers, by being positively organized, could force
the price Of cotton up s. a bale in the face OF
the fact OF one OF the largest crops tho world
has ever produced, what could they do If they
we're thoroughly organized Would not
their rights be recognized and protected bet
ter yet?
You will find some who seem to oppose any
effort on the part Of the farmer TO organize
for the protection OF their interest, and yet 1t
ID all we'll and good for all other lines OF bust.
ness to organize. You will find from the boot
blacks and street steamers up to the finest
mechanics and engineers organized. and their
righ ts are respected and projected them, why
not the farmer.
There 10 O tidal wave Of organization sweep
ing this country Of onrs as never has before.
and 1t is only q question OF time when the
farmers will be organized not only for their
protection but to encourage and assist In any
enterprise that will be a benefit to the coun-
try at large.
What is needed is to educate the farmer that
he has some rights that should be protected.
That he is no longer "old hay seed" but mas,
work together for their mutual Interest.
Did not the North Western farmer demon.
stratet that fact q year or two ago when they
organized and built their own elevators and
stored their grain and demanded from the
mills q profit over production, when before
they could scarcely eat out an existence.
Now II the North Western farmer can organ
lie and build elevators TO protect themselves
against unjust prices, why IN the name OF rea-
son cannot the southern farmer organize and
build warehouses 10 store his cotton and re-
ceive the same benefit that the western man
does With his grain.
The farmers are beginning to realize that
warehouses are q necessity and that they can
not do without them much longer, and 1t Is
dot a question as TO what they will cost but
what they will be worth, for 1t will only be a
matter OF time when the bulk Of the cotton
! will he stored, and the selling Of one and two
bales at a time will be a thing OF the past.
Then and not until then will the farmer real.
lie the highest market price for bis cotton. az
1t will be In better condition TO be placed on
the market, and II can be sold In larger guam
titles. II can also be sold then to the mills
which will In q large measure eliminate the
speruIator from debating the price OF q staple
that should be governed and regulated by the
producer.
Thr farmer don't ask nor does he want any
fabulous pric. for his produce. Heonly wants
that which IL equitable and right. Live and
let live' ID his motto.
Where will you hnd a people more easily
satisfied then the farmer7 He takes his pro-
duoe to market and takes what he can get
when he makes a purchase be gives the other
fellow his price. Now is this right7 should
not The man who feeds and clothes the world
have a right to say what his produce has cost
him and what he shoul lave for IT. The
question Ia can he ever hope 10 gain this posi-
tlon unless he is thoroughly organize and
makes his farm self.sustaining. The idea ia
to live at home and not try 10 rely on any
other effort other than your own.
II ia evident that there will be a larger guam
tity Of corn shipped 10 this part of the coun-
try another year than there has been for q
number Of years. The low lands have re-
mained too wet as a general rule and the up
lands have been woefully neglected, conse.
quently the corn crop will drop way below
the average.
Owing to the splendid seasons there ia a
good area sown In peas and cane and g foe
crop OF hay will in a large measure tide over
the short crop OF corp.
The prospect now is that cotton will bring q
good price this season and that corn will be
equally a better price next spring. 80 If you
have any land that has no crop oL II, by all
means SOW 1t down In corn and peas. and re-
lieve the situation as much as possible, for
corn will be corn another year,