The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-04-21
A LAST 4 PPEAL
10 Cotton Farmers to Reduce Their
Cotton Acreage,
And save Tb
And save Themselves ana All other
Business Men from Bank.
ruptoy Next Fall.

Z i 4 - =. Ia
Business Men from Bank.
ruptoy Next Fall.
The recent government report esti.
mating the total cotton yield of last
season at 13, ,5s7, 1882 bales should for
ever dissipate any furtiye deluslons
on part Of large or small planters
that they can play fast aud loose with
their restriction Determination and
depend on fate and Sully or any other
factor to beat of g return of the low
price era next fall, says the Atlanta
Constitution. Unlesr we are greatly
mistaken in its gauging of the situa-
tion, the agricultural interests OF the
south will grasp the full meaning of
this omtnous report and cling to the
programme outlined by their state
and general organizations as the one
sure rock of safety for the coming
season.
1t Is extremely probable that the
total crop or 1904 05 will touch four
teen million bales, with all of the cot
ton not yet In sipht or otherwise un-
accounted for. or this sum large
proportion will be clnsumed, part OF
IL at fair prices and part at price 8
compelled by the bears in the time OF
market distress. A large percentage
OF the current crop will likewise be
held over and added to next years
yield, II the present tenacity OF the
farmers continues.
Ii, therefore, the south duplicates
this spring the acreage OF last spring,
little imagination is required to fore
see that calamitOus consequence. To
a degree, OF course, the bumper crop
OF last year was due TO abnormal cli-
matte conditions, which will hardly be
repeated IN their entirety during the
Impending season. It iB a matter Of
plain logic, however, to anticipate an
other overwhelming yield, should
there be 10 restriction in the 1904
acreage, even though the meteorolog-
ical conditions of the two seasons
were at radical variance.
For the southern farmers to % to
market next fall with a thirteen or
even a twelve million. bale crop, to
which must be added the one or two
millions admittedly to be carried over,
will be- to precipitate, at the very be-
ginning OF the marketing season, the
disastrous prices which prevailed last
December. Indeed, with unscrupulous
spectators armed by the middle Of
June with the knowledge that there
has been no Eerceptible decrease in
acreage, and with the anticipated glui
In the market from the present hold
Ing movement, 1t would be by no
| means GIlrnrf -iTir nv,
we're able to BANNER down prices TO
a new low-water mark. It Is nee d less
to enlarge on the meaning OF such a
catastrophe to every state in the
south.
Right now in the thick of the plant
Ing season, when they have 1t In their
power to dictate the autumn prices for
their product more surely than the
most ingenious clique OF speculators,
taey must dlvest themselves of the "a
tai delusion that somehow, by sem:
unfathOmab!e, mysterious necroman.
cy, they can produce an oyerwhelm-
ing crop and obtain for it the prices
paid for smaller one.
The case Is one of plain self-prsser.
vation, the confronting OF proven
condition, not casuisria theory.
| Whether from speculative ingglery,
the bona ade laws Of supply and de
mand or any other agency, thelpertin-
ent, 1nescapable fact s.apds oat that
crop even approaching the dimen
sions OF the ne OF last year mears
low prices and consequent disaster to
the farmers and the cotton states gen.
orally. This being the case, it Is not
only the. duty, but the interest, OF
every cotton farmer to reduce his acre.
age radically, tlinglng finally from him
the temptation 10 co otherwise, Low
prices for one planter mean low prices
for all, fact that should secure the
universal observation OF the restric-
tion propaganda.
We have no intention of assuming
the hysterical pose of the alarmist.
But, In common with the most Oh.
Scurc farmer, we cannot view with re.
li>h the poss bil!ty Of q repetition OF
the old, haggard, low price years, with
private and public Gre lit prostrate In
many localities, business stagnant and
levelOp nent At standstili. Yet, In
our sincere Judgment, that Is one of
the risks contingent on the produc.
tion OF another record breaking crop
next year. We cannot believe that the
southern farmers, bearing in mind
these nightmare possibilities, will de-
libarately elect to exchange for them
che comparative ease and af1ilence of
the last three years.
Fatal Saloon Brawl.