The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-25
THE COTTON SITUATION.
Now ortwenty years hence.

Now or twenty years hence.
The meeting Of the farmers last Saturday
to hear the champion ofll cents cotton was .
decided success for the movement. Mr..
Smith IL a most eloquent speaker and fired
with enthusiasm for the cause makes very
interesting appeal. The Court House was
crowded and the walls frequently reechoed
with applause as the speaker touched
sym pathetic chord In the hearta OF his al.
dience. Mr.. Smith is In dead earnest and II
the farmers will listen TO him they will get
ii cents for their cotton. Hold your cotton,
hold Is all he asks you TO do. Coptracta must
be filled and they can't be SPUN out Of paper
to give up now means IN give up when the
battle 10 almost won. Mr.. Smith truthfully
said thst II the farmers permit the bear
speculsIors 10 whip In this light the cause is
lost for at least 20 years! You can hold your
cotton for q fow months why In the name OF
common sense don't you try II and see II
there be any virtue In the movement! You
say that Tom, Dick. Harry, and Joe Finley
won't hold ana so what's the use. Well Tom.
Dick, Harry and Joe Finley say the same
thing about You three times a day and they
have canae TO do 1t too.
II there is not another man in your com :
munity who is holding why IT. IL up 10 you To
set the example and see whether or not there
is any virtue In the holding OF cotton. The
cotton leaders say for u certainty that II the
farmer1 hold they will get II cents for ever,
pound OF It why In the name OF common
sense then don't you do your part? Do Ss'!tha
speaker Of last Saturday beys you. h,d for
few months.
With tho Ware House facilities that We now
have 1t IL possible for any OF us to hold our
cotton. Ifyou can make one cent q pound
On your cotton you might nnd place TO us.
II some how. $50 bale ought 10 be worth
the getting, the leaders OF the cotton move
ment come 10 yOu and tell you yon can get
this. they have studied the condition, the
supply demand ect., and tell you that ell you
must DO 10 gain $500 per bale is TO hold .
little while, then lets hold!
You know that if this cotton is held Oh the
market cotton will 60 up. All that worries
you Is You are afraid you will hold yours and
Tom, Dick and Harry and maybe Joe Find.
ley will sell theirs and glut The market and
you will get lower price for yours, honest
now, isn't that the situation with you? You
would 60 into II In minute II you thought
all the others would do so-Tom and Dick
and the others. You are one OF the others
your neighbor has bis eye on you, and II you
hold and show that You have confidence In
the rank and file OF farmers IL is likely that
you will make q convert OF him and instii
into him something OF confidence in the
movement and its leaders.
Remember this: Al the preRsnt prIea of
cloth the mills can pay you 12 cents for every
pound OF cotton you will make this year and
yet make good money for the mills. Some
mills according TO Mr.. Smith, have sold
goods at q basis OF 13 cents for cotton! Are
you satisfiedf No, you are hungry for that
extra 8 cents, 10 are the mill men but you
have the cotton, It 10 mp 10 you to say who
will get this fat m argin Freeze to your cot.
ton like grim death TO defunct senegambian
until you get II cents anyhow, and II you
come ont OF this tight q winner you will have
accomplished more than could the son OF
Tydeus or Achilles OF Laregra, or ten years
or thousand ships!
Now one hundred member. wore added To
the roll just after the talk OF Mr. Smith
That's good indication that the farmers are
interested. Join the ranks and night till the
last armed foe expires." Don't allow your.
self and your talents TO fall into "innocuous
desuetuds" not to say antagonism, In thi.
struggle. for 1t II going 10 be Q momentous
one and the help Of every cotton planter in
the South will be needed.
Get busy. Secretary.