The leader., 1905-02-01
NO REASON FOR DISCOURACEMENT.

mo REASON FOR DISCOURACEMENT.
The Leader is inclined to think
that a good many people are tax
ing entirely too serious and dis
couraging d view of their present
and future prospects, from a f.
nanciaI standpoint, because Of the
prevailing price Of cotton. They
are allowing themselves TO dwell
on the dark side Of the picture
and becoming pessimistic as to
the future, when there is really
no sufficient reason for discour-
agement. It is true cotton is sell
ing for about half Of what it did
at this time last year, and from
four to six cents less than most
people expected to get for it
when they planted the crop Of
1904; but it ought to be remem
bered that nearly all Of our peo-
pie kept out Of the poor house,
managed to get something. to eat
and wear and enjoyed a measurable
degree Of happiness and financial
success, when the price of cotton
ranged for a series Of several
years along about where it is now.
One or two years during the nine
ties it was down to 4 and 5 cents,
when prices like the present had
already been in vogue just pre-
EViouslY for several seasons.
Those years did look a little like
starvation to the farmers and all
the rest Of us, sure enough, but
our people successfully weathered
the storm, gathering valuable
lessons by their experience and
were ready to enjoy the better
fortune when it at last came.
Owing to the general prosperi
| ty which has prevailed for the last
two or three years, and the excep-
tionally high prices received for
| the cotton crop of 1908 and that
part Of the crop of 1904 which
was marketed early, our people
Of nearly all vocations are in a
better condition to stand a season
of financial depression than they
were when the 4 and 5 cent prices
prevailed few years ago. Both
farmers and merchants are in far
better condition financially than
at that time, and in fact at any
time since the war, and hundreds
Of farmers have money deposited
to their credit in the banks.
Whether or not the temporary
business depression occasioned by
the slump il cotton shall continue
any great while really depends on
the farmers themselves. IL farm
ers who have not sold their cotton
will make their arrangements to
hold it off the market for several
months and will reduce their cot
ton acreage and fertilizer bills
this year 25 to 80 per cent. there
will be a substantial advance In
che price of the staple within the
next five months. Farmers who
have cotton on hand can get Iiber-
al advances on the same from
their merchants or borrow money
on it from the banks for their act
ual needs, and If this is done, bus
mess will soon assume healthy,
normal condition.
The outlook is not gloomy
one at all, If a man is not deter
mined to look at it through blue
glasses, regardless Of facts
and what may be done to bring
about a better condition of things.
The farmers of Lincoln and sur
rounding counties can't do it all,
but we believe they will do their
full part in carrying out the poli-H
cy mapped out BY the New Or
leans Convention, and we believe
| the other farmers throughout the
South are going to do their part.
Why should Lincoln county
farmers raise cotton for less than
| 8 or 10 cents any way, when they
can sell all the yam potatoes they.
can raise for 80 cents per bushel
and molasses at SO cents per gal
lon, and raise their own corn,
meat; hay, stock and poultry Z
IWhy2
Nmmcrnne Egccfrfc Rinoe