The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-04-29

" IL AN(NiPk
ing letter from one of the largest mer-
camille houses in South Mississippi:
"April 18th, 1905.
"As the period disposing of the acre
age qeustion appears to have passed,
or, rather, we are passing through 1t
now, and it will be a matter of stats
tics before long, may we trust there
has been a material reduction? We
deem the next important, yea, vital,
question before us is the matter OF
The cost of producing the cotton crop.
This subject is of such manifest inter
est to all of us that it should com
mand the strict attention and constant
thought of every man who has the
best interests of his country at heart,
be he capitalist, banker, professional
man. merchant, farmer or laborer, be-
cause. as We all know, that cotton is
the basic commodity of this, our coun
try, and ever will be. When cotton
brings a fair or a good price, prosper
ity at nee dawns upon us. When the
price, as it oftentimes does, declines
to a starvation point, say, below the
cost of production, darkness and dis
aster threatens u South, just as 1t
did this past winter. Therefore, we
say. keep this vital and important
question constantly and uppermost in
your mind; think Of it in every bust
ness transaction you make or promise
to make. Don't forget that the cost
of producing your crop, together with
the price it will bring, is n of the
most important business propositions
in your career. 1t decides your com
Vo,nroio1 cfondin0 financial rating
your mode of living, and last, but not
least. your peace of mind. Remem-
Der well. it is scarcely within our
province to fix the price. but we do
claim that we can and must. to a great
extent. fix the cost of production. 1t
has been accomplished before. when
necessity demanded. We know that
present conditions exact from us now
the same resolutions, care and deter
minatiOn. Hold the stiffest rein you
ever held on everything and every
body within your right, power or juris-
diction. You can do it if you try.
Curtailment of unnecessary expenses
on every hand, consistent with reason
and judgment, stOppage of wastefui
methods, which are iniquitOus and
dangerous. See to it yourself, or by
a competent Overseer. that your labor
err or hireling puts in a full days
work for his pay. Buy only what is
absolutely necessary to make a crop.
Buy luXuries only when the profit has
been fully realized. Practice strict
economy on every hand and then, and
only then, are we prepared to meet
the curse of low priced cotton. Some
say it is a blessing in disguise, but
we fix it as a curse, because it is an
in~disputab'e fact that Scent cotton
pinches nightly when it comes. And
we have had this just once again too
often. Make your resolution right
now to produce cotton cheap. Don't
loosen your thoughts. Adhere to it in
all seriousness. The old saying that
,"in times of peace prepare for war"
is well applicable to our situation, and
might We'll be paraphrased to read, Gin
times of prosperity prepare for adver-
Sity." If the latter comes, you are in
a measure prepared to meet it; if it
does not. you have simply acted wise
iy and are in luck.
Let nothing cause you to depart
from your resolution OF economy, from
YOUR dogged determination to quit
ANYTHING that tends towards waste
fitness and extravaganza. Don't let
any temporary rise in the price dur
ing the summer or early fall change
your ideas. Don't let a brilliant pros
Dect for a yield change you one iota:
Remember, it a all change again in
a week, yea, almost in a day.
The year 1904, indeed, was fraught
with severe changes, cotton ranging
in value during that short period from
16 cents to s cents per pound, and the
people totally unfit and unused to
meet such a serious and dangerous
condition of affairs, it was extremely
severe in its teaching and f~ar-reaching
in effect, thereby all the more a les
son never to be forgotten, we hope.
Success is a pain, simple word, but
to achieve it in the true sense means
a strict adherence to the many advices
we have sought to offer and a hundred
more besides. Eternal vigilance,
hard labor, close economy, frugal, up
right living, a firm and determined
stand for the right, ever guarding
your own rights, and ever mindful OF
the privileges and rights of others,
will in the end place you in the line
OF SCrlCL business FuI6S, anu III ulH6ly
nine cases out of one hundred lead to
successful and happy results.
In addressing you thus, don't think
for a moment that we misjudge the
situation or ~over-picture it. We well
know the ~hardships through which
u country has just passed, and the
great majority were misled by tempo
rary high prices; it is all the more i'm
oortant to be watchful and not be
fooled Or misled again. We have been
with you in days of brilliant prosper
.ty. when u section was all aglow
with achievements aad ~emoluments
of ~hign-priced cotton, ard can there
fore fully and deeply appreciate the
conditions under present existing try
inc circumstances, and for that reason
acne we deem 1t a duty and a privi-
leee to address you on a subject so
yital to our mutual interests. We
we're with you this we are with you
now. in all that lends to the better
ment, TO the uplifting, to the endeavor
10 bring about and maintain prosper