The Forrest City times., 1905-09-15
On Fixing a l'rice.
When the Southern Cotton As

adtaurneu. butA '"e' '"e 'noo' had only begun and till the end oI .he marketing season the test oi the praelieability of the whole plan wai be made. There is no one to deey that if all growers united and ,aiu.el to sell cotton for less than II cents per pound. tho world would be forced to pay the price Cation, unlike wheat. Is limited in area of production and confined to . compact and sentimcn,aIly united ..etinn. li is. therefore, much more practicable and feasible for the planters of the South to orga- n,ze and to say to tho world, "You must pay SO mneh." than for the wheat growers of the West. High priees for the grain invites pro. durtion in sections where ordina. rily none would be grown, while the great states like Russia and Argentina are wheat producing countries that compete with the West of the United States. Amer ican cotton on the other hand stands alone as the only staple which the spindles of the world can profiiably use. It has no com. petltors. But one thing restricts it's consumption and that is a pro- hibitive price.
 These facts arc recognized by all students of the situation and for that reason the promulgations of the association representing the growers are listened to in every mill and market place. But up to the present time no united action has been maintained among the growers and tho whole question resolves itself into the one, will the farmers stick? Present areu- ments are that tho ruling market level is profitable one and will invite sufficient selling to supply the spinners' needs while those financially unable to withhold from the market must take the ruling prce whether It be profitable or not. The Cotton Association does not propose to advance cent to the holder. It has nothing to ad. vance but advice, and though this be wise there arc yet the financial exigencies 10 be met and with these each grower must deal for himself alone from the organization. To 7iheet this difficulty an immense warehousing system has been pro- posed which will allow the storing of large quantities of cotton on which money will be advanced, but at present no such system IS in operation. Whether it will ever be is a question. The matter in. wolves difficulties of it's own which up 10 the presen, have dctcrred capitalists.
 From the spinnors' standpoint there are considerations of market parties and the demand for goods which must determine what price shall be paid, whether it be II cents or 4 cents. It is easily con- ceivable that the higher figure might Do the cheaper. At present the goods market is exceptionally active and bare. This condition may and probably does enable the spinner to pay II cents first cost, but it is a safe business con. clusion that he will not do SO un. til it is demonstrated that he can not buy for less. The enormous production of the previous season has placed in the consumers hands supply in excess of present needs ana given a weapon to depress @sihls crops market. Whatever foute of reasoning is pursued the light rests where it started on the ability of the growers to hold so much of cotton of the marke, mat the demands on spinncrs will 'ofce them to pay asked prices. The cotton farmer of the South is just now prosperous, flushed with previous successes m market
 ing his crop and confident of tho 'u!ure Under these circumstances