The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-01-06
WARNING TO GROWERS.


reputation for the compilation and
publication OF accurate statistics
WARNING TO GROWERS.
have, therefore, decided to notify
you In this manner, and through you
the cotton growers Of the south, that
the continuance Of the movement
which they have b2gun will necessari.
ly result in the discontinuance of the
cotton ginning reports Of the census
office, for without the hearty and
general cooperation Of the ginners
those reports would become valueless
and the compilation an unpardonable
waste OF public money. The situa-
tion would then revert to what it was
five years ago. But after the private
and interested estimates controlling
the market price have again for few
years beea too high, as they undoubt.
edly will be, and the repeated losses
Of the cotton growers In consequence
have again convinced them that the
change they demanded In 1901 was a
wise one, 1t will be far more din suit
and may be impossible to induce con.
gress to reestablish system which
the cotton growers set up once before
only to tear 1t down when it chanced
that knowledge Of the facts waS to
their disadvantage.
deem 1t my duty to acquaint you
with the probable course of the cen.
sus office, in order that you may take
any steps which may seem to you de.
sirable or necessary in connection
with the matter.
Very respectfully,
S. N. D. North,
Director.
Upon receipt OF the letter, Mr.
Rnrlesnn gave nnt .;,a following srafae
sment:
r. Believing that 1t was to the in.
terest of the producer OF cotton to
eHm1nate as far as possible the specu.'
latgEe element tlom entering into or
affecting the market price Of his pro-
duct, caused to be embodied in the
act, ltiaking the census bureau per.
manent, the original item providing
for statistics Of cotton ginned during
the current year, and the result Of
census bureaus labors in carrying
into effect this provision has materi.
ally aided in accomplishing this end.
The result has not Influenced change
of opinion on my part.
A PERSONAL ALLUsION.
If may be pardoned personal
allusion, grower of cotton myself,
having frequently experienced the
damage occasioned by the high esti-
mates and cocksure assertions put for
ward by those acting for speculators
and cotton gamblers, l felt the neces.
sity of some impartial source OF infor-
nation which would be as accurate as
possible, This the census bureau has
proven itself to be.
concur in every word oontejnad
in this letter Of Mr.. North and feel
si4AG it wouiG De nouhing short Of q
calamity II the ginners should at any
time fall to furnish prompt and acou-
rate reports to the census bureau.
10 fail to report to the census bureau
will only play into the hands of the
cotton gamblers and will serve to
promptly reestablish alleged statistical
agents, who are noW thanks to the
bureau Of statistics of the department.
of agriculture aud the census bureau,
thoroughly disc-edited. If during
next year, as result OF decreased
acreage and imperfect weather condi-
tions, there should be short crop,
which is not improbable, then the
glnners' reports Issued by the census
bureau wouldEagain be In high favor
by the cotton growers. What is
wanted and what is really always to
the interest Of the cotton grower is a
prompt knowledge of the exact
truth.
1t Is my purpose to prepare an
offer at this session of congress and
amendment to the census act provid.
Ing for the collection and publication
Of accurate statistics the number OF
bales Of cotton consumed each year
and the surplus Of cotton held In the
hands OF the manufacturer and the
number OF bales exported. This is
necessary and only fair to the grower
of cotton. He should promptly have
this information as the manufacturers
OF cotton throughout the world are
given knowledge of the number of
bales Of cotton grown.
have discussed this with Senator
Bailey Of my State, and he agrees
with me as to the Importance and
necessity Of this amendment and
agrees to lend helping hand in SO
curing its adoption"