The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-12-05
SECRETARY F. H. WESTON
Writes Letter on the Price of Cot
ton-U7ges Farmers to Stand
Pat


els H. Weston, who is now in charge
of the office OF the South Carolina
Cotton Growers association, while
President E. D. Smith is out in Texas
pushing the fight and getting the work
planned for next year, has given out
an important card to the press of the
state, which ought TO be Of especial
interest. He writes as follows:
To the Farmers Of South Carolina:
In the absence of our state presi-
dent, Mr.. E. D. Smith, who is now
canvassing Texas in the interest Of
the Southern Cotton association, I de-
sire to say few words to you in ref
erence to the appeal that has recently
been made to you by the central Of
flee, at Atlanta, to hold your cotton
for higher prices. Let me remind you
that in every instance in which the
association has Joined issues with
those who were fighting to secure
your cotton at their prices you have
won a brilliant victory. THE same peo-
| pie who are urging you to part with
your cotton predicted that ten cents
would not be secured as demanded by
the New Orleans convention for the
cotton held in the south. By unity
of action and taking the advice OF the
association, in the face of fourteen
million bale crop you secured ten
cents for your cotton. When you
were appealed to to reduce your acre
age and fertilizers it was predicted by
the same crowd that you would be
treacherous. towards each other and
increase both acreage and fertilizers.
This slander upon the southern farm
ers was disposed of by the govern
ment report on acreage. When those
that you intrusted with your interest
were convinced that the department
of agriculture was being used to your
detriment, and we felt it our duty to
attack it, we were ridiculed and jeered
at; nevertheless we proved beyond
doubt every accusation we made
against the department and showed
it to be thoroughly rotten: When our
estimate of the crop for 1905 was
made. and in view of the short crop,
we asked that the farmers be paid
minimum price of II cents for their
cotton you heard on all sides that this
was too much; yet throughout the
south that price has been paid. The
estimate of the association has again
been confirmed by the glnners' re-
port, which has just been issued. II
the spinners of the world are now
made to pay more for their cotton
whose fault is it? They had ample
opportunity to go into the market and
buy at II cents, yet they preferred to
believe the predictions of Theodore
Price. and campaign was inaugurated
which had for its object the stamped
ing of the farmers of the south. All
reports confirm the association that
cotton is worth more than II cents
and in the near future will bring more
than II cents. The question is SIM
DIV this: Who shall get the benefit OF
this advanced price? We appeal to
you to sign the pledges that have been
sent out and stand by the association
in this fight. All this talk of Gripping
and running the manufacturing inter
ests is veritaIble botch. If the manu-
facturer has to pay more for his raw
material he will receive more for his
finished product, unless that finished
product is higher than some other ar
ticle which can be substituted for its
use. Wool, linen and silk are the
competitors of cotton goods and there
is a long distance between those ar
ticles and cotton goods, where the raw
material would not cost the spinner
more than IL 1-2 cents; if he has tc
paw IS cents for the cotton now in the
hands of the farmers. Those who
lhave seen fit to consistently and per
sistently advise the farmers to turr
loose their cotton for prices kss thar
those fixed by the association mus
now answer the individuals and the
south who has been despoiled of mil