The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-09-22
URGENT APPEAL
To Those Farmers Who Are Able and
Can Hold Back

To Do 80, Bo that Loss Fortunate
Farmers May Profit by their
Condition of Ease.
Now that 80 much interest Is being
evlno0d Ia the fixing Of tho minimum
price Of cotton by the Southern Cot.
ton AsSociation during It's recent
meeting III Asheyille, North Carolina,
the following from the pen of Hon.
Harvie Jordan Will be read with at
tention:
Tine executive committee of the
Southern Cotton Association held It's
meeting at Asheville, N. o., laat week,
and the question Of fixing minimum
price OF this crop was the matter Of
greatest interest to the people and
country at large. The eyes OF the
whole cotton world were centered on
Asheville during the 9th ard 7th days
OF September while the executive COM
mittee was In session.
THE price finally agreed upon az.
ter long and tedious doliberation was
II cents, basis middling, at all In
terior points in the south. The con.
dition of the Drop up to August 25th
was found to be 1903 per cent, as
compared with q condition OF 81 per
cont. for the same period year ago.
The estimated yield Of the crop as re-
ported by over $4,000 correspondents
from all the cotton growing counties
indicated q yield this season of 9, $685..
1873 bales, as compared with a crop Of
l3, 600,0 600 bales last year. Letters
from farmers all over the belt advised
minimum price all the way from 10
cents to IL l-2 cents. some figuring as
high as l5 cents. But the final result
was | cents, and farmers oil over the
south will be expected to stand firmly
together this fall and winter to main,
tain that price. BY the determined
effort prices can be forced up above IL
cents later on and farmes should de.
termine now to move their crops
slowly and not rush the market. The
only way we can secure and maintain
our price Is to refuse to sell for less
and make the buyers como to our fig
ures. If cotton Is thrown on market
and sold anyway, it will be difficult to
force prices up until much later In
the season. Let those who are able
and csn hold back do 80, and thereby
those who are forced to sell to
meet their maturing debts and obllga-
tions with the supply merchants and
guano dealers. Bankers will be glad
to advance from 8 and cents pound
on cotton In storage and thus assist In
financing the situation. Wo are up
against a hard fight, but it will be
easier to get cents for a small crop
than 10 cents for 100000 bale
crop.
STAND BY YOUR GUNS,
We are now we'll entrenched, with
plenty Of ammunition in the shape Of
corn and meat, our banks have plenty
OF money, the enemy is in retreat, and
II we don't whip this fight and force
the price of cotton to above II cents,
then the farmers of the south ought
to have guardian appointed to look
after their business interests. The
mills Of the world have taken crop
OF l3, 10000 bales of American cot.
ton during the last twelve months, at
an average price Of cents per pound.
There Will be no check IN consumption
during the next twelve months. The
price Of cotton goods In very high and
going still higher. The whole civil.
zed world Is in prosperous condition
and IL Is unreasonable to say that the
farmers should not this season receive
an average OF ii cents per pound for
crop of cotton now estimated to be un.
der ten million bales. All you have
got to do is to stand pat for your
prico, refuse to sell under Ii cents and
the market will soon advance to that
figure. Ii much cotton Is offered un
der IL cents, as a matter OF course,
the market can be depressed and held
down.
OTHER ORGANIZATION WILL HELP
Inc cotton agent Of the Farmers
Educational and Go. Operative Union
OF Texas was present with US at Ashs-
vile and took part In the secret ses-
sions OF the executive committee. He
came as the representative OF the un.
Ion and assisted In fixing the prioa at
III CENTS, stating that such price
would be acceptable to the 300, 600
members Of the union. We can nov
depend upon the Effective co opera.
tion OF ell the members Of the union,
as the now president OF the union,
Mr.. Calvin, OF Paris Tex, has writ
ten me encouraging co operation to
more completely win out In the fight
ahead. We also have pledged the ac-
tive cooperation OF tho membership
of the American Society OF Equity
and the Farmers Alliance OF North
Carolina In enforcing the demand for
the minimum price Of l conts. This
makes the position Of the producers
almost impregnable, and with all OF
these powerful farmers organizations
working In harmony for mutual pro-
tection, feel safe In saying that the
fight can and Will be easily whipped.
There will be no Misunderstanding
among these organizations this sea.
son on this matter. We Will all work
In harmony together, and a knowledge
OF that faot ought TO be most en-
couraging. II the Farmers union
wanted one price and the S. O. A., an.
other, there would be dlnioulty ahead,
but both organizations arc now to.
gether and will work together TO win
out on the price agreed upon.
Sell but little cotton In September
and October. Give the mills a chance
to exhaust present supplies, which
can be done In six weeks and then we
can easily dictate terms and win an.
othor big Victory. Sell no middling
cotton f0r less tiian ii cents.
HARVIE JORDAN.