Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-02-03
The South's Cotton Crop.

On another page we reproduce from
the Youths Companion an interesting
and comprehensive article by Mr.. r.
H. Edmonds of the Manufacturers
Record on the "South's Great Money
Crop" and commend the same to the
thoughtful consideration Of our read
ers.
It is an unfortunate fact that while
for hundred years or more the
south's cotton crop has received large
share Of the best attention Of the most
able commercial minds Of the world
at large, the great economic problems
connected with the crop have found
but little place In the consideration OF
the people most vitally interested.
Recognizing long ago that the cot
ton producers Of the south had 1t in
their power to levy perpetual tribute
on the entire world outside, long head
ed and far-seeing business men OF
Great Britain, Germany, France and
other foreign countries have contin-
ually devoted their efforts to the re-
duction Of this tribute to the greatest
extent possible and with the assist
ance Of men Of the same class in New
England and Wall street, they have
for long periods, been successful In
levying tribute instead Of having to
pay it.
The south has never failed to pro-
duce practically all the cotton that
was needed for the worlds consump-
tion; but It Is an indisputable fact
that instead Of securing for that cot
ton the fair price to which she Is en-
titled, she has often sold her crop al
less than it cost her to produce 1t
There are those who have told us and
who still insist on telling us that this
condition has been the natural result
Of the ordinary laws Of supply and de-
mand, and while this claim has long
seemed plausible enough on Its face
conditions Of the past few years and
of the present time, have made 1t cleat
to all people Of reasonable intelligence
The spectators Of Great Britain
France, Germany and New England
have shown conclusively that regard
less Of the laws Of supply and demand
they have been able to make the price
of cotton as low as they desired, and
last year spectators Of New Orleans
were able to show us that In the same
way they were able to put the price al
most as high as they would. These
demonstrations of themselves have
been sufficient to show beyond doubt
how little the rights Of the actual
producers Of this great commodity fig
ure in the fixing Of the compensation
they receive for their industry.
In view Of the absolute necessity OF
this commodity to all humanity. the
question Of its production and distri-
button may we'll command the best
thought Of the leading minds OF the
world, and since the United States has
practical monopoly Of cotton produc-
ton, it would be eminently proper
for this government to enact such leg
islation as would promise not only to
encourage cotton production: but to
see that the producers, particularly
and the country generally get the full
est benefit Of the monopoly.
AS a matter Of fact the policy Of this
government has always been one OF
enmity rather than Of friendship to
the cotton producer. There has been
absolutely no consideration Of him and
but little consideration Of his commo-
dity, except to make the latter bear
an unfair share of the burdens Of the
government. Instead Of trying to pro-
tect and encourage the cotton produc-
er, the national government has really
done what It could to help foreigners
rob him Of the fruits Of his labors and
grind him into the earth.
AS to what will be the outcome of
the movement recently organized to
change all this, it remains for the fu-
ture to develop; but there Is no ques-
tion Of the fact that the cotton growers
have at last hit upon the right means
to secure what is properly theirs. The
world Is bound to have their cotton.
because there is nothing on earth to
take it's place. If they can once put
themselves in a position to absolutely
control consumption and sale, they can
make prices what they will and con-
sumers will have no other alternative