The Forrest City times., 1905-10-06
AN ADDRESS.

President Southern Cotton As
 sociation.
 Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 20, 1905.
 At meeting of the executive committee of the Southern Cotton Association, held at Asheville, N. C., September 6s, 1905, where representative from each cotton producing state and territory were present, report on the condition of the cotton crop made up to Au. gust 25th, was carefully compiled from reports of more than 15,000 correspondents showing a condi- tion of 13 per cent as compared with Si per cent for a correspond ing period of 1904. An estimate of the crop for this season based on reports from the same correspond ents indicated yield of 9,5s8,3 bales of cotton. Taking this infor- nation as guide in connection n with the present enormous de- mand for spot cotton by the spin ners of the world, the present high prices of cotton goods, and the heavy cost 10 the producers for cultivatiDg and harvesting thls crop, the committee agreed that eleven cents as minimum price, basis middling at all interior points, would be reasonable and conserv- ative price to be asked by the pro- ducers thls season for their staple. It has been generally reported and not publicly denied, that spinners can pay twelve cents per pound for middling cotton at the present time and still make good profits in the manufacture of the raw mate rial into the finished fabric. Peace has been recently declared between Russia and Japan. The whole civ ilized world is in a most prosper. ous condition and the spindles in all the cotton mills of Europe and America are running night and day to supply tho tremendous demands for cotton goods.
 CONSUMPTION UNPREcEDENTED.
 The enormous crop of American cotton reaching the unprecedented figures of nearly 100000 bales has been easily absorbed by the spinners at an average price of nine cents per pound. Of this crop there was only a small re- serve stock of little more than a million bales to be carried into the season of 1905-6 on the first day of September. If no more than ten million bales of cotton are harvest. ed this season to be added to the small reserve stock carried over from the crop of 1904, the mills of the world, at the present rate of consumption, will face famine Tn raw cotton before another crop can be planted, cultivated and placed upon the market. The mills have contracted for many months ahead for the delivery of goods to be manufactured out of cotton yet to be bought from the producers. The exporters have sold to the spinners cotton to be delivered in the future months which is yet to be bought from the producers. The spinners and the exporters are heavily short, with nothing but paper contracts in their possession, while the farmers of the south hold the spot cotton in their hands and control absolutely the key to the situation. Will tho farmers take advantage of the splendid position they occupy, and like men, assert their rights to demand far price for thls crop at the hands of the buyers? Will not the merchants and local bankers throughout the south line up solidly in unbroken ranks with the farmers against the combinations that are so actively at work to depress prices and defeat the will of the people?
 MUST DO OUR DUTY.
 Every man in the south, no matter what his avocation, is ex- pected to do his duty during the |