The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-01-06
"AoLD YOUR COTTON. Z
Such Is the Advice Given the Farm.
ers on All Sfdes.

| The concensus Of opinion on al
sides is that to sell cotton at this tim,
is little short Of suicidal. This is th,
time, it is declared, for the farmers O
the south to stand flrm-stand pa
and not show their hand. To yield, tt
ssll at this time, is to simply add tx
the panic and give the bears a still
further chance to beat down prices
1t Is argued thatlf the crop should
reach the unprecedented figures OF
l3, 100000 bales, not more than TO-.
600, 600 bales OF this will be marketed
before the decreased acreage of 1900
is fact beyond dispute. a heavy cur.
tailment Of the acreage planted this
spring means a higher market and o
rush OF spinners to secure stt ck fol
future use. There Is common sense
In this view.
The Augusta Chronicle says the be-
lief is strong among the cotton men
OF that city that the fiaecy staple is
already far below its real market val
ue. They feel that the reaction is
bound to come. They argue that Jan,
uary contracts for expectation have al
ready been supplied and hence there
are few seekers Of cotton on the mark
ct. But there are February, March
and April contracts yet to be arrang.
ed, and factors claim that the borrow
ing scheme speculators and exporters
agents attempted just before the huli.
days, is proof that they fear the
consequences II forced into the mark.
ct later as purchasers. The advice
from all sections Of the south Is the
same, to hold c'.tton. The further
advice Is to the effect that throughout
the south the cotton factors and farm.
ers will hold what has not already
been marketed. It is a fact. the cot
ton men affirm, that the farmers were
never in better condition to hold
the residue or their crop not already
sold than now, and that not to do so
Is to give up the fight when every
thing points to ultimate success-the
whipping of the fight.
Factors called attention to the fact
that New York financial papers ad-
nit that throughout the present
crisis cotton has been friendless on
their exchange; "a frlendless waif' Is
their term, and had been umercifully
hammered down by the bulls, bent on
the freezing out Of the southern hold.
ers Of the goods. Under these condi-
tions they are not surprised that cot
ton is as low az 1t is. They wonder
that the slump did not continue. That
1t did not they.argue is good eviderc.
that the bulls know the staple Is fear.
fully underva.ued. W. P. Brown, an
authority on cotton in New ORLEANS,
is cut In long interview along the
same line, urging the holding of cot
ton at all hazards, and, as d second
measure, reduction OF acreage next
year. He urges that the farmers OF
the south have the situation In hand
IL they will remac1 qu1gi7c ,d hold cor.
ton.
The indications are that the advice
will be. carried out to the letter by the
people OF the South. Buyers and ex-
porters' agents report from all over
the cnntry that no spot cotton Is be-
ing offered for sals. At Meridian,
Miss, factors refused to sell where
Cffers above prevailing prices were
made and the parties stood ready to
buy in any quantities. The New York
letters and papers are loaded with
kilograms from Southern representa-
tives to the effect that farmers are
determined to hold what cotton they
have and that none Is being offered
on the markets. They cannot buy.
They are not buying. The consensus
OF opinion is that cotton 8holld be
held and acreage reduced for tile next
season. 1t is the hope of the southern
farmer. The belief Is firm that the
spectators and manipulators are in
the main responsible for the severe
slu mp OF the past few weeks, that
cotton is at least two cents below the
real market value, and that the pre-
sent crisis Is precipitated by the bear!
only in the hope Of breakiug the hole
Of the farmers on the fieecy aple ant
thus easing off the situation which
they have created.
Commissioner of Agriculture Ste
vens OF Georgia says: The thing
for the farmers to do Is to hold on t.
the cotton they have now. If the,
will only hold, and cut down the acre
age next year you will see the prize
go shutting up instead Of down. !
every one would cultivate only tel
acres OF cotton to every plough ant
produce instead OF IL, 1000, 900 bales
only 5,000,000, then you would Sc,
the price go skyward In a hurry. 4
man can make more money out Of 6
5,00O,0 ,0c0 bale crop at II to Is cent
than he can out OF IL 10000 GRO
at cents. Then by combining him
!. self to ten acres Of cotton to the ploS
1t would give him an opportunity o
planting more grain, and more thing
upon which to live at home. II b
doesn't want to do that he could allo,
his land to rest. II the farmers wi
see cotton bringing IL cents mex
. year this time.
- am going to talk with Commis
sioner Poole, Of Alabama, over til
telephone Friday afternoon. He
president Of the Commissioners c
Agriculture of the Southern States
My idea Is to have meeting in NeS
Orleans some time next month to dix
cuss the situation. II each commi,
, sioner In the cotton growing state
would write personal letter to eacl
farmer In his state, advise him to hol
what cotton he now has on hand an
: to plant only ten acres to the plow.
, believe 1t would have wonderful e1
!, feet. 1t did in 1899 and we got TEL
, cents for cotton. have list Of owe
, 80, 600 farmers In my office, and | ca
, get them out letters in very shor
while. Coming from the head OF tn
agricultural department in each stat
| feel sure that the farmers woul
take notice Of 1t, and man" of ther
would act acCnrdinplY 1t Ia q QUO,