The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-01-19
A POSSIBLE. SOLUTION OF THE
COTTON GROWERS PROBLEM.

invited me to use your columns to make
public suggestion had submitted to
youth the course of private conversation
in regard to the solution of the cotton
growers problem. Meanwhile no one
has anticipated US. Holding cotton for
higher prices is the only plan just now un-
der discussion, and it should be admitted,
once for all, that no other expedient could
promise relief so far as the present crop
is concerned. The whole question was
talked over the other day in Congress,
and the wisdom and Justice of withholding
cotton from the market while the present
rates. prevail we'll sustained. The cotton
mills'of the world now need to meet an
actual demand between fourteen and
fifteen million bales of cotton. The total
consumption reported for IooI-2 was IA
34o,o 900; for loo2-3: l4,3 g, 900; for 1909 d:
I3,86o,o 900. In the last named wears the
mills closed down, the cotton went to y
cents, and thousands of spindles were idle
because they could not get the cotton to
spin, All the visible cotton in the world
on the 9th day of the present month was
only,6o8,I2I bales over the visible supply
on the corresponding day of 1oo4. Did
thattdifference in the visible supply Justify
difference of $50 a bale between those
tWo,days? The fact that so great a part
OF the crop had been ginned by the first
OF September was made the basis of an
over estimate, and the bears claimed that
the total crop would amount to I3,ooo. 900
bales No allowance was made for the
circumstances that the cotton season was
three weeks earlier that it had ever been
before, that the weather was extremely
favorable for gathering the crop, and that
when the last ginnerS report was made, on
December 18th last, 90 per cent of the
crop of.the South was made and ginned.
Ihepresent crop is larger than the crop
which was found inadequate to the demand
year ago; but there is no reason to regard
1t as excessive, land certainly the difference
between the two crops is not enough to
account for the difference in price which
has, so far obtained.
There seems to be good ground, there
fore, for the impression that a systematic
effort has been made to bear the market
without reference to the existing ratio of
supply and demand. However that NAV
be, it is conceded that the present level of
prleesis we'll below the cost of production.
and no argument is required to show that
the production of cotton can be no longer
continued on that condition. The final
collapse of this industry would entail in
calculable loss and hardship upon the
whole civilized world, and especially upon
the United States; but it would be vain
TO look to cotton spinners, either at home
or abroad, tossacrifice one cent of imme-
date profit to avert the utter ruin of their
BUSINESS. 1t remains for the cotton
growers in the cotton belt here in the
Southsto take the decisive step. In COM
mon parlance, il is cup to them" Two
things have been proposed in their behalf. |
Ilie first of these two things is that the
cotton they have still unsold shall be
held until fair price is offered. The
second is a reduction of the acreage
devoted to cotton culture, for this wear at |
least, to limit we'll within the ascertain
ed demand of the market. If the first of |
these suggested steps proves unavailing.
the second will become imperativeiV
necessary. Mr.. johnson, of South Caro-.
lima, said in the congressional discussion
referred to above: ''lf could reach the
ear OF every southern man who has cotton
In his yard or in the warehouse, would
say to him, hold your cotton and Won
Will win the fight. If could reach him
Tor one other piece of advice it would be.
plant only half as many acres this wear
as you did last. Do not trv to make
more than o,ooo 900 bales; because if YOU
make 100000 bale crop it will bring
you 5000, 900, 900, while if YOU make q
Il, 900 900 bale crop it will bring YOU inst
halI that amount or 5000, 900. ooo.s If is
easier 10 make six than it is to make
twelve. 1t is less expensive to make six
than it is to make twelve; and then the
world will begin to appreciate cotton and
TO clamorfor it ]" In reply to some doubt
Ing colleagues fr@n the South. Mr.. Inhn-
son declared that he was confident
That Southern cotton growers
would faithfully observe anv agree
ment into which they might enter for
[helr common advantage. 1t is hardly to
Dc presumed, however, that an arrangement /
d that sort could be made permanent An
agfeement to hold for higher price would
laVe TO be an agreement to hold for =
lxeo price, say ten cents for middling. and
20 on through all the grades. An. agree. ,
hent toreduce the acreage would have n
'e equally definite. But one unvarvino
Gale OF prices could not be maintained fn1
long series of years and it would he M
e Is impossible to fix limit of acreage for
hume to come. Changes would have IN
e made from year to year, and that dl,tv 6
you'd have to be delegated to some renrs.
e sdiId ye authority. Then in little while
lon and general dissatisfaction. II yritt 1
practicable to- hold cotton ali along the :
ne THIS. year.: and to limit the acreaoe IN.
lne next crop is made,. but some more T.
laurlng defense must be devised before
le dawn OF next new years dav The
'ings us to the main point. no
,l Inc cotton growers of the south car {
yer secure a steadily remunerative MAJ na
b, rOI tneI ,. staple until they are prepar
{ ooI.on growers problem will be 81. as,
nen they bave become manufactur" wed
&! ton goods. Then if the price is :rs Of
ers Dc , to their f advantage as ma o ow i
cir advantage as farmers WI be to
J. But they will control !. plant
I, they will dictate prices he the mar
y os Sci, their product to themsf cause they
!, ask what insunar,hIs ian Is feast