The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-20
Mr.. SMITHS PLAN.
URGES PROMPT ATTENTION ON
PART OF THE FARMERS.
Southern Farmers Must Be Able to
Control Their Crops, But to do This
They Must Have Legal Standing.

4
President E. D. Smith Of the State
Cotton Association and national or
ganizer of the general association was
in the city this morning and to
Times reporter he talked most IN
terestingly Of the present enterprise
of the association, the formation Of a
great holding company for the farm
ers of the South which Will have
the cotton to sell and the responsible
ity for making contracts with the
spinners.
The proposition has been discussed
for some time and has been most
generally and generously approved,
but with the customary deliberate
ness Of the Southern farmer very few
moves have been made by the people
towards carrying the enterprise out.
Mr.. Smith says that the disposition
of the British government has been
most plainly shown III their attitude
towards the petition Of the spinners
for relief and; the pledge Of the gov
ernment to do What they can for the
relief of the spinners. They have
recognized the fact that the con-
sumption Of cotton is about to run
ahead Of the supply and that they
must have a stable supply so the
proposition is to come to this country
and invest in Gotten lands and
through big syndicate grow all the
cotton needed to supply their mills.
That was mainly lat the recent Sis-
it of the spinners to this country
meant.
Now if the growers of the South
can form an association that will
have a legal and commercial stand
ing which can and will assure the
British spinner that he can ger what
cotton he needs without trouble or
risk on his part, at a steady price. a
contract, the same end will be &C
complished and to very muck better
advantage of the Southern farmer.
AS things now are the association
could not enter into contract with
the spinner, because it has no cotton
except what might voluntarily be Of
fered it. If a general holding in the
hands Of this association with power
to sell at price at no less than a
certain fixed price and certificate be
issued which will get money at the
bank or from the banking department
Of the, cotton association, the farmer
| will be better off, the association
wiii hold the cotton for the price fix
es; 3y tne association. IF the cotton
deposited is what is known as srrong
cotton shat is cotton IN which
no money is wanted, ut is
so much better for all parties be-
cause borrowing money on the de
post of this cotton, the association
itself can go into the market and lift
LOT of the weak cotton which really
.S-ea.zs the market. The security
Will be gilt edged, the very safest
kind OF investment. If the associa-
ton. can get warehouses through the
country, these built on approved
plans and under the direction of the
State board and under the general
board. The cotton not to be
sold except from the general Office Of
sample. The spinner is to apply
there and enter into contract for just
what he wants, giving the assurance
commercially Of his ability to take
care Of his contracts and the cotton
IS shipped to him just as he needs it.
On such a plan the fixed charges
would be very much less than if the
warehouses We're not combined in
one great corporation, the sales Of
cotton can be regulated only by such
means. the association could care for
much more cotton than that really be-
| longing to the members, for the
strong cotton, as explained would pro-
tect the weak. The association could
and it would be to their advantage to
do SO, could lend all the money that
was needed by the farmers and all
| parties would be protected and safe.
Mr.. Smith wants the association
through the State to take up this
matter at once. He wants that ware
housing and holding association to be
ready for business shis fail, Nearly
every county has one or more ware
houses now and the number can be
easily multiplied this summer Spar
tanhurg has taken the first step, as
the Times had the pleasure Of noting
not long ago. Alabama is moving in
this direction, the enterprise having
been started by Mr.. Smith down
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