The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-12-01
Broadening the Market for Cotton
and Cotton Manufactured Goods

| hSiiCulttuc anu IOHlllclce loI NiiSSiSsIp'
pi before the Southern States Associa.
ton of Commissioners of Agriculture in
the eighth annual meeting at Jack
bonvillc, Fla, November Goth:
1t is. Il pleasure indeed for me to meet
with the Southern States Commissioner
of Agriculture in this their regular al
nual meeting, and | esteem it a great
privilege to be allowed to speak upon
the important subject of broadening the
field for the consumption of cotton and
cotton manufactured goods, a subject
that should be and is of vital import
ancc to the people of the South. Cot
ton is king down here, and its import
ance rs Il money crop OF the world en-
titles it to that distinction. Millions OF
ueopic have been taught the necessity
for this great staple in clothing the ma
lions Of the earth, and others that could
he instructed in its use would, in a few
7 years, demand a crop OF twenty-five
million bales to supply their wants.
Our especial interest lies principally
in the monopoly we enjoy in its pro-
duction. Standard Oil would gladly
! exchange today its immense oil interests
for the cotton monopoly of the South,
with its Incompatible possibilities in the
future. That this state of affairs will
continue to exist is a matter about
which there can be no difference OF opin-
ion. The failure of other countries to
develop cotton raising in the past few
years greatly strengthens this conclu-
sion, and there is little likelihood that
competition worthy the name Will ever
be developed.
With these incontroveTtible facts be-
fore us, it behooves our people to grasp
the situation firmly and in an intelli-
gent manner, and profit by the POSSIBLE
ties that lie at our door. To handle the
monopoly that is ours in such n
that the greatest benefit will be derived
to the producer. A comprehensive and
careful study of the matter will reveal
the fact that we have slept upon u
rights and allowed outside parties to
reap benefits from this staple crop that
rightfully belonged to our people. The
important item of manufacture has been
neglected, and the wide difference in
price of the raw material and the manu-
AhS y pli W @'N"
England and England. Statistics re-
Gently made public reveal the fact that
8 change is taking place, and that the
South is beginning to manufacture this
crop at home and reap a corresponding
share of the profits. So far so good.
The subject of this paper is one of
even more importance than that just
mentioned, the broadening of the mar
ket for u staple crop, both in the crude
state and the manufactured article. This
is n matter that has received little or
no attention at the hands of those who
should have been more interested. Sub
sides and donations without number,
special legislation to foster infant indus
tries of gigantic proportions, exemp-
tiOns and privileges have been granted
other interests until the enumeration
has become tiresome, while the cotton
planter has been neglected and only al
lowed to raise as much of the staple as
he could and become the prey of specu-
lators and other designing parties or
corporations. He sells his products in
an open market and is forced to buy
whatever goods he needs in a protected
market.
The South has been confronted with
the assertion that she produces more
cotton thar the world needs, and that
to maintain the price and make the bus
mess profitable it will be necessary to
reduce the acreage and consequent pro-
duction. This may be partially true,
and in this event there is great cause
why our people should exhaust every
means to increase the demand to in
sure a fair price for the staple. The oil
monopoly has been cited as an example
of what the cotton producer should do
with his crop. When the demand slack
ems the wells are capped, and when 1T
Increases they are set to running. This
is not a fair parallel from the fact that
the planter must use his land and mules
to some urpose, and cannot shut down
and stop expense as does the oil mag
nate. The capital invested demands
that there be no cessation in the pro-
duction of cotton, then the remedy is
the demand until every bale
produced viii command a good price in
A careful study of the situation will
likely reveal some interesting, even
facts concerning this PROPOSE
ton. 1t is remarkable how little at
tention has been given a matter of so
much Importance by our legislators. AS
1 result of effort on the part of a num-
Der of our Southern congressman the
asst Congress was prevailed upon to
make n trial appropriation of ~$50,0O0.0O,
md this amount will be expended in
the way for a campaign of edu-
,ation in foreign countries, demOnstrat-
ng the. usefulness of cotton goods and
the economy of their adop-
ion. The field is an inviting one, and
he result will be watched with interest
~ all who owe allegiance to our great
crop. That it will result in good if
handled none can doubt, and the
BEGINNING made is a source of gratifca-
ion to the friends of cotton. 1 believe
hat it is the duty of this assemblage,
opposed of gentlemen representing the
Teat cotton States of this country, to
nemorialize their representatives in the
National Congress to keep in close touch
With this situation and give literally of
heir best efforts to see that the good
york begun under such favorable aus
ices shall be kept up and increased as
esults warrant.
An inviting field for increase of con-
umption is right here at home. The
taple itself is wrapped in fiber that is
m portad from foreiUn countries tn O