The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-11-13
PRESIDENT JOHNSON, Shows I
WHY COTTON SHOULD BE HELD


and interesting statement, urging and
showing the necessity of fixing and
maintaining uniform price for cot
ton.
President Johnson's s statement fol-
lows:
"To the People Of Georgia: There
is no doubt in my mind that the peo.
pie of the whole south, farmers, mer,
chants and business men alike, arc
making the mistake Of their time in
not organizing for the purpose OF
maintaining the price Of their cot
ton They have already submitted
to loss og about 50 bale, anu
still the receipts continue large. Arc
the holders of cotton i'll such distress
that they are compelled 70 sell at
sacrifice? If the people have gone
deeper in debt as the price of cot
ton kept advancing, then the high
prices have not been the blessing they
should have been.
"Cotton is not worth cent less
than when it was selling about II
cents. The decline came because wo
permit ourselves to become the prey
Of spectators backed by sufficient
capital to bear the market. You can
not do this, if you are lent reports
which are used to this end, we are in
formed that there has been an i'm
provement Of per cent within the
past two weeks, when every sensible
man in Georgia knows that the plant
has been dead since our first frost Of
October 1912.
There is only one way to meet
and cope with this gambling and
manipulation of the market. First
you must be free from debt, and then
act as unit in marketing the crop.
When it goes below its value, stop
putting it OIL the market. You cam
not do this, if you are forced to sell
to pay debts. This is lesson which
the south has got to learn. It is bust
ness. IF better prices but induce to
greater debt, they will prove only
curse.
"Last year and the year before
Georgia had two splendid crops. This
year, while there has been no disas~
ter, the crop is greatly off. Counties
which have been making 10000 bales
are making only 10000, and others in
proportion. How can the south ex-
pect to meet the same Indebtedness
with such a reduction Of the crop, un-
less better prices are secured7 Only
ruin and bankruptcy can come from
such a policy.
Georgia has had wet year, and
an early killing frost. Never has 1t
good crop been made under such con-
ditions. The crop in Georgia is al
most gathered now, even as far north
as my county--Bartow-where the
fields are picked and being sown TO
oats and wheat, much Of which,
trust, is being done. If not success
full grain, it will make splendid hay,
much of which will be needed in
Georgia next year.
nave Flc"cu liN'St SciloltSlJ lhC
crop situation for another year from
the Georgia farmers standpoint, COLI
sidering the short crop of cotton.
"First. We are up against short
corn crop, which means next year that
thousands of dollars of cotton money
will have to be paid out for corn.
"Secopd. Forage crops are short.
Fodder, hay and like crops went up
largely with the rain. In my county
already $3.50 per hundred is Offered
for fodder. Thousands Of dollars
must likewise go for this.
"Third. The meat crop throughout
the sections I have visited is far
short. Where is your smoke housef
In the west7 See the thousands Of
dollars slipping through your fingers
for western meat, going from your
short cotton crop. ....
"Fourth. The cotton crop is un-
doubtedly short. It is already re-
ported from Cochran, Ca, and many
other points that tenants and crop
pers will not pay out, even with TO-
cent cotton. What are you going to
do about it9 49,. 49,.
"Only by getting good prices for
your cotton now will you be able to
handle next year. situation. How else
oon ~ ho .Jooo9 Th;c oro,> bo, mot r.,