The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-26
FRIDAY. JANUARY 26, 1906.
COTTON G A KING.

For years the expression: Cotton
been mang times since this express
sion was originated when cotton, if
king, was without a kingdom and was
minus the sceptre and the crown, but it
seems row that it has come again
into its own" and it looks like the res
toration is permanent. The southern
farmer has at last come to a knowl-
edge of his power and has learned
how to use that power to his advan-
tage. 1t is simply carrying out the
Fundamental principle on which cur
union of states is founded, expressed
in the maxim. United we stand.
divided we fall"
The truth Of this was never more
clearly illustrated than in the expert
enee OF tie cotton growers Of the
south N the last few years. So long
as these men talked reduction of acre
age Of cotton and the holding Da:k
Of the crop from the market as soon as
gathered, but did not practice what
they preached, each one taking It for
granted that his neighbor would 90 50
and that, therefore. he would make a
"big thing out of the standing by the
agreement of the others and plant a
big crop himself-in other words, with
pn real concert of action and each
farmer acting N the principle Of every
man for himself and the devil take
:Lc hiEdmost-there came disaster 70
the cotton planters. The plan lid
not work. They were all the hind
most" when it came to dealing on this
plan with the cotton Spectators and
the middle men.
a few men. realizing the situation
and understanding what was necessary
to save the farmers of the south from
utter destruction through their sui
cidal course, took the matter up and
by their energetic labors and persis-
tent hammering ON the n idea
which Was the only salvation of the
south, have at last succeeded in bring
= ing dUOul ouCh q uhlt VI
and earnest determination among the
southern farmers to stand together
for their own protection and the bet
terment of their condition, that now
King Cotton has again come into his
own and his supremacy and power are
recognized in all parts Of the world
where there is a cotton factory or 4
market for the output of such fac
tories.
This state of affairs is something
new. The new order of things dates
back no further thai the last Crop
and the goad results are already felt
all over the south. The last was the
first crop planted in which there Was
a reduction of acreage and a slow
marketing of the cotton as the result
OF concerted action. The results Are
that today there is greater demand
than in years for cotton and it is
bringing a profit making price, with
every indication of the figures going
much higher before the next crop
comes on the market.
There is great likelihood, in fact.
| of there being a dearth of cotton be-
fore this season closes. Compare the
output this year with that of the last.
The census bureaus report of ginners'
returns up to January 10th of last
year showed 1851 900 bales ginned
for the season. Up to the same date
this wear the figures are 1898, 900 bales,
Indicating a shortage for the present
Ierop as compared with that If last
year of nearly 3,0OO,O0 BALES
Let the farmers continue the course
pursued for the las twelve months
and they will nave absolute control of
the cotton market of the world. They
have the thing in their own hands. All
that is necessary is for them to stand
together, to keep their obligations to
bne another and not lose their heads
when the price scars above their eX-
peetations.