The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-07

vice to the Farmers Based Upon
Recent Figures Prepared by Gov
eminent.
Columbia, Oct. 2S.-Mr. E. ..
Smith Of the South Carolina Cotton
association issued q statement con-
corning the recent ginning report
made by the department Of agricul-
tuTe. Mr.. Smith says that the figures
show as predicted by the association
that the crop is a short one and the
farmers should obtain 12 1-2 cents
per jpound for the product if they will
only hold their cotton. Mr.. Smith in
his statement says:
THE bureaus report on ginning
makes the total amount of cotton
ginned up to the present 100000
bales. South Carolina is 100000 as
against $4,000 last year. I think all
agree that at least so per cent Of
South Carolina's crop was ginned up
to the 18th of October. This being
true, we will not make much over
100000 bales Of cotton. Last years
crop was about 1,125,OOO. This will
leave South Carolina something like
100000 bales short Georgia, Alaba-
ma and North Carolina all show
about the same percentage shore
Texas makes up in excess lacking So
600 bales of bringing it up to last
years ginning.
The next ginners' report, I am
confident, will show that cur conten-
ton that the crop is short, is true.
Last week and the week before, the
mills and the cotton buyers gave II
I cents readily for cotton. If they
could afford to buy it then at that fig
uTe, it is worth that much now, for
the reason that they had placed their
contract months ahead and could af-
ford to give. II cents and show a
/. han6some profit.
There is no reason why you, the
farmers Of the South, should sacrifice
what cotton you do sell them, be-
cause somebody predicted there was
a much larger crop. Demand from
them that they shall give for what
you do sell them from now on, what
they have been paying for it for the
last two or three weeks at least. Cot
ton is worth today on the markets,
IN view of the price and the scarcity
Of goods, II 1-2 cents a pound. If
the farmers will just absolutely refuse
to sell it for less, this price can be
obtained for the balance of this
crop.
"of course everything depends Up
on the unanina;ty with which they
hold Gotten. an, still convinced
that on account Of the frost and
storm making anything like top
crop is impossible; that this crop will
not appreciably exceed last years
and therefore cotton is bound nltf-
naately to go very much higher. The
world will need 12,5O0,OoO bales and
one of the best posted men in the
cotton world wired me that if the
crop should turn out $4,000, 900 bales,
it would readily bring I'd. in England.
l do not think anyone looks for a
crop as great as 100000 bales. Let
the farmers Of the country settle this
question and settle it now by abso-
lutely refusing to part with their
property, except at a value satisfac-
tory to themselves The break in the
market Of one cent a pound within
three days entailing 'oss of S. a
bale compared with leoor of the far
mer fer II months y make the bale
OF cotton, is enough to arouse him to
a sense of his duty in the premises.
10 work II months to produce that
which spectators and gamblers can
take 10 per cent. from it's value in
1856 hours is enough to either make a
man quit growing cotton or show that
ne is a. man. The world is waiting
to See whether you are men,
MI Smith is now at work on the
plans Tor the organization of the
mammoth hO1dinc oo,,o,,
to buy and hold all cotton offered at
less than the agreed price. Some
time ago a full statement OF the pur-
poses Of this company was given in
The State and since then the associa-
uon has received many letters seek
ing Information about the company.
Another statement will be given to
the press in a few DAYS.
HoW's TY1iso