The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-03-01
GROWER KICKS AT THE KrcKERs.


A well known cotton grower writes
as follows:
For the last fifteen years, have
been buying and handling cotton for
some twenty years, and it is really
amusing to note the kicks registered
by different ones on the cotton crop
reports, when it does not exactly coin
eide with what they think it ought to
be. | have read with interest the let
tiers Aaron Coffee for a number of years,
and later those from the officers of the
Cotton growers Association, the Gin
ners' Association and Farmers Union.
Now we must admit that human ma
ture is selfish at heart, and we natur-
ally want to make things show up our
way, and II they do not, we kick and
kick and kick" almost as hard as Maud
refer to the criticism and insinuation
regarding the government reports.
Now | am southern man and feel
just asmuch interest in high prices as
one, i believe in justice to both sides,
and want to state place more conf
dence in the government reports and
estimates than in all those of the asso-
Citations combined. Why? Because
they are unbiased and have always
been nearer correct, and if they are in
correct, they are in favor of the south,
as do not remember single instance
when the government estimate was in
excess Of the actual cotton produced,
while on the other hand we only have
to review the last two seasons to un-
cover the fallacies held out To the
farmers by these associations.
Early in the season If 1901, when
cotton was selling at inland points at
l0c to l0lsc, the officers Of the Southern
Cotton Growers Association came out
in frequent Interviews and public let
ters criticising the government reports
and estimating the crop at from ten to
ten and half million bales, and ac-
tually went ON record advising the
farmers to hold their cotton for lie to
lie, thereby causing thousands of bales
to be held, the bulk of which was fin
ally sold during the winter and spring
at She to &c, and that with heavy
dock for damage, causing a loss of
countless thousands to the farmers of
the south. We see them again in the
spring advising and pledging them
selves to reduction of 25 per cent in
acreage, but were they consistent? Did
they do it2 say no,
Had it not been for the extremely
unfayorable weather for planting, with
numerous floods, hailstorms and worms
after the plant was up, we would have
had the biggest acreage we ever knew,
and as a consequence another record
breaker crop at ruinous prices.
Now let US make some comparisons.
Some eight or ten years ago, when
cotton was selling at to 5iec, there
was less cotton held and less kicking
at the price than there is now.
Now let us examine the record of
these great associations for this season,
which is now drawing to a close. They
came out with interviews and letters
To the leading southern people in Oc-
tober and some as late as November,
estimating the crop at 9,250,OOO bales,
saying certainly not over 9,4O0,O 900, aad
actually ridiculed the idea that there
would be over 100000 bales. Now
what have we? Then comes the reso-
luIions strongly urging the farmer not
To sell at less than l2c, and in a num-
Der OF instances asked them to hold
for l5c, but | am glad to note that
majority OF the farmers profting by
their sad experience Of last season, fail
ed To heed this freely given advise, and
rs n consequence there is much less
cotton now being held for the "lower
price,.
Now, brother farmer, in conclusion
le, nae entreat you 10 diversity. Raise
everything You can 10 live on at horne,
S.th small surplus To sell to divide
With TIE widows, orphans and preach
rfs. Raise as much cotton as you can
possibly on small acreage. Then you
will not need the association TO tell
YOU when To hold and what 10 hold for.
Il never heard Of their advising aay
9Ge 10 sell, In fact. believe il cot
ton were l5c they would ask you 10
acid for 20c
Diversity and intensity. Don't try
To see how many acres you can plant,
sat how much you can force each acre