The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-05

Farmers Educational
and Cooperative Union.
Communications for this column should be
addressed to j. G. Stribling, Pendleton, 8. Z.
~~~~
Something Doing Here.-.Driying I'm
the Entering Wedge.

aQQTebbcO " Os w. oei Aih 4SbotCPohs ~
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Something Doing Here.-..Driying In
the Entering Wedge.
Steps are now being taken TO start the
most important enterprise In the interest OF
W. U. Moore. one Of the best informed co.,
ton experts, T. T. Wakefield: president ,toe
Anderson County Farmers Union and Hon;
the South Carolina branch OF the armer
Uuiop, have obtained a commission Irntn
the State TO organize a "Farmers' Cotion
Union" for the purpose OF selling Inc lar
The initial capital OF this first company VIII
be $40, OOO, privileged to increase capital 70
any amount required to support the onsl-
ness. In order to popularizs the enterprise
possible II is thought advisable to plant the
shares at Sl.00. Now the cotton growers Of
the South pr, duce and place upon The mar,
ket each year from s 3 x 10 oo seven G Rs, 1 1enat the
producer and spinner. az the trade now goes,
are q vast and expensive army OF men whose
chief occupation has is support In democrat
lizIng the cotton market and getting the crop
out OF the producers hands as cheap aa
lpossible and selling the spinners as hign as
| possible.
can see no reason why growers Of cotton can
NOT, with proper management, place their
cotton directly into the hands OF the spinner
Las readily as they now place IL into Inc nanos
of the speculative element that stapa pc
tween the two. It appears tn us that the
growers ofthe staple would naturally nave
more confidence IN themselves than they
should q We In men who make vast fortune
by standing between the producer and spin
Cotton growers must trust some one and
must place confidence In some one 10 price
and take bis cotton 10 the spinner. Fermer'
~ unn
Continue to trust and conhde the the busi-
ness OF pricing and handling your cotion
crops to the grand wolhsh pack that rob you,
year In and year out; OF yont naramearn wn
affairs BY Joining hands with the "Farmers'
Cotton Union" and have something to say
about the pricing OF your, own prodhottf
VIII you continue to trnst toe gang Una,
take your profits ont In cusslng and calamity
bowling? or will you side up with the "Far.
mers' Cotton Union" and pocket the pro.
Lest those that are real friends to the
farmer through ignorance oppose the plans
and movement, IL may be best TO say q word
as to what the Farmers Cotton Union" is
and what 1t will do, and what 1t proposes to
do for the individual cotton grower. 1t IL
not necessary to reveal the workings or de.
tails, IA th ese are available to all that have q
right to know through regular channs,s; /,
the Farmers E & G. Uuion, and under such
control and direction, and proposes to be the
medium through which the Individual far
mer can sell his cotton direct to the spinner,
anywhere located, and through which The
spinner anywhere In the world can In coufi-
dence make known 10 the farmer his wante
and what he will pay for 1t at frat ha and
year. II proposes TO perform this service al
actual cost to each specific bale handled,
thereby obiiterating all manner of profit and
speculation between planter and the mill. II
- 80 hath ATT
by Union farmers or not. on exactly the
same terms. II will receive lots OF cotton al
any warehouse or platform that is served by
a railroad con lection, and have samesampled
and under bond. These samples will then
| pass before q board OF experts, whose duty
shall be 70 place exact a. SPECIFIC grade on
each particular bale, and do 80 Without
knowing any other particulars than what
they zee in the sample before them. and In
that also individually, so that their judgment
will be beyond any outside influence or
Judgment OF other; the object being u NIX
able, fixing ooce and for all the value per
pound for such cotton. Upon this the District
Grade office will issue a ticket TO the farmer
containing full and exact details or these
facts, together with weights and location of
the particular bale, with an assignment
clause on back OF same 30 that IL becomes q
warrant for the proceeds OF sale and can be
placed as collateral security or used to pay
q debt or sold for its face value at any time.
thai being easily determined by the weight
and grade price for that day at the station or
warehouse In which cotton is held. When
sale Ia ordered or a bid accepted the F. G. U
will ship this particular bale to the mill
purchasing with others IN the cheapest and
most direct manner and route. and make
money draft for the net amount OF net re-
turns of sale. and take mp the grade ticket
from any bank or source 1t may reach he
District Grade Office Of the F. c. u. for full
value received. 1t proposes TO concentrate
all handling and all cost to al exact cent
per bale, and that The least possible. What
this may mean In saving and relief I VIII
leave for others to say. We know that the
plan will be ridiculed. be booted by all spec.
ulators and gamblers and their minions and
''pimps," but that will make but little differ
ence to the farmer or the manufacturer 30
long as they two can agree and do business
TO suit their own welfare.<