The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-02-22

iautude III our address, SO that we can
touch upon some subjects that will re-
dound to the benefit oi the farmers, for
1--WE hold that whatever benefits the ag-
ricultural interests helps oo-Ioo OF the
people at large. Not only are the
farmers OF Union county feeling the
effects of the short crops, but every
merchant, every mechanic, everv doc
tor, every lawyer, every preacher and
every banker. We are all feeling the
pinch OF hard times, but, gcntlemep'
we must not let times like the pressht
hack us or dcmoralizc us. Advcrdties
are sometimes blessings i'm disguise.
lhcSc are the times that ny mems
souls; strong men and good men show
up III grandcr proportions i'll times of
adversely. They strive the harder. both
i'll body and mind. 1t sets our wits to
working. But for cheap cotton and
the distress following in its wake we
never would have had the Southern
Cotton Association.
We don't believe there is a sane man
i'll the South that will deny the fact
that this association has been OF incal-
culablc benefit to our people, notwith-
standing the poor support that it has
class III from the iarmcrS,-the very
most; and the strong opposition it has
received from mill men, gamblers and
spectators. You all know what poor
support has been given to this organi-
I,- tI,, -
and we suppose this county is fair
sample OF the u,hcr counties in South
Carolina, but we are proud to say that
it is on record that our State has MAIN
tanned a more thorough organization.
and given more liberal financial sup
| port than any oi the cotton' States.
Gentlemen, this association could do
4 vast amount oi good, lar beyond the
ldreams oi its most ardent supporters
Iii every farmer and Southcrncr would
/ champion its cause.
But ior several weak links in this
cotton chain it could easily show to
the world its wonderful power The
great Mississippi river and the vast
plains al Texas, Oklahoma and the
| Indian Territory are the weakest links.
Why? Well, this immense river
ior ages has been bringing down
! from its source a tremendous
amount OF rich sediment which
it has deposited in various cot
ton states, and from those rich alluvial
lands with very little work and no fer
tilizcrs the planters can raise at least
one bale OF cotton per acre. The plains
oi Texas, Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory was probably a great inland sea
or basin at one time, and by the accu-
mutation OF sediment and evaporation
nature presented them with the finest
cotton lands and cotton climate on the
globe. They are today almost in their
pristine glory. They, too, can raise
bale OF cotton to the acre with much
less expense than the South Atlantic
or Eastern cotton states. Now, gen
tlemen, here is the trouble. The west
ern farmer can raise cotton cheaper
than the eastern planter, consequent
| ly what is Il good price Tor Texas is
a poor price for South Carolina. And
when men realize that they are getting
a profitable price for cotton they will
not hold it to pull another man ont
of the mire. Now another thing that
lmust he -rAcknned with, some OF these
cotton states are just being opened
up and they are very level, and i'm
this wonderful day OF progress and ad-
vancement, they can use all kinds of
improved farming implements. Be
fore many years they will be doing
their blowing by electricity, steam or
gasoline power. When that day comes,
gentlemen, we OF the Piedmont section
will be driven out OF the cotton raising
business. Why? Because our lands
are so rolling that you can't use i'm
proved machinery, and from the great
ignorance and little iorethought of our
ancestors our lands have been devas-
tated and worn out. But we still have
some years OF grace lett. Those west
ern countries have some drawbacks
The boil weevil and lack of cotton
pickers They are getting ahead of the
boil weevil by selecting their seed and
planting very early. Texas's crop was
about three weeks earlier last year.
he boil weevil comes eastward at from
rs to 100 miles per year. What are we
to do? Plant fewer acres of cotton,
keep more stock, save your manure
10, l.