The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-19
Tuesday, November l9, 1907.

If there is one vital fact the pres
eat financial and commercial sltua-
ton has emphasized, it is the envia-
BILE position Of the independent far
mer.
No more foreeful nor inspiring OBJ
iect lesson is available for impress
ing the truth 50 often reiterated by
the Constitution. The man who is
serene and unmoved in the face OF
price fluctuations and market depres-
sions is the man who lives at home;
the farmer who raises his own hog
and hominy; the farmer with corn II
his crib and hay in his barn loft; the
farmer who is free from debt and
with home supplies to fall back up
on, can snap his finger spectators
and look with indifference even up
on fincancial whirlwinds.
On the other hand, the farmer who
has placed himself at the mercy OF
his creditors by Indifference or care
lessness in raising supplies for ma1
and beast is just now in a rather
awkward predicament. He has COM
plicated the situation. He has, by
adding the burden Of his distressed
cotton, probably pledged in advance,
made more difficult the program of
the southern cotton growers.
The Farmers Union is not urging
such members to hold their cotton
when practically the entire proceeds
are due on debts. It is urgingsthose
who can do so to hold. The banks of
the south, where possible, are asked to
assist in this program. The latest Of
ficial bulletin of the South Carolina
branch of the Farmers Union makes
this explanation:
"We desire to make it plain to all
concerned that when we urge farmers
to hold their cotton off the market,
we are talking to that class Of cot
ton growers who are il position to
do so. At the outset we urged every
farmer to arrange his debts first, as
best he could, by storing his cotton
or otherwise, and keep all weak cot
ton off the market.'
The farmer who is forced to sell at
10 cents, when by holding he might
secure Is cents a pound for his cot
ton, is paying heavy price for his
want Of preparedness ATLANTA Con-
stitution.
It is very true that the farmer can
be Independent if he will and the
road to that independence is as point
ed out by the Constitution and which
is the same road that has been point
ted out by The Herald and News for
many years. We have so often spok-
en- along this same line that we nave
recently refrained because it has. al
most become stereotyped with US.
At this time, however, it has seem
ed to us, that the fight was being
made on the cotton grower by the
money power just to- whip MIN into
line and we had hoped that the
banks and the merchants Of the south
would strain every point to help the
I farmer win. It means so much Tor
every interest in the south that there
should be united effort and the only
way, it seems, to keep the price OF
cotton from being forced any lower
keep it. off the market.
.he situation does seem to be ano'
malous. The country is more pros
porous than it mas ever been and Yet
there is a money panic. The banks
have plenty money but .here is nc
money to move the cotton.
The latest action of the govern
ment in ordering another issue OF
bonds, it is hoped, will relieve the
strain and get everything back to a
normal condition.
If the southern cotton grower, how
ever, will take warning and here
after prepare himself for such emer-
gencies and grow: on the farm what
is needed for the farm he will then
be independent, for he will have his
cotton and the necessaries of life and
with no debts to annoy him he can
place his price on his cotton and de-
mand it.