The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-09-20
Fifteen Cents, the Popular Price.

The, Cotton Journal feels that It
has perfect right to congratulate it.
self upon tho final outcome Of the
minimum price fixed last week on
middling spot cotton by the two great
agricultural organizations in the
south. The Farmers Union, in nation
al convention at Little Rock, Ark, on
Sept. 5, voted unanimously for mini
mum price of Is cents per pound,
basis middlmg uplands, for the crop
of 1907, and $20 per ton for cotton
seed. The Executive Committee of
the Southern Cotton Association met
III convention at Jackson, Miss, Sep
tembcr 9th. two days later and, after
full investigation into the probable
yield OF the crop, and the true value
OF spot cotton at the present time,
based on demand and the high prices
Of manufactured goods, Joined the
Farmers Union in recommending and
liking the minimum price, basis mid
ding, at Is cents per pound at all
interior points in the south for the
season Of 1907-0S. The price of cot
ton seed was fixed at 500 per ton. The
Cotton Journal began an active cam
paign for Is cents early in July, and
came out boldly for that price early
in August.
We are, therefore, intensely graft
fled that the final deliberations of the
two great organizations, through their
official representatives, should have
both tremendously agreed upon a
price which SO fully accorded with
the views Of The Cotton Journal. We
also pleaded for the adoption Of a
price that would be mutually endors-
ed by both organizations, and are
very much pleased to know that the
coming campaign will be fought
along the same line and without di
vision.
Cooperation the Watchword.
These representative organizations
OF the farming and business interests
of the south should now actively CO.
operate together and exercise their
full strength in meeting the terrific
combinations which will use every ef
fort known to human ingenuity to de-
press the price Of cotton. No man
need, FOR moment, think that, be-
cause the official representatives Of
the 5. {. a. and f. T.. and G.. U. have
spoken, their ultima tum given out at
Little Rock and Jackson last week
will fix and maintain the present and
future price Of cotton at Is cents.
The buying and consuming world
have already taken a positive attitude
against fifteen-cent cotton on the
ground that such a price is too high
and unauthorized under existing con-
ditions. Now that the leaders Of the
cotton growing interest in the south
have spoken, it becomes the duty Of
every grower, local merchant and
banker to realize that each is an i'm
portant factor in making the victory,
we are now fighting for, positive.
1t cannot be denied that middling
spot cotton is intrinsically worth IS
cents at the present time. If that be
true the failure to realize that price
during the next three months will be
due to the one single fact, that the
farmers generally will rush their cot
ton Oh the markets and sell it for less
than Is cents. 1t does not behoovc
us to criticize and abuse the buyers
and spinners for making every legiti-
mate effort possible to defeat the will
Of the farmers in the sale of the pres
ent crop. 1t is not the buyer who Of
fers low price for cotton who should
be abused so much as the grower, who
surrcnders his manhood and sells to
the buyers at low price. 1t is the
men who rush their cotton to market,
when they are able to hold it, and who
will sacrifice their cotton at the low
and unfair price placed upon it by
the world, who are the prime factors
in breaking and depressing the mark
ct.
Market the Crop Slowly.
There is but one effective way to
maintain Il high average Level Of pric-
es this season, and that is market the
crop slowly in September, October
and November. There are more ware
houses in which cotton can now be
stored i'll the south than ever before.