The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-08
THE SOUTHERN STATES
HAVE THE MONO2jjLI
WORSE THAN FOLLY NOT TO DE-
MAND PROFITABLE PRICES.
Have Been Trying to Find other
Fields but Southern States
Hold Situation.

realization OF the strateSlc poslIlou'
which he holds and Great new de-
termination to demand fair and just
return for his labor:
1.-The Southern states hold what
may be practically called world
monopoly on cotton, since they pro-
duce nearly so per cent Of the worlds
output. Nature has given them TINS
strategic advantage, and, though Eng
land has vigorously struggled Tor
more than three-Quarters Of a century
to find some other place in which to
raise cotton to make her spin
ners less dependent upon the cotton
states Of America, though parlla-
ment has been actively moving IN
such an effort for three-quarters OF
century, and though the government
and the cotton spinners Of England
have never abandoned this agitation,
it is universally recognized that to-
dav the South's domination OF cot
ton production is stronger than ever
before. In times past We might have
feared that sources Of cotton produc-
ton might be found elsewhere, tnat
other lands could be made eompetl-
tors with the South, but the we'll
informed cotton manufacturer OF Eu-
rope realizes just as fully as the peo-
ple Of this country do that tor the
next fifty years at least the South s
supremacy in cotton growing has no
competition in sight.
ssThe world knows that 1t IS de-
pendent upon the South for its sup
DIV Of the raw material with which
to keep in operation the l22,ooo'oOV
snindles which are now at work and
to clothe mankind. With such a mon
opoly, fully as great in its far-reach-
iner imnortance as would be that mon
onolv on coal and iron which we have
suggested, with the worlds demane
for it's cotton increasing more RAPID
" than ever in the past, would 1t no
be the height of business foly--prae
+;oa1]v business sr1icide-for this sec
tion not to demand Of the world
full and profitable price for It's grea
staple? And yet full price, hlghe
even than what cotton is commanding
today. is not h. any means exhorol
tanr It is absolutely certain tia
the world could take the South's col
ton crop at IS cents pound an
pass it into consumption just as raat
ilv when once adjusted to that ba57
as it did at 6 or 7 or cents a poun(
Low prices do not always guarante
consumption, and what we call .hls
price, do not always prevent mcrea
ed consumption. The cotton spinner
of the world became so accustome
to the starvation prices prevailing b
tween 1891 and 1902, when they ram
ed from an average of 6 cents for
full wear, in 1889, to a little le
than 8 cents in other years, that son
times they seem to have entirely owe
looked the fact that there were on
two periods Of low prices in the III
tory Of cotton.
"The Manufacturers Record b
lieves the South has come to such
realization Of the potentialltles
cotton and to such realization
its own strength and Of its own ab
ity to turn from cotton growing
other equally profitable pursuits tn
never again Will it's great staple o7
any length Of years be permitted
sell except at a good profit to t
producer.
"Last year one Of the English G.
ton commissioners, while visiting t.
country, in an address urging rease
why the South should not underts
to demand nigh prices for cotton,
should be content with the low pri
prevailing some years ago, said Il
these advanced prices took the clot
off the backs Of the poorer people
India, who are the great consun
of England's cotton goods. In
ply the writer expressed regret at
condition of the poorer people IN
dia, but added that for ten ye
low-priced cotton has taken the Gle
es off the backs of the cotton farm
of the South, and, with all g
friendship for the cotton spinners
Europe and for the cotton wea'
of India. if any more undresS
has to be done it will not be done