The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-10-09

The LAurens Advertiser reviews the
cotton situation In calm and tenn
Usrste article that contains much
eolid food for reflection. The conclu-
s1on II especially timely. showing, az
y does In forcibie manner, why the
cotton consumers have always had
a. better Of the farmers In aimos,
svcry instance where there has been
. contest over the price Of cotton. The
Armers could dictate the price OF cot
ton II they would and the reasons why
0sy have not done so are stated as
fOl'ows b. the Advertiser: Z
~Lookir'g over the whole field. we
DO not observe the enthusiasm among
che farmers for their organizations
this year that has prevailed in for
mer years Yet II Is certain that the
farmers have received millions that
they would have lost during the past
nve years had not these organizations
been formed and had not their ad-
vice been followed.
The Southern Cotton Association
should have an Office In every county
the manager of which should know
all about the market. about every
farmers crop. how much had been
sold. sinned and remained to be sold
and ginned. about the acreage and
everything connected with the crop.
This Office should be managed by a
GOOD MIN. and should be paid well.
Tho crop OF this county should bring
shout two million dollars at present
prices. OF more. Half cent In the
pound lost by bad marketing would
he loss of 100000 or about that
amount to- the growers.
TOR s2,5oo year an office could
Se maintained In which all the facts
about cotton could be collected and
through which the farmers could be
advised. Were all the counties I'm the
0outh TO be organized In this way
With STATE and general offices, besides
che interests OF the farmers would be
properly protected. 'f
but we fear the farmers do moi
wish to pay out much money In main.
mining an organization. A large pro.
portion Of the scant funds which the
Southern Farmers Association ha,
had HIS been contributed by the bank.
err and business men. One reason
that Standard oil Is a successful con-
eern and controls the oil market o.
the world IL that II hires the best bus
Gess brains IN the world. The mar
keting Of cotton crop worth six hun
dred millions Of dollars Is a big bus.
sness. Thousands Of keen, trained
sknifui men are paid high salaries Il
buy cotton. The buyers spend thou
sands Of dollars In collecting infor
nation 80 that they may protect them
selves against paying too much sol
cotton and In the struggle to purchas
cotton at the lowest prices possible
80 SIC pty VIZ VI Tie WOrlu. we DO no
mean the street buyers. but the rea
buyers. the men who need cotton Al
their business arc arrayed against tn
sellers. the producers This Is proper
The farmer tries to buy calico an,
piow-shSres. sugar and grits. as chea
as ne can. But the farmers are un
willing to pay one-half cent on eacI
pound of cotton sold for organization
and for the employment Of men to al
rect the selling and advise In regar
20 ~. Every farmer tries alone an
unaided to buck the whole machiner
of tho cotton buying world. OF cours
this is not literally true; the farmer,
organizations are receiving some SUI
port. but II ls pltlful In comparison :
ySbaL they should receive. Until IN
men who sell cotton unite and assre
Co Hpend money freely enough tn su'
tain a strong organization, manned b