The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-04-26
Friday, Aprol 2G, 1907.
THE COTTON CROP.

tull lilc acicaSc Is naNlilS elect all
over the belt.
Now, then is the time for the plant
crs to thoroughly organize. IF they
will stand together they can command
almost any reasonable price in the
fall.
Out in Texas the mild winter has
been conducive to rlourishin@ crop
of boil wcevils and this pcstifcrous
insect has spread his ravagcs over
new territory eastward.
Then again there has been little or
no increase in the labor supply and
it is stated, in some localities. that
negroes have moved away in large
numbers from the cotton growing dis |
trictS.
Commenting on the need for or
"anization the Athens Evening Call
gives this sound advice:
There never was time in the his
tory of the South that more impera-
lively demanded that our farmers
thoroughly organize, so as to be in a
position to control their cotton and
dictate prices for next year. There
are two farmers movements in the
South, both working for the same
ends. viz. Southern Cotton Associa-
ton, and the Farmers Union. There
is neither cause nor reason for strife
or jealously between these two move
ments. but. on the other hand, the
members and leaders should be work
III" together in brotherly unity and
harmony. Any man who seeks to
array one organization against the
other Is not Il true friend tu the farm
ers at heart. There is room enough
and members enough in the South
for both, and there is no reason why
a farmer should not hold membership
to both, for the information and zeal
he would derive thercfrom would
many times repay him for his dues.
But before the next crop natures
every cotton grower should become a
member Of one or the other of these
movements. 1t costs but small
sum to join, but if you will all live
up to your obligations, and stand
together, it would be paying invest
mcnt to contribute to that movement
"ncfourth of every lock of cotton YOU
grow. But no such exaction is nee
cSSary. A asked Of members is
that they unite for common aid and
support, and then abide by the obi
cations You take.
1t appears to MS that there should
be no need for urwin. our planters
I" organize. The lesson Of the last
few years should have been 50 self
evident and so well learned that its
teachings need no exploitation. Or
Ganizati"n has done more for the cot
ton grower than anything else. Let
them heed its necessity now.
The above is taken from the eli
t"rlal column of the Augusta Chron-
1clr. 1t contains mucn good advice
Tor the cotton growers of the south.
Even If the rr"p should hr rs Iarwc as
the last year one there is NO reason
why the price ~hnull "n ,lnwn. t'rrr,.
on" q" the bear side "r the market
prrdlrlrd big crop this last wear
and it was Il large crop but the price
has not gone down. This is due TO two
ranSrS. First the organization Of the
Farmers. thou"h many farmers have
not identified themselves with either
one OF the organizations. had much
to do with kecpin" the market IN.
They could have accomplished even
more for themselves if they hal been
more generally in one or the other of
the organizations. just last week in
Anderson county where the farmers
are very we'll organized thcv sold
lot Of l400 bales Of cotton at
II and II ID cents the pound. 1t
was sold by one man as the selling
agent of the farmers. We heard Il
large farmer in this county the other
day say he had been holding his cot
ton for IL cents, but he had offered
lot of something over one hundred
bales at 10 rs. That same week the
Anderson farmers sold 14OO bales at
from II to II 1-2 cents the pound.
1t should be worth as much in New
berry as Anderson.
Besides this the demand for cotton
is increasing and labor is scarce
Much Of it has gone from the farm to
the mills and to the towns and or
other work and there is not sufficient