The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-18

ance to be paid them at the end of the
year in a lump sum. They replied that
they guessed they would turn 1t loose
in a hurry some for clothes, some to
pay back debts, some to lay in advance
supplies for another year. and many
alas very many, would spend it in ex-
cesses and rlotous living leaving the
morrow to take care of itself. And that
is the condition of the cotton producer
spending the whole year to make his crop,
not one in 100 producing one dollar in
money from any other source, the mer-
chant, the banker, the landowner, adj
vancing him the bare necessities of life
at high prices, reserving as safe mar
gin as possible and at the end of the
year, If the crop has been good one
and the price fair, he can step up to
the desk and receive the reserve of his
years wages which has been kindly
taken care of for him.
With Producer Himself.
Il know there is an idea prevalent
throughout the country that the trouble
is with the cotton producer himself, that
he is thriftless, extravaBant in wasting
his time and what little money he may
get. Grant that, and yet can we thus
condemn the whole body? The agricu-
tural journals come out week after week
with examples of what this that or Tie
other farmer did in the way of raising
big and profitable crops on small areas,
leaving the inference to be drawn that
all could do the same, could they but
bring themselves to pursue the same
methods. No one denies that. but what
is the first step in this improved meth
cd? Curtalment of acreage. intensified
farming, and the production on the farm
of all crops possible for it's sustenance.
Now, suppose the cotton producers did
this-can any one imagine that the cot
IL. a.. s-frr .
Can any one imagine that the farmer
would then devote anything like the pres
ent amount of labor to his cotton crop
and that he would not receive far greater
pay for his time than he does now? Then
the crop would be lessened and the price
raised automatically and there would be
no need of conventions, holding conf
panles. etc.
Does Not Know II In Cents.
I'm conclusion. allow ne to repeat: do
not know the average cost of producing
pound of cotton, no one knows it-in
cents. But we all know that it costs
brain and Drawn and muscle expended
during the whole year, and expended dill
isently and If we would reap any profit
from the investment. We all know tina,
the only true value of our cotton is
fair and just compensation for our labor
expended in its production. We all know
costs us TO produce it; that 1t is futile
for us to try to figure on that basis, and
that it is impudence personified for the
buyer or the spinner. or any other party
of the second or third part to arrogate
to themselves TO say what they think Ii
costs and then to undertake TO fix price
slightly above that, which will pay us
paupcr wages.
May the day soon came when the
cotton producer shall rouse from his
sleep, and shall shake off the lethargy
that has held him for a generation. May
the day soon come when he shall cast
aside his financial bonds and declare him
self freeman for all time to come.
Speed the day when he shall realize that
in union there is strength and that in
this great Southern Cotton association
there is the greatest potency ever
launched in this, the country of the
free. Speed the day when we shall heed
its bugle call. rally TO its ranks. and
shoulder to shoulder with his brothers,
united as one man, present a solid and
unbroken front in the battle for his
rights"
On account of illness C. c. Moore. who
was next on the programme, could not fill