The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-04
Hold Your Cotton.
Laurens, S. c., Sept. 23rd, 'O7.
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cotton on the market at the present
price. At the first glance it looks
like eleven or twelve cents per pound
for cotton is fair price. But when
YOU consider the advance Of prices in
every line of business, efecting di-
rectly the farming interests Of our
state, you will readily see that fifteen
cents, the minimum price fixed by
the Union, is as little as we can afford
to sell our cotton for tnis eason.
The outlook, from the best author-
ty we can gather in this and other
states, is that there will be a small
crop of cotton this year. There is
considerable falling off from last
years crop in Texas, and some Of the
other large cotton growing states.
Texas did not get good stand, after
planting as many as three times in
places; and then to add to her mis-
fortune, she is sorely distressed by
the bool weevil, which has destroyed
thousands of bales. Louisiana had to
plant and replant her crop Of cotton,
and she is not only short in ner crop
Of cotton but in point Of stand also.
And, if I had space and time, I could
show you state after state is short, or
will be short in the present crop Of
cotton. I have been through nine
teen counties of this state, and find,
with few exceptions, only normal
crop of cotton, with no top crop at
all. And in several counties the crop
is being injured by the rust.
Don't be deceived or misled by the
cotton Spectators old and often re-
peated cry. Of theirs "Bumper
Crop" in sight. This has been their
slogan in the past, and will be in the
future if you will only believe it. They
do this in order to scare US into dump
ing our cotton on tae market, thus
causing never failing slump in pri-
ces. To sell our cotton at the pres
ent prices is not only financial sui
eide, but it is striking hands with the
greatest and deadiest foes known to
the suth, and directly playing into
the hands Of your worst enemy, and
turning your back on your own
friends, and running the union which
you have sworn to protect.
Let all the members of the union
come to the front and stand up like
men Of brains, as we'll as men of cour-
age. Let no member Of your Sub-Un-
ion sell till the minimum price is
reached. If you have some distress
cotton in your Subs, let your busi-
ness agent make arrangements with
the banker, with whom you deal, to
furnish eighty per cent Of the worth
Of the cotton, and the bank hold the
cotton as collateral until the cotton
is sold and the note paid, and thus
hold your cotton, and pay your debcs
too. If you have given lien to
merchant, have your cotton weighed,
and present him with the certificate Of
weights, and ask MIN to credit your
account with eighty dollars on the
hundred dollars worth, and he will
not refuse to accommodate you. But
I submit in all candor that it is the
best, if you can do so, to arrange
with each member, where ne is forced
to have money, 10 borrow the money
on the cotton, and hold the cotton for
the minimum price.
If you have built union warehouses,
put your cotton in them, if not, use
the best and nearest warehouse IA
cilities you can get. It will most GER
tainly pay you to pay warehouse and
insurance charges and hold your cot
ton. We have about one million sew
en- hundred thousand members in the
cotton belt, and all in the world we
, need is self-confdence, and confidence
in each other, and then cooperate
with other unions. and others states,
if necessary, to make our selling in
bulks a success.
Our state business agent, ". C..
Moore, Greenville, S. c., who is in
direct communication with one hun
dred cotton factors and spinners, will
be glad to confer with you about SELL
ing your cotton fr you in bulk, and
can save you money by selling your
cotton through him. Brother; let me
beg of YOU not to let the spirit Of un-