The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-01-08
sumption of raw cotton is owing to
the. increase Of spindles.

The rapid increase Of spindles in
the South and the consequent increase
in the consumption Of raw cotton by
Southern mills have rendered them
potent factor in making it possible to
maintain higher general average for
the price of cotton Let no one, how
ever, be deceived by these conditions
in thinking that these circumstances
alone confront the Southern people.
The cotton exchanges, the cotton broll-
crs, the cotton spinners must Of ne
cessity depend upon the margin of diff
ference between what the cotton is
originally bought at and what they
ultimately sell it at for their profit.
Therefore, to sum up the whole sit
uation, it resolves itself into this one
condition: That the producer Of cot
ton is the one out of whom must come
all the profits that are made by every
other individual who handles his
product. In other words, if the ulti-
mate sale of his cotton in the form
Of raw material, or the finished pro-
duct, shows a net profit Of one cent
or four cents per pound above that
which he realized for it, as the case
may be, less than his produce is
worth. Now, every man, other than
the producer, who handles "otton,
handles it to make a profit out of it,
The logical situation is to get it
from the producer as low as possible
SO as to make the margin of profit
between him and the ultimate con-
sumption Of his cotton as great as
possible. Therefore the buyers of cot
ton and the brokers and the mills are
seeking to bear the price, while the
producer of cotton must raise the
price. He has the world by natural
law arrayed against him; he has the
best brain and capital employed
against him, thoroughly, understand
ing the situation, getting statistics,
studying conditions, knowing just
when and how to combine their forces
to strike him when he is weakest, and
! to take advantage Of his ignorance
and his lack of means to control the
situation. Now the work of the
Southern Cotton association is to
bring the producer of cotton in the
South to a like understanding of their
side of the question, and combine
their brain and capital and to force
the world to divide the profits in cot
ton with the man who produces it.
There is no sentiment in this thing;
it is an entirely business fight be-
tween the buyer and seller to maintain
profitable business. The Southern
Cotton association, with this condi-
tion clear in its mind, has done mis-
sionary work for two years, and the
sentiment seems to be right through
out the South to crystalize the knowl-
edge and capital Of the producer into
a practical form for his benefit. This
calls fora considerable change and
modification Of plans heretofore
adopted.
At Birmingham there will be an en-
tire revision Of our methods and mod
ification of such of our plans as have
been found partially practical up to
the present and the introduction Of
those that experience has taught us
to be necessary. We all realize the
blunders that have been made, but we
also realize the absolute necessity for
the continued existence of our organ
ization. Though there is not the
same apparent enthusiasm, yet there
is a deep. and abiding determination
in every State in the South to con-
tinue the work until the problem is
solved. The South will continue to
grow cotton for an indefinite length
Of time. The desire Of the grower to
share in the profit will continue as
long astcotton is grown. And by
patient application Of brain and capt.
tai, we will solve the problem.
In conclusion, want to urge every
man who can possibly do so, to at
; tend the Birmingham convention, and
give whatever aid he can in helping
to formulate the new plans of cam
| paign for another year. - ..
Let me give a word as to the con-
ditions in reference to the outlook for
IL aotl r o. = y