The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-05-18
organization, recently discussing it's
programme, said:
Live OFF tho ToiIor.

Live Off tho Tolor.
1--WE have in this country a form
Of gambling known as dealing in flu
lures Of farm products. Every pro-
Queer has felt Its damaging influence,
the crop that stands as the basis Of
our wealth, and of which the United
States has a natural monopoly shall
not be subject to the Whims of few
hundred men who hold down the floor
Of the exchanges. These men toll not,
neither do they spin. They represent
neither field nor factory; yet when
agricultural products, on account of
general prosperity or the efforts of
growers, go up in value, they step in
and claim credit for it, regardless Of
which side they were on, and assert
that We should thank them because
we are able to pay OUR years obliga-
lions with the products Of our toll.
But If by manipulation and heavy fu-
ture selling, prices go down, they set
up the cry that we have produced an
oversupply and must suffer the con-
sequences Of our business 1ndiscretion.
IN these periods of depression they are
invariably found on the hort side of
the market doing their utmost -
To Great a Panic,
and force farmers to liquidate at
prices below the cost Of production.
Later, when the crop is out of grow
ers' hands, we learn that statistics
were wrong. that the excess was fc-
ut1ous rather than real, and have to
witness the Spectator pocket profits
that, but for this vicious system.
would have been ours.
When, therefore, a years supply
OF cotton is thrown on the market
within three or four months, price
levels naturally drop below normal,
aHord1ng the speculative interest to
lhtrude like a pack Of wolves and
take advantage of the lack Of organ
1zat1on among producers and their
consequent inability to influence the
marketing of the crop. What the
grower needs is the cooperation of
business interests, Of the banker and
the man with the hoe, to properly
market the chief staple Of Dixie.
Hold Your Cotton.
by building warehouses and stor-
ing all emergency cotton, by enabl-
ing producers to take off the market.
say, one million bales of cotton. rea-
sonaole prices can at all times be OBJ
ta1ned. BY holding our staple until
consumers are ready to pay II cents.
ana by paying more attention to
marketing and less to growing, we
can accomplish wonders"
Mr.. Calvin compared the market
Ing Of cotton in the South with that
OF grain in the Northwest Statistics
show, he said, that on March 1. 1907.
ISL per cent Of the grain crop Of the
Northwest was still In growers,
hands, while at the CORRESPONDENCE
tlme hardly 10 per cent Of the cotton
crop of the season was still retained
Dy producers, notwithstanding the
1act that grain threshing time pre-
ceued the cotton ginning season.
DePIores Child Labor,
He also deplored the necessity for
women and children laboring in the
cotton fields Of the South, a condition
mat would not exist when organiza-
ZION mad been effected and a reason
able margin Of profit assured. "The
Southland" added Mr. Calvin. "pro-
ouces all the necessities and luxuries
OF life, and yet, by not properly mar
Ket1ng the harvest, it does not enjoy
tne actual earnings Of its people. due
directly to the lack of ORGANIZATION
among producers Of the great white
top staple Of the world.
NATURALLY endowed with resources
TO produce an article which will be in |
good demand until the end of time.
the South ought to revel in prosper
lty, and, with proper organization and
a feasible system of. marketing, it
WILL"