The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-09-25
HOLD YOUR COTTON.
AAx1rcss Isssaei' 20 the People Of the
state b Jr. Weston.

Weston. the secretary OF the South
Carelina Cotton association. yesterday
tuDubd an important statement regard
tng ths cotton situation. Mr.. Weston
eons upon al cotton growers to stand
pa On the price nxed by the Southern
Cotton Association and the Farmers
Union for Is cents and emphasizes the
usoserity for merchants and bankers
AAd I'll classes In the South to sup
uprs the cotton planters In this
0ovs
H,s statement is 90 follows:
ler. Weston. In speaking Of the sit
cation yesterday baid:
IN view Of the decline Of cotton
~ The last few weeks. I deem II
uReeasary to issue this appeal to the
ormsrr merchants, and bankers of
oipth Carolina.
yhe national executive committee
~ the southern Cotton Association.
whleh met at Jackson. Miss. on Sep
ospabsr 3. after canvassing the cotton
sttuasion thoroughly recommended and
oxs1 the minimum price Of cotton at
1s csnts
: at this meeting OF the p1tional ex-
ecutivs COMMITTEES al Of the cotton
producing States were represented. ex-
espt oklahoma and the Indian Terri
saxy. The men who composed the ex-
seutivs committee which met at Jack
soA were men OF the highest charac-
Ger and fully informed a. to the crop
eoaditions IN their respective States.
Or own state wss represented by
Prsadsnt =. d. Smith. Executive
COMMITTEEMAN n. L. Archer and DR..
Wv. RAY DR.. Ray was requested
~ Ne writer 20 ascertain by inquiry
and observation. the condition Of the
esttcn crop in the several States
ehrosgA which hs passsd: his report
: enbodisd In m interview. which he
esvs oct . few days after his return.
uss certainly not indicative Of al arse
tnop lt.
!, I've know at this season Of the
: y~oP tAat many Of the growers Of
popQ. who have In many Instances
+ pos1Gsd their cotton by mortsage or
- for ssppliss furnished them 10
OAks u Are com PEELED by necessity 10
ous their COTTON ON the market. ire
\ Ueceavs Of prices unless aided by
9sf heal insrchantsror bankers. OF
-Dearss the cotton buyers are aware
~ thie and win continue to put the
Utn ef cotton down a. long an grow
soes HsS found who are willing tn sell.
The losses that result to this debt
bNrdepcd individual effect every man,
Woman and shrd In the south: Il
cannot bo measured by hundreds OF
fotNasa but runs up into millions.
Dseey time cotton goes down means
'0ae much lsss money for the home. |
]@Ae school HOUSE,. the merchant, the
mon ana the development of the
pssourcss OF the South.
There can be no reason assigned
toe shis material decline In the price |
~ cotton; every man who has had an |
,opportunity to observe. will cheerfuiiy
osar testimony 10 the fact that cotton
oos detesiorated In the last two or |
thFse weeks; heavy rains having
oa11sn. followed by extremely high
esmperature. was informed by a !
fee1nble cotton manufacturer that |
~hils the visible supply OF cotto Il
lQoeordfns To the estimate of the statis- |
eleoans--is greater than IL was last
yoAr. yet the quality Is so poor that
only about rs per cent. Of each bale
ean be spun. The consumers. with |
the cotton on hand and the farmers
who have sold In advance. are making
every effort TO force the market
oown. There Is but one remedy
~ this condition. and that Is for
the holders OF cotton to withdraw
q from the market. cutting of the
supply.
81 IN confident that the thoughtful
people all over the south realize the
1Act that their destiny, and that of
their country Is wrapped up in cotton:
end II behosvcs each and every man,
whatever may be his vocation or pro-
'esssion. to come to the aid Of the
0rmers In their effort to stem this
unreasonable and unjustihable attack
Z uDon the price OF cotton.
Cotton goods have not declined In
price. nor have those articles. which
we are obliged to purchase. depre-
oiatcd-
The Farmers Union. which I de-
usve is good organization. has fixed