The Monticellonian., 1908-12-24
Farmers Educational
AND
COOPERATIVE Union
OF America
Where viii 1T End7

q
ing their cotton slowly?
Last year Texas farmers held on TO
+ their cotton nobly. while the farmers
Of the Eastern States sold rather fast.
This year the best. the amplest. the
most substantial arrangements have
been made by our State Union Off
eials TO relieve the distressed cotton
that we have ever had. sill the farm
ers seem TO be paricstricken.
The cotton over the principle part
of the belt opening unusually early
the farmers all seem TO be in a race
TO see who can get il ginned and all
of 1t TO market first Their conduct
in this matter is the rankest madness.
That is strong term TO use. but why
mince words OF speak in velvet tones
while this high carnival OF folly is
In fun swing
As MIR G. X. Hightower. secretary
OF the Farmers Union national com
mitee says: Public sentiment in the
South is largely responsible for these
low prices. The lack OF full and cor
and the strength of the cid habit Of
rushing their cotton To market as fast
as gathered is responsible TO large
extent for the present conditions
Spectators know more of the farm
ers' condition than the farmer ever
dreams. and they use this knowledge
to its fullest extent. They know when
they have once got the farmers faith
In the market broken and have them
stampeded 10 market they can Just
keep cutting the price and the farm
ers will feed the market the faster.
This season. somehow, the farmers
started into the season in a pessimis-
tic frame of mind. They seem 10 fear
a repetition Of last seasons bank tie
up: still they do not hesitate 10 de
post what spare change they have
with the banks On the whole. the
farmers. OF whom l am one. have
many of the characteristics Of an
enigma
The loss 10 the farmers and other
business interests IN The South this
season on account o. such blind. meth
odiess rushing the market. has already
run into the millions When will 1t
ends When viii The farmers learn
thar a little careful study of the
worlds cotton market and the eondi-
lions Of business that affect it will
enable them TO put more intelligent
business methods into their crop mar
keting that will enable them TO make
more money and have more OF the
comforts Of life with an eighthour
lay than they get now under this old
system of toiling from sun till sun al
all seasons Of the year.
Often when l have been soliciting
subscriptions among farmers for our
Union papers have l been told: i
haven't got time TO read. II takes
me all my time 10 make living |
try TO take county paper 70 sorter
keep up with things at home. but
half the time don't have time 10 read
it
There IS no practical remedy for
the farmers condition outside q or
sanitation Organization without a
disposition to cooperate and e IN
concert throughout The cotton belt IS
worthless. II q man IS unwilling 10
be taught better and sane- methods
OF doing business The organization can
not help him. but he can through his
incorrigible ignorance and stupid O2ly
become a milestone about the neck Of
the organization and thai condition
largely prevails today.
Those Who would save this loss Of
so man millions o. dollars TO The
farmers of the South are prevented
from doing 80 by this crowd. who
never have time 10 read anything
heavier than Hcsietter's Almanac
Farmers Union men, LEI Us rally
cur forces ard do what We can 70
step this dumping. this everlasting
bearing the market Il you must have
money for any purpose and yoa cannot
get a lean on il stored II your ware
house At home, fe- the love Of your
family and your country don't sell il
ar such prices IS are now offered. hui
ship il 10 some one Of the cotton fac
tors Al Galveston in The care Of J. {
Aibrig,on and draw two-thirds o. lis
preseat value at s per cent the loan
10 continue till YOU order the cotton
sod
This matter Of shipping cotton is q
very simple affair and II yen don'l
understand i, so 70 your railroad agent
/ for instructions: though II you are a
Cnioa man your local secretary has
complete instructions for you. You
may say there Is no use for ne TO hold
nv bale while everybody else is sell
ing That argument Is the refuge O.
anaves an3 fools ana wll nog be re
sorted 10 BY seif-redectins man whe
has ordinary intelligence L every,
body should adept that theory ard put
/. IL practice the wheels Of progress