The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

liilS Ddl4WlGk ulu HIS AlLAlf44i6 III AtdAidAtho or at the most. thousands of dollars and that his calculations and comprehension stopped far inside the million mark
 It may cause the captains of industry and the moneyed hosts to sit up and take notice when officially informed that the cotton growers of the south now thinking and talking in millions and hun dreds of millions-know what they are talking about and are organized to add to the American trade balance over $150, eco GOO a year, to the south an extra in- como of S750, ,000 and to save $50 OO00 eco or more that now goes needlessly from her borders-total. $500, ,000, GOO added annual profits.
 That the planter is as practical in his estimates as are the exchanges in their computations and will shortly be as well organized as are their speculative cam paigns, will this year be demonstrated to their perfect understanding, if not satis- faction. The plans are broad, compre- henslve, and the details have been worked out like an engineers specifications. The ''builders" have figured on the blue prints and put in their estimates. The job will not be done by contract except for a few sub-contracts), but by cooperation and mutual agreement. The bond for the faithful performance of the work is backed by billions of dollars worth of the most productive lands in the world, owned
 
 gagged to northern banks.
 Progress of Organization.
 Such progress has been made in organ ization and plans are so far perfected that I have been able to secure permis- sion to disclose to readers of The Age Herald a partial outline of tho intentions of the cotton growers, with definite rela- ton to the crop of 1908, just planted, the basis of all future contracts for new crop months now being dealt in on the various exchanges where cotton Is the motif" In view of present conditions 1t is amaz- ing that steps were not taken long ago to bring about the desired result, so sim ple and apparent are the underlying truths presented.
 Undoubtedly every cotton grower in the belt wishes to obtain the best price pos sble for his crop, and will be better able this year than ever before to dictate his own terms. Four years of cooperation among all classes: The Farmers Edu- cation and Cooperative Union of Amer lea, the Southern Cotton association and the initiative action of those outside the organizat tons has resulted in obtaining improved prices for their crops, and the cotton growers of the south are more in dependent financially than they ever were before. There are more planters, culti- vating more acres raising a larger pro- auction of the entire yield, who are able to finance the coming crop without bor- rowing than ever before since cotton has been cultivated in the southern states of America They have become thoroughly conv.nced that the new crop will come upon bare platforms, exhausted stocks, and that they will not be necessitated to sell earl'- unless the price suits. They tul- ly expect to receive 15 cents for the rem nant nov withheld from sale, which would make a difference in their favor of S40,- ,f 1afE re Estimating growers holdings at 100000 bales nearly one-thrd of which is count ed in the port and interior point stocks (carried on loan aecounD the expected re turns would amount to over $100,0OOO0o. This money, which would come from Eu- rope, Canada and American mills. would go into southern banks and enable the louidation of all outstanding indebtedness against the old and new crop, or approx innate that result.
 Larger Growers Statement.
 ''Not being forced to rush the new crop to market the calls upon the banks for assistance in handling it would be less than usual and all needed accommoda- tion easily obtained at home. If the old crop market reaches 15 cents, the new crop product will come on a similar mar lzet, and # properly controlled, as it will be- the prce will be sustained. The grower wants the full value and is going to get it It requires no more heroic spirit to leave a portion of the crop unptcked. or destroy it otherwise than it does to plaw up planted fields. A3ut we shall be able to hold over until another year so mucn as we desire without the necessity of de- stroying any of the perfected crop. We will only market so much as will bring a satisfactory price and carry the balance to profit and loss account, as it will repre- gent no actual value to us. The price We can obtain for taht which We market Will net us as much money as the entire crop sold at a lower price. Whatever the crop and it will undoubtedly be less than the normal average to my way of thinking, we shall market no more than the nor nal average"
 This was told me by one of the largest growers of cotton in the south and ne IS one of the best posted, shrewdest and most successful marketers of his own and his tenants and neighbors' crops ln the country Continuing he said;
 We learned many useful facts from the European spinners on their American tour I heard many of the addresses and their answers to pertinent questions propoundeo by cotton growers. We learned that the mills of the world can afford to buy cot ton on a 15 cent basis to the grower and sell the manufactured product at rates that work no hardship on the consumers mot even the laborer and wage-earner- the wor.d over. We are conscientious on this point. because we do not wish to en- rich ourselves at the expense of labor hut ob1ect to the middle man grabbing most of our extra profits and labor paying just as much for their goods as they would if we got 15 cents. If F cents was the equitable mean price-that would be my price, but now we know better If the tariff Is the disturbing element that throws natural conditions out of bal ance. and renders the law of supply and demand imperative, then we shall see to it that the tariff is so remodeed that the consumer does not pay the whole bill The organized farmers and organized la Dor can together answer for this re- suit"
 A Thoroughly American Idea.
 The patriotism of such course as thai above outlined may not be evident at first glance but the fact is there. The Tor eIgn buyer will pay the difference This he does not object to. Cablegrams were received from European spinners during the month of April by President Harvie Jordan of the Southern Cotton as sociation, asking if it was not possible to advance the price of cotton on the American market and urging the great necessity for such action. When did you ever hear before of the buyer almost demanding that the price of the staple should be higher? The foreign spinners odr,i+ that their business would be on 8