The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-10-27

y. barrett, natOHdl pItHlutul VI 'H'
Farmers Union has issued the fol.
lowing statement regarding the In
dustrial congress he has called to
meet at New Orleans. November IL,
for the pupose Of formulating a cam
paign FOR advancing the price of cot
ton in the south
AS the executive head of an or
ganization more than 100000 farm
crs in the southern states. controll-
ing approximately 60 per cent Of the
cotton grown in the United States.
/ feel that It is incumbent upon me
10 take the initiative In political
steps looking to stopping the down
ward trend OF the price for t'Is
staple. aud restoring It TO figure
warranted by the cost Of list Iroduc-
ton and its value to civilization
1T Is needless for me TO state
that the prosperity Of ev'ry bust
ness interest between N1son and
Dixon's line and the Rio Grande riv.
or Is largely dependent upon the re-
turn the cotton crop Is bringing T.,
this section.
"a proper return for cotton means
prosperity to the IA .ner. the coun-
try and town merchant. the city
business man, the manufacturer, the
wage worker. the salary Garner. cv.
cry railroad and corporation in the
southern states.
To-day spot cotton is selling in the
neighborhood of 1-2 cents per
pound less than one year ago In
many instances this means that the
producer is called upon To dispose
OF his output below cost.
"If this price level prevails through
out the selling season Of l9OS-9
the south will sustain loss APP
preaching s1O.OOO,OOO
"The significance Of such n de
velopment would be sluggishness in
every southern commercial circle,
construction OF money in every bus
mess, a stoppage of construction and
development in each direction and a
failure to recuperate from the
panic.
"There is no logical or necessary
reason for this slump in the price
of cotton. The output of the south
will be infinitely smaller than last
year when prices ranged to higher
level. American and European spin
ners admit that they expect 10 book
the usual volume of advance orders
at the prices obtaining I'm 1907.
The sole excuse now standing
between fair prices and the south's
cotton, Is the belief Of spinners that
they will be able to obtain the
staplc at their own figure. In this
belief they have been aided by ex.
change manipulators. whose efforts
have been TO show that the cotton
belt would make record-brealing
yield. As a matter OF fact, we who
are in most intimate touch with the
situation know there is not the slight
est ground for such an opinion.
The members Of the Farmers
Union. as I have said. control in
the neighborhood OF co per cent of
the south's staple crop.
with the cooperation of the bus
mess interests. large and small, OF
every southern state. they will I'M
dcrtake TO secure for this crop us
intrinsic value in the markets OF the
world.
I'VE are determined TO win this
fight regardless OF the temporary
sacrifice It may entail upon us.
serve this notice freely and frankly
unon every business man OF the
south.
"They can aid us materially, and
they can shorten the time
Of waiting, by active cooperation
in this effort
eve are battling not alone for
ourselves, hut Tor the prosperity
and the freedom from debt OF ev-
cry man, woman and child in the
southern states.
we have n right 10 expect their
assistance under these conditions.
"To the end OF arriving at definite
plans, I have summoned delegates
In New Orleans on November 11th
! will answer for large attendance
~ these men, each thoroughly IA
miliar with the cotton and the fnaIl-
cial situation in this community.
II invite the cooperation Of bus
mess man, manufactures, profession
a. man. banker. and wage Garner I'm