The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-23
President Harris Issues an Address.
To Cotton Producers:

To Cotton Producers:
The great mopey-producipg crop OF the
South-cottop-is now being harvested. Inc
farmers should Investigate conditions and
use good judgment In selling this great mon
By SO doing many million dollars will be
added to her wealth.
First, we will look into condltlons; Inc
supply of cotton Is less 10 day than 1t has
Shelves shell are scsnt Of goods. The population
OF abe world is increasing every day. and
they have 10 be eloihea. hhgain' rae ou'S Set
creased this year flom the fact the 1917 crop
was 1000, 900 bales phort. This shortage Will
have to be made good, as the world needs the
goods, AS TO the condition OF tbe 1905 cop:
We have heard nothing for the last eight
weeks but q bumper crop. Who is u that
circulaees these reports? l see In Europe
5000 miles away, s'ailstieians are freely Ely
year OF l6, ON ,0U0 bales, while many OF the
knowing ones on this side are sending onI
literature forecasting The crop at l4.OOO.VO
The South is now being flooded with circu-
lars OF bear dope by spoculators and manlPu.
lators who are trying TO sell the market
down under the influence Of these bearish
arguments.
are demanding concessions from the manu-
%facturer In the price O. gooda, while the spin
ner is holding back as long as possible in or
der TO be able TO lay in their supply as low as
Never before nave so many interests com.
bined to hammer down the price OF spot cot
ton. There never was a time that the grow.
| ers will be called upon 10 exercise the full
limit OF their strength In resisting the efforts
10 depress prices as at the present time.
There was never q time that cooperation
was needed az badly as 1t 10 today.
~cationaI and Cooperative Union of America
met at Fort Worth, Tex, on the first and
was in session four days. The attendance
was large. all the cotton growing States were
we'll represented by delegates.
The Unanimous consent OF the delegates
was 10 keep the minimum price q secret
within the membership.
A national cotton committee was formed
with q delegate from tach state, 1or Inc pur-
pose of handling cotton.
President Barrett will call q meeting the
first OF January, as by that time We will
know the true condition OF the crop.
Every cotton producing State was repre-
senttd and there we bad the opportunity OF
getting q true report as 10 the condition Of
The growing crop: Not a single State re-
ported anything like an average crop. Some
reported 40 per cent of, some 80 per cent,
some 20 per cent, some is per cent.
| plen ty OF warehouses, and We advise ware
housing II and borrowing money on your
receipt 10 satisfy your Indebtedness.
AS cotton ID the great money crop OF the
South, / want 10 urge our bankers, merchants
and other moneyed men Of the South 10 help
the weak farmers TO hold their COTTON until
the grower may have q profit left 10 him TO
have money TO spend with other business en-
.erprises.
curate report at This time. To begin With,
we had floods and wet weather up 10 the lat
OF July, then hot. dry weather. Rust and
blight and a dozen other pests We had never
East OF The Mississippi river you hear that
Texas and Louisiana are going to make bum
per crops. When you In vestigate 1t you find
IL is false. In the last three weeks l have
been in seven OF the leadinn cotton belt
like an average crop. From the time l left
home until ] reached the Lone Star" state
l did not see a single field OF cotton that did
not have blight. either rust or black lot, and
WAS poorly fruited.
Farmers, all you nave 10 do now is to just
cit steady In the boat and not put q bale OF
cotton ON The market until the price gett
right. Remember, II all depends on , GU as 10
whatit brings. We cannot blame The other
fellow for getting 1t as low he can. There are
II the farmer ls prosperous all other bust
ness is prosperous, and II he is not. all other
business is dull.
It is The duty of every business man OF the
South, no matter whist profession he Is In, TO
stand behind the cotton and make II bring q
profit above the cost OF production 10 the
growei.
able 10 maintain a profitable price? First,
be must diversity bis crops. and now Is the
time to begin for another year. Sow oats,
wheat. crimson clover, vetcb, rye, and par,
your stock. Instead of buying. raise your
horses, mules, cows hogs and corn.
Quit buying hay to XII grass; 70 rsise
COTTON, to buy more hay With: Aske nome
s~elfsupporting and seltsnstalnlng, aud
prosperity is yours.