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 money-produc:pg crop OF the
outb-cottoE-is now being htrN esled. Inc
1aI liners should investigate ccnoitionR and
use coed judgment In seIilpg tbis great IDOL
ey crop OF the South. ,,
BY 70 doing many million dollars will be
added 10 her wealth.
First, We will lCck into conditions: me
supply of cotton Ia less 10 day Than IT has
been in twenty-five years. The merchants
OF abe world Is Increasing every day, and
Of cfe ma nSSs e. goods hsSe greatly de-
creased this year from the fact the 1917 crop
was 4 000, 600 bales short. This shortage VIII
have TO be mt de good, as the w0rid needs inc
We have beard nothing for the last eight
weeks but a bumper crop. Who is II that
circulaees these reports? SEE In Europe
5000 miles swey, statlsliGlans are ifesiS
ear OF l6. N0,0GO bales, while many OF Inc
knowing ones on this side are sending Out
Literature forecasting the crop at l~4.COO.eVO
balee.
The South Is now bells flooded with ciIcu-
ars OF bear dope by spectators and msnipu-
lators wto are trying TO sell the market
down under the influence OF these bearish
The WhCIetsle jobber in the Gotten trade
are demanding concessions from the maui
~facturer In the price OF goods, while the spin
ner is boloirg back as long as possible IN Oh
der 10 be able 10 lay in their supply as low as
Never before have so many Interests com.
bined 10 hammer own the price OF spot cot
ton. There never was a time that the grow
ers will be CD lied upon 10 exercise the full
limit OF their strength In resisting The efforts
to depress prices as at the present ime
There was never q time that cooperation
was needed 40 badly as 1t IL today.
Our annual meeting Of "T.Ie Farmers Edu.
cational and Cooperative Union OF A america
met at Fort Worth, Tex, on the hrst and
was large, all the cottor growing States were
well represented by delegates.
The unanimous consent OF the delegates
was 10 keep the minimum price a Aecret
A national cotton committee was formed
with a delegate tom Zach Slate, Tor the pull
pose OF handling cotton.
President Barrett will call q meeting the
first OF January, as by hat time We will
know The tue condition OF The crop.
AS TO the condition OF the growing crop.
Every cotton producing State was repre-
sen,td and there we had the opportunity OF
getting a true report as 10 the condition Of
The growing crop. Not q single Slate re
ported anything ike an average crop. Some
s sePU5: IS Der sG t psl ,H some ;ol I; per se~ CENT ~ per 'sD''
pleD ty OF warehouses;, aid We ADVISE ware
housing II and borrowing money on your
receipt 10 satisfy your Indebtedness.
As cotton Is the great money crop Of The
South, / want 10 urge our bankers, merchants
and 9th, moneyeo men OF the South 10 help
the " eak sIneIs 10 Eold their cotton until
the price gets above the cost OF production, TO
| the grower may have q plCht lett 10 him to
have money 10 spend win other business en-
:erpriSes.
curate report at his time. To tesln With,
We had floods and wet weather up 10 the lst
OF July, thea hot, dry weather. Rust and
blight and a dozen other pests we had never
heard of before.
East Of lht Mississippi river you hear that
Te xaa and Louisiana are going 10 make bum
per crops. When you In vestigate 1t you dnd
il ia faIhe. In the last three weeks l have
been in seven OF the leadinn cotton belt
States. and in no llace did hnd anything
home until l reached the Lone Star" State
| did not see q single field OF cotton that did
not have blight. either rust or black rot, and
was poorly fluited.
cit steady in the boat and not put d bale OF
cotton On The market until the price get.
rie bit. Remember, II all depends on GU az 10
what II brings. We cannot b.ane The other
fellow for getting 1t as low he can. There are
If the lain is prosperous all other bust.
ness is prosperous, and II he is hot. all other
business Is dull. .
1t is The dut, OF every business man OF the
staDd behind the cotton and make II bring q
profit above the cott OF production 10 the
grow Ell.
how Is the grower OF cotton 10 BECOME
able 10 maintain a profitable price? FIRST,
he must diversity bis crops. and now Is the
time 10 begin for another year. Sow oats,
wheat, crimson clover, vetch, rye, and bar.
ley You will ned 1t next spring 10 feed
your stock. Instead of buying. raise your
h0 6nIs m bnxeg ;cG SsS h 40 S ahd g GSsn' 10 raise
COTTON, to buy more hay with. Make nome
s~elfsupporting and selfsustaining. aud
prosperity Is yours.