The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-04-02

Inc following IeIleT written by
President Hightower Of the Farmers
Union, Mississippi Division, in reply
to private letter from a prominent
South Mississippi banker is given
here because it deals in practical
way with questions which concern the
people Of Mississippi:
"Oxford, Miss, March Goth, 1908.
"My Dear Sir:
"Your favor of the 18th received
I appreciate fully your line of rea-
soning on business interests gener-
ally. There is no question about the
soundness of your argument that the
natural marketing of all commodities
us the best and soundest method of
handling them. This applies to cot
ton as to any other commodity, but
under the present system cotton is
not naturally marketed. There is set
up in this country most naturally,
cumbersome and expensive system of
handling this crop. Our effort to set
up new system is nothing more than
an effort to break down the present
very expensive and unjust system.
We cannot do this by allowing the
cotton to go through the channels
that it has gone in former years. Ev-
cry advantage under the present sys-
tenn goes to the gamblers buyers and
to the mills, every disadvantage un-
der this system is reaped by the pro-
ducers. When I say producers, |
mean it in the broadest sense. / mean
that section Of the country which
produces the cotton regardless Of
class or occupation.
"The United States has early
balance of trade with foreign coun-
! tries In its favor. The cotton crop
Of the South furnishes the most of
the balance in favor Of this country.
The South would reap special bene-
fits if the trade conditions were nat
ural and just. AS it is, however, the
South is the least benefited of any
section Of the country. Shall we per-
NIT this system to continue indefi-
nitely, or shall we make a united eff
fort to change the system and reap
the wealth that is properly ours? Ev-
cry interest would be benefited by
such a change; the bank deposits
would be increased with the wealth
Of the people, the volume of trade
in every line would be swelled IN pro-
portion that the price Of cotton IS
advanced and every interest IN the
South would reap its share of the
prosperity.
"You speak Of your town as an in
dustrial center. Your compress at
tracts considerable cotton. It would
possibly attract more if this cotton
could be financed there next fall. The
bank deposits would be increased in
proportion to the amount Of cotton
handled from that center.
cit is true that credit thus ex-
tended is a burden to the borrower,
but we feel that it is better to carry
this burden for a few years and put
ourselves on a sound and natural ba-
sis than to pay tribute indefinitely to
those who speculate on our products
and get rich from the resources Of
the South, and especially is this true
since other sections of the country
are getting the greatest benefits.
cit is true that the independence
of the individual enables him to hold
his products and to take advantage
Of the best prices offered during the
season. If this is true of the indi-
vidual it is still truer of the South
collectively. Greater benefits can
come to the individual through a
united and cooperative effort. The
Individual who is able to act for him
self is often hampered and thwarted
in his efforts by the Individual who
is unable to act for himself, and Is at
the mercy of those who would prey
upon his weakness. His weakness In
the cotton situation becomes the weak
ness Of ALL Our effort is to make the
weak man strong In order that all
may become strong.
1T is true that the country is ad-
justing along that line, but very
slowly. If conditions are allowed to
remain as they are, half century
will pass before the South comes into
its own, if in fact that is ever ac-
compIshed. The constant drain of
wealth from this section and the con-
centration Of the same in the great
wealth centers adds to their strength
and to our weakness and widens the
chasm year by year.
"Your pine forests will be exhaust
ed in half century and cotton will
| be your source Of wealth, so why not
cooperate now in order that cotton
may hold the commanding position
that your pine forests now hold.
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