Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-11-04

Farmers and Others Interested in Cot.
ton to Meet in New Orleans to
Launch Campaign to Boost the
Price Of Cotton.

s. Barrett, national president of th,
Farmers Union, has issued the fol
lowing statement regarding the indus
trial congress he has called TO meet a
; New Orleans November 18th, for tn,
purpose of formulating a campaign
for advancing the price of cotton il
the South:
'As the executive head of an or
ganization of more than 1000. 900 far
mers in the Southern States, CONTROL
ing approximately 60 per cent of the
cotton grown in the United States.
feel that 1t Is incumbent upon me 10
take the initiative in practical steps
looking to stopping the downward
trend OF the price for this staple. and
restoring it TO figure warranted by
the cost of its production and its
value TO civilization.
1T is needless for me to state that
the prosperity of every business in.
terest between Mason and Dixon's line
and the Rio Grande river is largely
dependent upon the return the cotton
crop is bringing to this section.
"A proper return for cotton means
prosperity to the farmer, the coun-
try and town merchant, the city bust
ness man, the manufacturer, the
wage-worker, the salary-earner, every
railroad and corporation in the
Southern States.
To-day spot cotton is selling In the
neighborhood of 2R cents per pound
less than one year ago. In many in
stances this means that the producer
is called upon to dispose of his out.
put below cost
IF this price-leyel prevails through.
out the selling season of 1909 the
South will sustain a loss approaching
$4,000 600.
The significance of such a deyel
opment would be sluggshness in ev.
cry Southern commercial circle, con
strictlon of money in every business,
stoppage of construction and de-
velopment in each direction. and a
failure to recuperate from the panic
of last fall as rapidly as we have
right to expect
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 a higher level |
American and European spinners ad |
NIT that they expect to book the
usual volume of advance orders at the |
prices obtaining in 1907.
The sole excuse now standing be.
tween fair prices and the South's cot.
ton is the belief of spinners that they
will be able to obtain the staple at
their own figure. In this belief they
have been aided by exchange manip.
nlators. whose efforts have been TO
'HpN mat INV 'ottoh Dtlt NOulu Hldhe
a record-breaking yield. AS a matter
Of fact. we who are In most intimate
ouch with the situation know there
S not the slightest ground for such
IN opinion.
The members of the Farmers I'm.
on, as | have said, control in the
leighborhood of 90 per cent of the
South's staple crop.
With the cooperation of the bust.
less interests, large and small, of
very Southern State, they will under.
axe to secure for this crop its in
rinsic value in the markets of the
world.
I'VE are determined to win this
ight, regardless of the temporary sac
ifice it may entail upon us. serve
his notice freely and frankly upon
very business man of the South.
They can aid us materially. and
hey can shorten the time of waiting.
y active cooperation in this effort
We are battling not alone for our
elves, but for the prosperity and free
ON from debt of every man, woman
nd child in the Southern States.
I'VE have a right to expect their
ssistance under these conditions.
TO the end of arriving at definite
lans, have summoned delegates
rom every Southern State to meet in
Jew Orleans on November 18th. |
ill answer for large attendance of
desc men, each thoroughly familiar
18th the cotton and the financial sit
alton in his community.
II invite the cooperation of bust
ess man, manufacturer, professional
ian, banker and wage-earner in the
outh. urge them TO be present per.
,nally. | urge on commercial bod :
s. chambers of commerce, boards of Z
ade and labor organizations to send 6
to this convention.
We are going to adopt extraordi- /.
airy measures to meet extraordinary :
,nditions. That fact is settled. With