The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-03-18
THE FARMERS OPPORTUNITY.
Mr.. E. D. Smith, President of the Cotton
Association, Issues Strong Address.

President E. d. Smith. of the South
Carolina Cotton Association, has is
sued an address to the people Of the
State, urging the farmers to provide
for an abundant grain and forage crop
and thus securc further independence
in the cotton world. Mr.. Smith be-
licvcs the high prices of cotton for two
years have enabled the farmers to be
in position to provide these supplies,
and thus be practically independent of
the lien. The statement is as fol-
lows:
After careful investigation as to
conditions in this State, | deem it to be
my duty to ask every farmer in the
State, now that the time has come to
prepare for another crop, to take no
chances but SO lay his plans as to pro-
vide for an abundant grain and forage
enough to meet the necessary require
mcnts of his LAHORE s and family, but
a surplus of it sufficient to provide for
the conversion of a part of it into pork
and beef, and for the purpose of using
this live stock as a means of perma-
ncntly improving the plantation, reduc-
ing the fertilizer bill and the supply
bill. The three last years of continued
high price cotton has put us into a po-
sition where we can make the expert
mcnt of an abundance of food and sup
ply crops.
s.1n lnnl,yTr n,,N,. tLN D,.D 1L,t
bring about the terrible fight for higher
price cotton have found that the main
cause, and perhaps the only cause,
Whcn reduced to its last analysis, has
been the Indebtedness of the producer
to the banker and merchant; and in in
vcstigating | find that this indebted
ness is practically all for those very
things which a surplus of food crops on
the farm would eliminate. | thought
ono that, having control of the price
of cotton, we could afford to purchase
these things. ! still think so; but | am
convinced that VIC will never be able to
control the price of cotton until we
first cease to purchase these things.
AS | have called attention incident
ally in another article, the appalling
number of liens recorded IN this State
gives the answer to why SO much cot
ton is put upon the market at a price
which the seller knows is not what he
is entitled to, but which necessity
drives him to take.
I'VE have made a wonderful fight,
.,N,l l,yn ,nnnc,,l;.lol ,,okIo.fr
victory, and with practically the lien
debt eliminated and the fertilizer bill
largely decreased, means the compare
tive emancipation and absolute control
of the cotton crop by the cotton
grower.
''The present outlook is for much
higher prices during the spring and
summer, and for that reason | fear
there will be a tendency on the part of
the cotton grower to load himself up
again with debt for fertilizer and sup
plies; and then, in order to make pro-
vision to meet with this debt to load
himself up with a big cotton crop,
which means a burden too great for
him to bear and a consequent sacrifice
of what otherwise would be his.
$50 without attempting to begin an
organized effort, | appeal to the com
mon sense, experience and wisdom of
the farmers, and beg each and every
one to let's start this year with the de.
termination to provide for the liquida-
ton at home for our hay, grain, meat
s,nI fortiliuor Kin cn fbnt ,,o ,n;1l H. -
debt to nobody for these things but
ourselves; then next fall let all those
who have tried it meet at the fail
grounds in Columbia and have an ex.
perience meeting as to what our pros.
poets are for next year, based upor
the consciousness of having an abund.
ance at home and no pressing obliga
tions to force our cotton on the mar
ket at a price less than that Indicated
81 nave no doubt of our winning the
price for which we stand this year
In no State do | hear of any inclination
to weaken, but having so much deb
upon us, and being put to so many ex
pcdients to borrow money on our cot
ton in order to meet our obligations
when without this indebtedness and OBJ
legations We could meet the issue, set
tie it at u own good pleasure and b,
thoroughly independent of all parties
let's try the experiment in the yea
1908 in the State of South Carolina. II
my visits and communications to tn,
other States / shall insist upon tn,
same thing. f.. ID. SMITH"