The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-01
MARKETING COTTON CROP
Commissioner Watson Tells of Some
OF the Troubles Which Confront
the Farmers Today.

ing OF the State Farmers Union to
be held in Columbia today one mat
ter Is to be discussed that is of su-
rreme importance to every farmer
who lives in the South, according to
Commissioner Watson.
1T is gratifying that President Bar
rett OF the National Union is to at
tend this meeting and lead in the dis
cussion'" said Mr.. Watson. 'The time
mas about come for the producers of
cotton to break the shackIes of one
tom that have been holding them in
'he dungeons Of minimum profits for
years and years and to break I'M the
unbusiness-like system of marketing
their cotton, replacing the present.
day methods which grind them. with
methods enabling them to deal di-
rectiy through their own trusted and
selected agents with the consumer.
THE European consumer is ho,a
ing out his hands and is anxious to
welcome any feasible plan that will
give the producer his just deserts and
eliminate the heavy charges that are
now exacted from both producer and
manufacturer by useless independent
middlemen. The greatest difficulties
ana practically the only ones now
standing in the way of the establish
ment of a new method upon the ruins
OF the custom that has been prevsir-
ing without foundation and sound
economies, are in the necessity of Sc
curing expert agents to conduct the
grading so that a uniform staple can
be furnished upon order and indeed
guaranteed; and in the establishment
or proper sorting houses at the SHIN
ping ports; in the establishment OF a
thoroughly organized and safe ware
house system properly supported by
the banking interests of the South.
enabling the farmers to store and hold
their cotton to be shipped out as the
demands for the crude material come
from the different markets of the
world; and in the Improvement of the
system OF baling American cotton.
whether this be by the introduction
OF the Indian bale, which is prefer
able to the English spinners at least
to any other form of bale which n
cheaper from the viewpoint of bag
ging and ties. they being of such
character as to be used time and
again or whether it be by putting
in the farm compress with a bagging
that will thoroughly protect the bale.
With a system worked out upon
the lines indicated and particular con-
sideration being given to the points
indicated, there is no doubt that the
farmers of the South can place them
selves IN position at an early date
to control the marketing of this, their
great staple product, cease paying
charges that are now mere pourings
OF money into rat-holes and bring
about a development of the COM
merce Of the ports of the South At
lantic and Gulf seaboards that WIN
mean millions Of dollars to Dixie
land
NO commodity in this wide world
Is sent to market with as little at
,ention given to sound business con-
siderations, on the part of the men
who produce it, as is cotton. The
growers from lack of organization
and the application of intelligent
methods have simply remained quies-
cent and permitted a miserable GUS
tom to usurp the functions of good
business principles and sound econo-
mics"
The State department. of agricuI-
ture of this State, early in 1906, be-
gan complete investigation as TO
these conditions and Mr.. Watson
went among the spinners of all the
European countries, discussing the
matter in every phase and in every
report from the department has been
found pleas for the doing of the very
thing that will command attention
from the union this week. The de-
partment has endeavored to provide
the transatlantic service necessary to
getting Southern cotton from South
erns ports to European markets, even
without waiting for the development
of the points indicated herein and has
found English and other steamship
companies ready to cooperate in the
undertaking and has further been as
sIred by more than 200 European
manufacturers that they are ready.
willing and anxious to welcome and
support any practical scheme that
Will give them the opportunity to deal