Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-07

Editor Journal: Notwithstanding the
fact that they were seriously handicapped
during the past season in meeting their
financial obligations and in the realiza :
ton of that prosperity that is rightfully
theirs by the distressingly low price Of
cotton, yet the farmers of the south can
easily overcome these grave difficulties b.
a more marked adherence to the princi-
pies of their different organizations in
the future than in the past
| If they continue to manifest just as
| little interest and enthusiasm in the pro-
mitigation of the principles Of their OF
ganization as at present, then the manip-
G;ators of Wall street will in the years
! to come, continue to dictate the price Of
the feecy staple with their accustomed
presumptiousness and the southern farm
ers who on account of their splendid op-
portunities should be the most contented
and independent class of people in exist
ence will continue to be confronted by the
same unsatisfactory conditions that ex-
listed to such a startling extent last year.
| The fact has been demonstrated that
the thing for the southern farmers to
do in order to obtain a legitimate price
for their cotton is to bring themselves
TO the point where they can hold it Just
as long as they want to. but before this
can be done. it is absolutely necessary
that they raise all of their food supplies
at home.
This is the main thing to do, in order
to make southern agricultural conditions
assume a most satisfactory aspect Let
the southern farmer resort to the wis
dom and ACCESSIBILITY of raising his own
supplies instead of depending for them
upon the western farmers, and a wonder
full change will be brought about in the
agricultural situation down south: in
fact, such a wonderful change that the
cotton market will nearly always present
bulli5h aspect. because the control of
the price of the fleecy staple will have
been wrested from the grasp. of the Wall
street manipulators and placed in the
control of the southern farmers.
Then there will be no repetitions of the
very deplorable and unsatisfactory condi-
lions that existed to such a striking
extent last fall. tremendously handicap
ping the farmers in cancelling their pc
cuniary obligations. No bills will have to
be carried over for another year but
debts will be paid promptly and fully and
| farmers. bankers, merchants and all 9TH
ers interested in the marketing of the
cotton crop viii enjoy that splendid pros
rerity that is the inevitable result of the
southern farmer being his own boss.
chief trouble with the southern far
mer is that they do not stick to the prin-
ciples of their organizations as they
should. Many a farmer joins the union
| thinking that a membership in that or
| ganization is all that is necessary in OBJ
| tanning satisfactory and profitable re-
suits from their farming operations
| They don't seem to realize that unless
they discharge faithfully and conscien-
! tiously those duties and responsibilities
that rest upon them as representatives of
these organizations they will never come
! into a full possession of the manifold
! benefits and blessings that must inevita-
bly, result from a full discharge of the
obligations that confront them as mem
bers of the aforesaid organizations.
Unless they remain absolutely stead
fast in their loyalty to the unions every
fall they will be confronted by the awful
realization that necessity forces them to
sell their cotton as fast. as they get it
out and thus surrender to the cotton ma
nipulators in order to meet their finan-
cial obligations with the bankers and
merchants and others with whom they
have dealings. This surrender means
low prices for their cotton and the con
sequent disasters attendant upon it.
The agricultural situation in the south
reflects very sad state of affairs in
deed. 1t reflects the heart-rending spec
tacle of thousands upon thousands Of
famers bowling down to the professional
gamblers of Wall street, suffering the
terrible and almost unbearable humilia-
ton and modification of having others
dictate the price of the product that
they have raised by the swea, u their
brows. 1t reflects the sad picture of the
farmers bowling down to the professional
and plantations in order to alleviate the
terrible consequences of low priced cot
ton 1t shows the aristocratic gentle
men of Wall street growing rich off the