Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-12-10
SEES FIF1EEN-cENr COTTON
Farmers Of the South Congratulated
on Long Deferred Hopes and Ex.
peetatlons In Price.

rate, do so most heartily, while at
the same time nursing feeling of ap-
prehension that many farmers will go
wild" next year and will seek to ex.
tend the area in cotton to the limit
OF labor supply and available land. Fiji
teen cents is very seductive price
for cotton; not that 1t is absolutely
high, but because 1t looks big and
sounds big to the farmer who has been
getting around" eight and nine cents
for a few years past, and who has a
feeling reflection of further-back years,
when the ruling prices we're between
AZ and 6la cents. | note that there
is prevailing idea-indeed, 1t has
been positively asserted, that there
will be no more ten-cent cotton and
no more wheat for less than dollar,
writes R. ]. Redding in Atlanta Consti-
tuition. On the other hand, 1t might
Just as truly be prophesied that
neither will there be any more 10
cents-a-bushel corn, or ten-cents-a-
pound bacon, and 5O-cents-a-day labor.
The farmer has to pay more for his
store-bought clothing; more for his
plows and hoes, and hammers and
nails; more for his horses and mules.
In short, the farmer who has nothing
to sell but cotton gets more for that
one article, but has to pay more for
nearly, II not quite everything that he
buys, to say nothing Of the advance In
the price Of labor, which must come,
and certainly is coming. 1t is true that
the price Of cotton has gone up some
what more rapidly than have the
prices Of these other things, but we
may be sure that the latter will fol-
low in due time and on the way pos
sibly meet cotton prices coming
down.
Now this is not the wall Of pessi.
mism, but is the simple note of eau.
ton and the warning voice of pru-
dence. History repeats ITSELF" is an
old proverb and is just as applicable
tc the course Of the cotton market as
to other things. It is claimed that
prosperity has come at last, but grant.
ing and not denying the claim, 1t may
be urged in reply that as the tide
GIBBS and flows twice in every "a hours,
so prosperity and hard times change
places every few years. That has been
the history Of the times as far back
as the oldest inhabitant" can remem.
Der. There has been no radical change
in the relation of the industries of life
to each other. There has been no
fundamental reform that should work
out and maintain a constant perma
nent condition of prosperity, and prob
ably there will not be-in this genera
ton at most.
The moral Of this short discussion
is that the farmer should sit steady
in the boat" and not lose his head
or, as some might express it "turr
fool" The farmer who may read this
knows just what mean and may an
ticipate what further might be said II
the way Of application to details.
In general the cost of making cot
ton has gone up with the market
price Of cotton, not quite so fast OF
to such an extent, but 1t will catch VI
in due time. Why, don't we recall the
years 1S66-67-6S-69-7O, when cottor
was between 20 and 30 cents PEI
pound, while at the same time bacoI
was IL to Is cents, corn $1.25 to $1.5O
-four $40 to $12 per barrel, and so on
But granting for the moment tina
the next years cotton crop will sci
around" Is cents, that fact would b!
no means justify the farmer in goinl
In for big crop next year and neg
lecting the production of all needed
supplies for the farm. It Is said tina
the limited supply Of labor will pre-
vent any considerable increase in tn,
area to be planted In cotton. Blu
let farmers 90 to bidding against eacl
other for laborers and we will at ono,
see a response to the demand, by tn,
half-occupied and wholly unemploye,
of our towns and cities. High price
for labor will inevitably increase tn
supply Of laborers as they have Away
done and always will do.
The safe course is for the farmer +
pursue the even tenor Of his way an
not permit himself to be tempted iron
a safe and sane" policy of home-prc
duction of such supplies as corn an
oats, bacon and lard, beef and butter
fruits and vegetables, and-it mus
not be omitted-that policy of consel
walton of home resources, rotation Q
crops and the restoration and presel
walton of his soil.
1t is gratifying to note that tn
, Farmers union is strenuously advC
eating this very policy l am endeav
. oring to feebly outline. The union
, composed entirely Of farmers and II
: leaders are intelligent, safe and col
! sentative. These leaders know tn
| farmers failings-how easily they ar
led from the path Of safety by hig
prices Of cotton-and are earnestl
striving to keep their brethren frol
deserving the colors, or struggling int
= the heretofore oft-trodden by.way
|. that lead to debt, disappointment an
], damnation. Let all the farmers unit