Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-14
FARMERS ARE URGED
NOT To SACRIFICE
COTTON ON MARKET
President Barrett Declares
that Tendency to Sell Pro-
duct Too Early Causes
Prices to Sag Downward
CspeciaI Dispatch to The Journal. }

UNION CITY. Ga, Oct. 12-Farmers OF
the United States are urged not to sacri-
fee the cotton of this year by marketing
II too early, in a statement issued by
President Charles A. Barrett, of the
Farmers National Cooperative and
Educational union. The statement of
President Barrett follows:
II has been for a number Of years the
practice among southern farmers. either
through ignorance OF Indebtedness, TO
sacrifice larger or smaller portions of
the financial returns for their cotton to
which the real value Of the staple en-
Iitled them.
Rushing the staple upon the market
the moment il left the ginnery, regard
less OF the range OF prices, they have
been paid in whatever figure was ruling
at that particular time. without refers
ence to the bone fide laws of supply and
demand.
In itself, the custom is and has been
a factor for depressing the market, since
It congested the staple and operated TO
drive prices downward.
IL would take an expert statistician
to estimate the loss to the southern far
mer from THU source since the civil war
alone.
MEANS LARGE LOSS.
And when you speak of a loss to the
southern farmer, you mean also a loss
to the southern business man and TO
every channel of southern commerce and
in6Gstry-for whatever affects the wei
fare OF the man of the acres affects also
the welfare of every other man. woman
and child in Dixie.
Farmers of the southern states are this
year In danger of repeating the old blum
der. In a great many localities, the ten
dency to hold cotton for price com
mensurate with it's worth is noticeable.
But in a few other localities, the flyer
| is being rushed on the buyers, with the
/ inevitable result that wherever this oc-
ours the price says downward and the
grower is not receiving the figure that
represents the value of the staple to the
world of consumption.
a I do not insist that the farmer hold
his cotton where his debts are of very
pressing nature, and where he can hqui-
date them i'm no other way than by dis
posing of his product. But do desire to
impress upon his mind, the desirGbility,
| in justice to himself and his family, of
making an honest effort to borrow suf-
fcient money 10 tide over his immediate
obligations, 20 the end Of keeping his cot
ton we'll in hand until the market re-
spends to the bona fide value of the sta
pie.
In a great many towns in the south we
have made this possible through our
warehouse system. Each year the system
makes greater strides and enables us TO
extend accommodation to a larger num-
Der OF members.
BONDED WAREHOUSES
| I olok eventually for a system of bond
ed warehouses under control of our peo-
pie, to so permeate the cotton belt that
the smallest as we'll as the largest farmer
will be enabled to hold his cotton with
out prejudice to his pressing obligations.
We have found. in several states, that
where the staple is placed in ware
house properly secured, there is little diff
fculty in borrowing upon it all the
Emergency money needed for its owners.
/ Where farmers cannot have access to
one of these warehouses or where condi-
tons are such that they find it imprac-
ticable TO obtain loans on their product,
advise that they sell as little of the
staple as possible-just enough to pay off
the debts that may be pressing for settle
ment. The remainder should be held I'M
til such time as IL can be disposed of at
a figure in harmony with its worth to
civilization
] You can be very sure OF the fact that
II you do not secure the price your cot
! ton really is worth, some other factor
will do so. Most likely it viii be the spec
ulatOr, and If not the speculator II will
be the mill, and II not the mill, then the
middleman between the mills and the ul-
innate consumer.
You will save nothing to the world by
satcrifcing the cotton you have brought
forth with so much effort and applica-
ton. But you will lose a good deal to
yourself, your family and to the south.
| 1 urge that at this particular season,
while the necessity Of marketing cotton
in a scientific instead of a haphazard
way, is shown clearly to your intelligence,
that you take steps TO encourage the or
ganization everywhere of the warehouse
system.
! This is a feature OF cooperation in
the work OF the Farmers union which is
bound to return a most instantaneous
harvest II also presents TO the farmer
that first lesson in business which he
must learn in common with every other
American in whatever walk of life sit
uated.
Csigned) CHARLES S. BARRETT.
Parker Urges Farmers
To Advertise Products
| AL o.