The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1911-09-29
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS
(OMMfNDS JOSEPH
Ufoes Southern Farmers TO Fellow Advice
70 Pharaoh.

jackson, Miss, Sept. 25.-Another
good boost for the recently regenerated
movement to induce the c. tton produ
GERS to hold their staple of the market
in order the better to control the price
is expected to be found in the subj oined
communication which Commissioner OF
Agriculture Blakeslee has received from
Senator John s Williams, and that fficial
and those who are co operating with
him are much encouraged.
Mr.. Blakeslee reports further that he
has heard from Congressman Sam A.
Mitherspeon of the fifth district, which
is, by the way, the district, numerically
speaking, which MIR. Williams repre-
sented for 80 many years in the lower
house, in which the celebrated "cob-
pipe statesman" expresses entire sym
pathy with the call. Mr.. Witherspoon
writes that he will take up the matter
at an early day and will give regular
itInerary which he expects to cover and
will make a series of speeches in his
district.
The letter of Senator Williams is as
follows:
Cedar Grove Farm, r. F. D. No. l., Ben
ton, Miss, Sept. y, 1911.
Fl. e. Blakesl.e, Commissioner of Agri-
culture, jackson, Miss.
Dear Sir-Yours of Sept. 20 at hand.
Nay hearts, fully enlisted in the move
ment to persuade Southern cotton
farmers SO hold and market their cotton
slowly in order to cOunteract the bear
conspiracy oetween the New York ex-
change speculators apd some Of the
spinners. This was shown by the fact
that it was i who drew up the resolu
tions, which were the result of the lit
tie Informal meeting at Washington,
which resolutions were signed by Con-
ceessman Burleson, Senator Owen and
myself, and it was also | who equally /,
at the request of the committee, wrote
the letter TO President Barrett of the
Farmers Union, r. questing him to take
the action which he subsequently did
take. All those things considered, you
can see how anXiously l would naturally
be, and am, to comply with your re-
quest by making few speeches. 1t is
with regret, however, that l am COM
PEELED to say that cannot go out for
that purpose now. My engagement
and my business are such as not to ad-
init of 1T. l would be glad, however, if
you will read or have read, this letter
wherever you may be engaged in the
good work. Ii may perchance have
some little influence with some few peo-
pie.
the way in which the South year after
year markets nearly all of it's cotton crop
within three or four months. 1t has
scarcely ever occurred that two bum
per cotton crops have succeeded ore
another. 1t has never happened, SO far
as l can remember, that there have
been three big crops in succession. The
homely lesson which Joseph taught
Pharaoh, it seems that the Southe rn
cotton farmer, possessing virtually a
commercial monopoly Of cotton produc
tion, would have learned by now, to
wit: t carry over the excess # q fat
year TO fill the deficit Of a lean year.
The farmer is, above all thing, inter
ested in staple prices. The only wa!
to stabilize prices is to take Joseph
advice. 1t does not seem that peopl.
are taking the advice thus far. Cotton
is simply rolling in, and it is the South
ern farmers themselves who are furnish
ing the greatest argument to the beal
speculatOrs.
All that is necessary is to convins
Southern cotton farmers that highs
prices for cotton ought to come and
the cotton is held for higher price
tney will come. ln my country, and q
far AZ know, all over the Sonth, tn
cotton farmer il in a better condition
hold cotton this year than he Ia
ever been, and where he needs q littl
money, the country banks sre in bette
condition to let him have it at reason
able rate Of interest and upon the bes
security, to-wit: cotton warehouse n
ceipts.
l heartily pray that the people ma
have the courage and the wisdom to d
the senaible thing that they are b.sn
advised GO do. and am confident ths
q ! ms iority Of the m do that, that th
5 cent tall in cotton will soon be =,
tri<ved and that il will steadily rise /
sc least Is cents and probably to Is.
An confident hat il the next so or [
daya can BE- passed through without th
rasrket going 20 pieces, (or rather, will
oat it Saying 20 pieces, for it 10
.eoes nowl that tho real difficulty wi
s. over, because nc thu end OF 0fty .
aixty dAye, the, wh0le world will kno,
im-svly opinion. that the COtt0n crop
.sore. Sarelv. two months 1T the q
s.e& Ol doing without f.sw things
100 great sacrifice 70 make.
motto yNnr assurance O& y0uf wtllin
- e.1rSkn ~ ~aNasNo1p0r seSnnf nn3aA -