The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-12

that exists today would develop in
spite Of any retroactive movement, no
matter how intelligent or forceful it
might be. A wise policy was decided
upon and it was determined to apply
Southern brain to the financing of the
distressed cotton. The latter. how
ever, could not be done all in the
twinkling of an eye, and the opening
occurred earlier than anybody could
expect. Every man there knew that
there was certain proportion of dis
tressed cotton that would either have
TO go to market or be financed. This
cotton has about all gone to the mar
ket. and the effect of 1t has been re-
flected in the phenomenal drop in
price; that drop on its face seems
alarming, but it Is not frightening
those who are handling, to the best of
their ability, the situation. I don't
know whether Mr.. Barrett is going to
be able to secure the French-English
loan or not, but do know that If
every man in the South, who can at
this moment possibly hold bale Of
cotton, even his own house, or front
yard, will do so proper price for cot
ton is as certain to be obtained as the
sun shines, for as have said, the
world demand at tEts moment is for
100000 bales, and nothing stands
between an honest price, regulated
by the law of supply and demand,
but dense ignorance on the part OF
the producer coupled with the
shrewdness of the bear gambler in
Wall street and New Orleans. In its
late analysis the whole thing is moth
ing more or less than holding prop
osition.
And speaking Of holding I wish to
say that have just. been through the
country, across the States of Virginia,
North Carolina and South Carolina,
and believe, honestly, that the'plaln
farmer has been awakening to the
situation. All the way from Virgin
ia to Edgefeld county in this State,
I passed only six farm wagons loaded
with cotton going to market. We
found some gigantic fools on public
squares willing to rob their own flesh
and blood, but this condition was
rare. All along the road from Sails
burg, N. c., via Charlotte, Lancaster
Kershaw and Camden, while not
more than 3@.per cent. of the cotton
had been picked, I, found farmer after
farmer stacking up his cotton in his
front yard. From 10 to % bales was
an average. I found also that these
men we're using the piazzas OF their
homes, and in a score of instances one
or two rooms of their residences for
the storage of picked but as yet un-
cinned cotton. In other words, there
is every evidence that the distressed
cotton, which it is necessary to take
to market at given time, mas already
been sold, and sold at that under
stimulation of bear influence, to the
material interest of those who natur-
ally would hammer down the price OF
cotton. understand tfal this Is
The situation 1T this n.omen: all over
the cotton belt. and as faI as l have
been advised the determination now
to hold cotton for self-protection is
general all the way frcm the Allan
ti5 to Texas. lave but one word OF
advice and that is to tell every man
who can by any means whatsoever
hold a bale of cotton to do it. Even
if he runds insurance risk it is his
nounden duty for tie protection OF
his own family to- hold every bale
that he possibly can. don't think
that | have exaggerated or enlarged
unon the condition. We are face to
face with a crisis in the South. 1t is
useless to wait for federal interfer-
ence. 1t is, therefore, as | said at
Montgomery, up to the individual
farmer to handle this situation to
plain, buisness-like, manly way. II
he doesn't do it, then the Years are
the bosses and he is the slave, allot-
ted for the marketing of America S
great monopoly crop can prevent the
scheme of robbery that those who are
conducting it are justified in practlc-
ing