Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-12
j. r. SMITH ADDRESSED FARMERS
OF GORDON COUNTY SATURDAY
The Systematic Marketing of
Cotton Was His Subject.
Warehouses Discussed


| CALHOUN, Ga. Sept al. r. Smith,
whose probable candidacy for governor
has recently brought him conspicuously
before the public eye. and who has been
widely sought as a speaker for various
gatherings in Georgia during the past
month, addressed the Farmers union of
Gordon county, here this afternoon, dis
cussing principally the systematic mar
keting of the cotton crop.
Mr.. Smith was heard by a large
audience He said:
Mr.. President, Members of the Farm
ers' Union. Friends and Fellow Citizens:
When the farmers OF America deter
mine for themselves what they need, and
demand it, they will receive 1t.
United, you will be more than the bal
ance OF power; divided, you will scarcely
be recognized as a factor.
United, you can best serve your vast
interest in furnishing the world with food
and raiment.
Through your splendid organization,
YOU have. no doubt, accomplished much;
but the field is broad, and the oppor-
tunity so great, that your labors have
scarcely begun.
The farmers of the south suffered
greatly from the effects Of the civil war,
which left the country in an impover-
ished condition. Their properties were
confiscated and they were left practically
without means or credit. but, with
courage that has ever characterized the
men Of the south. they are rapidly re-
gaining that which they lost.
To accomplish most, we must have
faith and confidence, one in the other.
You may expect traitor to show up
occasionally, but he should be weeded
out and your splendid work continued.
I was farmer for many years, and
am familiar with most of the difficult
problems which confront the tillers of
the soil.
Many of your best interests can be
best conserved by organized and con-
certed action, and it is concerning these
problems that desire to speak to you
today.
COTTON MOST IMPORTANT.
Cotton is by far your most important
product 1 say it is the most important,
for It was cotton alone that saved this
country from a most disastrous panic in
1907, Notwithstanding Mr.. Roosevelt and
the Tennessee Coal and Iron company to
the contrary.
Think of it. my friends; it was your
own product-cotton--tha stayed this
panic, which was brought on by sense
less political agitation and repeated as
saults upon our American Industries.
It was cotton the only commodity that
foreign nations had to have, that
brought the ninety millions in gold that
completely checked this panic.
This should impress you with the de-
mand and value of cotton
The south holds monopoly on this
crop, and If it should be properly ham
died, St will make US easily the most
wealthy and independent Of nations.
with the many difficulties resulting
mainly from tn Civil war. we have not
been in position to market this crop
to our best advantage
1t requires an enormous amount or
capital to handle it.
You are now ready to put upon the
market crop of cotton which with It's
by-products is worth approximately one
billion dollars. Now. l ask you in all
candor; are you prepared to do this in
way and manner that will bring you
the best, results?
The only answer you can give to this
is no, for you must admit that IL Is.
being done in a chaotic and disorganized
way and in way that will not furnish
staple market for staple commodity.
If there is a remedy for this, it should
be sought and applied, for it is unfair
to you as the producer and equally UNI
fair TO the manufacturer, who converts
your raw cotton into a finished product,
thereby increasing its value and utility.
1t is unfair to the consumer. but ex-
ceedoingly fortunate for the speculator.
PRESENT PLAN WRONG.
Under the present plan of marketing
the cotton crop, the bulk of 1t is thrown
upon the market as 1T is gathered from
the fields. Cutting 1T and demoralizing
the price. Following this, there is
usually a scarcity. producing an equally
unsatisfactory market condition.
Now, If you admit that conditions are
not just what they should be, who is
responsible for them and to whom shall
we look for relief? Shall we look to
the money kings, who have filled their
Shall you look to the manufacturer,
who is now struggling under the disad-
vantages OF an unstaple market, he be-
| ing unable to purchase your cotton as
fast as you put it upon the market and
is, therefore, forced to let 1T go into
the hands of the Spectator. or shall
you work out your own salvation?
You are growing in wealth. Your OPP
portunities to better conditions are rap
idly increasing. The marketing of your
cotton to the beot advantage is as much
your business as the making Of IT.
Until the farmers throughout the cot
ton belt organize and provide ways and
means of Systematically marketing
their cotton crop, they will never have
the privilege of naming the price at
which they sell their own product.
This can never be accomplished by
following fancied schemes. Whatever
the plan. Vt must be economically,
commercially and morally sound.
1 am not here as a Moses to lead
you, but as an interested party. and
as such desire to make some sugges-
tons which 1 believe would in mea-
sure, II not as a whole, make the far
mer independent, so far as marketing the
cotton crop is concerned.
The plan have in mind has been
partially covered by suggestions at va