The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-03

ana better conditions. Inc snort Pc
riod in which cotton is, necessarily,
marketed, IS the ong opportunity OF
1.-The manipulation. Cotton is a national
and international commodity with in
fluences that peryade all civilized So
city and governments should take no.
tice and aid stable prices in the Inter
est Of society ana the welfare Of com
mercial relations
our government reports on, and
estimates the crop, establishes grades
and why not assist in establishins
stable prices?
/ Peace foundations are made, reci-
procity pacts are negotiated, why not
+ interest other governments in stable
prices for cotton?
TaTin commissions Investigate rel.
atiye costs in this and other countries,
Of the raw and manufactured article,
why not commission TO investigate
the cost of producing cotton and a fair
price as between producer and con.
sumer?
# this could be done, successfully
We would know where we are at"
banks aud credit companies would
: have a fixed basis for interest rate
and profit on supplies.
Probably in less than fifty years,
the United States viii have a pop plla-
ton Of over 2000O0,0OO, and approx.
imately fifteen million bales of cotton
will be required for such numbers, if
we can guess az increased uses for
the staple.
From year TO year, the cotton ques.
ton will grow in Importance and reas-
ons viii multiply why values should
be stable and why speculation should
| be eliminated Gold is an accepted
basis of values and cotton being OF
worldwide use, should have value
fixed and stable like gold. The spec
ulatiye world would oppose reforms
looking to stable prices, but the great
est good to the greatest number could
and should prevail
There has been all sorts of plans
and suggestions Tor the Improvement
OF present conditions. Most Of them
have been visionary and these sugges.
tions may be thought equally so, but
without visions ana ideals, no natioR
can lead in great movements and iu
great reforms.
BY one plan th2 farmer is invited to
accept an advance Of $25 on each
bale. If the bale is worth s45 he
would contribute 800 per bale to spec.
ulation thereby lending his credit, un-
wisely, for selfish ends.
Would it not be better to establish |
"a great cooperative union, composed |
Of every producer OF a bale Of cotton,
Hnder charter from the general GOV,
"rnmont and under governmental cor.
troll and protection, pay $500 per bale
into a great cooperative union fund,1
for a period, We will say, OF five years.
II We average the crop at l2,000O0O
bales, the cooperative fund would re-
oclye SG0,0O0,0O0 the first year, and IA
five years, the enormous sum OF $500.
100000. For every five dollars the
farmer could be given q non-ncgotia-
bic certificate which would entitle
him TO the pro rata benefits OF the
Union making saving institution, the
greatest on earth, one that would save
dollars and conserve the best interests II
of himself, his family and his %. .
try. From this great saving or GO
operative Union the farmer could o..
given loans on the basis OF four per
cent interest. for use in making crops:
certificates to servo as security ana |.
further security, by law, OF first
lien on all crops, similar to the lanc-
lords lien, If any, and subject there
to. Where no such lien, the loans
" NbHlu nave llISl llcll over All O'LSi
debts. The interest on loans would |,
take care of expenses, maintain the
OF the cooperative fund with
a large balance FOR warehouse ,Gn.
struction, These houses could 20
placed near the gins, IN owns Or
country, at small expense, ana ample
for the purpose OF protecting he cot
ton from the elements. The ginncr
could bc bonded and required TO clas-
sify and grade cotton and oncfourth
of all cotton could be required from
the farmer ou the basis of stable
prices, paid for from the cooperative
fund, and the cotton owned and stored
by the Union would thus prevent con-
sestion from too rapid marketing. One
OF the great evils in the marketing