The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-08-30
WANTS PRICE FIXED
SHOULD GET TWELVE AND HALF
CENTS FOR COTTON.
\ Prominent Georgia Farmer Tells
How 1t Can be Done, and Wants

Union to Do 1t.
Mr.. John Bostwick, of Bostwick,
Ca, a prominent farmer of that
State writes as fellows to the Allan
ia Constitution:
Editor Atlanta Constitution:
A demand of a minimum price OF
twelve and half cents per pound
for the cotton crop of the South
should be the slogan of every South
erner, and an organized effort on the
part of the farmers, bankers and
merchants of the South should at
once be inaugurated with the OBJ
iect in view not to sell the growing
crop for less than that price.
The present crop which we are
agreed will be around 100000
bales, il sold for twelve and half
cents, or better, would bring about
the most prosperous condition the
South has ever experienced; on the
other hand, if the crop is put on the
market as gathered, there will be a
slut In the market, and the price viii!
90 down to eight or nine cents pei
pound.
With this condition there will be
no profit to the grower, small depos-
its with the banks, poor trade for the
merchant and consequently stagna-
ton in all lines of business.
Therefore it is to the interests OF
every Southern man 70 do all he can
tc aid the farmer in securing a fail
and reasonable price for his cotton
which is the South's money crop, and
on which depends the prosperity OF
adversely of her people.
I hold that twelve and a hall
cents per pound is reasonable price
and that while the spinners OF the
world would like to buy it for less
they would make a good fight at the
price indicated and would take it al
that price if the growers demand it
I suggest that c. S. Barrett, presi'
dent of the Farmers Union (the
members of which organization
raise probably 40 per cent OF the cot
ten of thc South, should see at once
that his union fix the price of the
present crop at not cent less
than twelve and half cents pei
pound. This done, I feel certain
that the non-union farmers, supply
merchants, and bankers, through
state conventions, would endorse the
action of the farmers union, ano
would lend all their influences tc
maintain that price.
I note the fact that the spectators
are selling cotton for September, Oc'
tober and November delivery in New
York for a fraction over eleven cents
per pound. Now we know they have
no cotton to sell, and are expecting
to buy cotton for less than that price
! to deliver to these contracts, II the
buyers demand the cotton
The world should be put on notice
now, that the cotton growers OF the
South are not growing any clever
cent cotton, and that they are going
to demand at least twelve and hall
cents for the present crop and put 9
stop at once to the speculator selling
| it for less.
The present crop has been raised
on the idea. that it would bring
twelve and a half to fourteen cents
per pound. Supplies have beer
bought, money borrowed, laborer:
employed at high wages, all witt
this idea, and if it is sold for les:
there would be little profit.
Conceding that the spinners have
made very little money IN the manu-
facture Of the 1910 crop, for which
they paid about fourteen and hall
cents, yet they used the entire croI
at that price, and as they have be-
come accustomed to working on close
margins, I feel satisfied that the!
can make nice profit in the manu-
facture of the present crop at twelve
and a half cents per pound.
While I know they would like tc
buy for less, am satisfied that the!
will pay that price mighty quick il
they are convinced that the growers
are demanding it, and that they are
backed in this demand by an organ
lied effort of the entire business IN.
terest of the South.
The necessity for quick action in
this matter is evident from the fact
that the present crop is now begin
ming to come on the market, and
from the further fact that if this plan
is adopted, the banks Of the south
will have to furnish considerable
money on warehouse receipts and
they should be given time to make
the necessary money arrangements
The plan is altogether feasible
and practicable to my mind, for the
following reasons: There is no ne
cessi-y fer any cotton to go on the
market before October /, as there
are no obligations for supplies OF
money, to make crops maturing be-
fore that date # no cotton is mar
keted in September I am satisfied
that it will bring twelve and a half
cents by October 1.
If farmers who have bought sup
plies on credit, and borrowed money
to make their crops, will put cotton
gathered in September in the ware
house, get warehouse receipts, turn
these receipts over to their supply
merchant, the supply merchants who
have borrowed from the banks, could
pnt up these cotton certificates with
the banks and renew their notes thlr-
ty, sixty or ninety days, OF until the
spinners need the cotton at twelve
and a half cents per pound.
Not to agree on this plan, or some
other plan. by which the present cot
ton crop will yield a profit to the
cotton producers of the South. would