Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-10-13
FIGHT TO MAINTAIN COTTON
President Barrett Makes First offsclaI
Expression on Attitude to Keep
Staple on Proper Level.

FIRST of1cial expression regarding the
attitude Of that big organization In the
battle that is coming this fall to
maintain the price of cotton at prop
er level.
The Farmers union" says Presi-
dent Barrett. Issues an invitation to
the entire south to cooperate with IT
In saving to this section many mil
| lion dollars on the cotton crop OF
1911-12. It Is for the merchant. the
business man. the banker. the small
est citizen. no less than the farmer.
to figure the difference between eight
or nine cent cotton and thirteen or
fourteen cent cotton. The fight We
are going to win is not alone In be-
half OF the farmer. It is waged in
the interest Of the southern business
world as a whole. To that degree. 1t
81 not only the duty. but the Individual
profit. of every element In the south
', ern states to join hands with the
Farmers union. TO the end that the
powerful machinery Of this organiza-
ton may be brought to bear with
complete success upon the present sit
uation-
TO the farmer, whether or not q
member of the Farmers union. my i'm
perative advice is Hold your cotton!'
It is worth infinitely more than the
price-now quoted. You should first go
to your local banker. II you are In
debt, and borrow sufficient money,
with cotton as collateral. to enable you
TO hold. Your own banker knows you
best, and It Il to his interest to aid
you in the fight Should he fan you
and don't think he will-you can de-
pend upon us for assistance
The Farmers union does not In
tened that clique of bear gamblers or
domestic and foreign spinners shall
combine to dictate the price Of our
product, or to rob the section Of ire
mendous sum Of money. II Is for the
south we are working. Now Is the
time for every southerner to prove his
business insight, and 1t Is not the time
for hypocritical pretensions. II Is a
cold matter Of dollars and cents. II
the farmer suffers. the business man,
every business interest suffers along
with him.
1T is no longer possible 70 produce
cotton for eight or nine cents at q
profit II we would return to the old
prices for mules. supplies farm ma
ohipery. land itself. the proposition
would be feasible. But as we cannot.
the farmer must insist upon the price
OF his product being maintained upon
q level with that Of every other prod
uct-
The south ought to he abrndantiy
able to finance and bold its own priS-
cipal product The accomplishment
should be a matter Of pride, as well
as of common sense. Practical men
realize that the cotton crop Of the
opening season will not be nearly so
large az 1t has been reported. We.
who have investigated. know that
there win be demand at fair price.
for every pound Of the staple pro-
duced. The main thing is for the
farmer. large Of small. organized and
unorganized. to get together and re-
solve that be viii not be cheated out
Of the result Of his toll.
| Every solitary southerner Is inter.
ested In the same result And to each
one. In whatever calling, extend a
cordial invitation 20 work with Us for
his own monetary interest, no less
than that of the farmer. AS for the
latter-another season OF two Of fair
prices mean absolute emancipation
from debt That thought should be
sufficient to nerve him for the battle
especially when he Is assured assist,
ance In its winning"
capt. Reuben r Kolb. commission
er Of Agriculture Of Alabama, has call
ed meeting of the commissioners Of
Agriculture Of the southern states. and
Of all interested parties. barring none,
to devise means for maintaining the
price of cotton. This conference will
follow the Farmers Union convention
to be held at Shawnee, Okla, Septem-
Der 6. and the convention win be lib.
orally. If not as body. represented al
the conference / urge all southerners
who realize the importance Of the oc.
casion to meet with the commissioners
and with members Of the Farmers
union In this conference. Let all come
not to discuss the farmers greatness.
which may be taken for granted. moi
any other subject. but the secur
ing Of proper price for cotton. That
is big enough Job for a gathering
composed Of the south's best brains
and II should not be interfered will
by hot air or discussions admirable IN
their way but without any bearing OF
the paramount ISSUE
Prompt action taken by this join
conference. following the policies out
lined at the Farmers union conven
ton. will bring triumph In campaign
which no soltherner. however humble
can afford in selfinterest and patriot
ism. to ignore"
CHARLES 8. BARRErr.
Texas Ranks First.