Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-01
HOLD COTTON SAYS BARRETT.
Head of National Union Wires Pres
ident Dabbs.

ident Dabbs.
| According to a telegram received
from C. S. Barrett, president of the
National Farmers Union, the bears
are making an effort to break the cot
ton market. The telegram was re-
ceived by E. w. Dabbs, president Of
the State Union. and was signed by
the president Of the National Union
and the secretary, E. c. Davis. 1t
read as follows:
COMMITTEES just returned from
north found desperate efforts by bears
and spinners to break cotton market.
If farmers can be induced to hold, A.
nancial assistance is ready. Get your
forces ready to print and mail out
circulars. copy of which follows by
mail National union pays expense" T"
| Arrangements will be made at once
to send out these circulars.
| Statement to Press.
Yesterday j. Whitner Reid, secre-
tary of the State Union, issued the
following to the press:
ITO all southerners, farmers, mer-
chants, bankers, mill men and all
business men interested in the indus
/ trial development of the south, this
paper is addressed in the hope that 1t
will arouse you to concerted action In
the proper marketing of the south's
great staple, whether in its crude or
finished state. Within the ranks of
the farmers proper a movement has
been begun and will be perfected fur
ther. But since all southern interests
| are concerned, 1t Is contemplated to
i ioip oil In praotar effort this re-
gard.
I'm comforting upon the problems
and the advantages of the south there
is no more vital question for our con-
sideration than that of the disposition
of her one great crop-cotton. The
words south and cotton are insep-
arabic to such a degree that they are
well nigh synonymous-the one a
great country, the other the worlds
greatest clothing product. Kind ma
ture has given us a monopoly; how
natural for the nations Of the earth
to turn to us to be clothed! Nor do
they look in vain. Bare hillsides that
were once plowed into gullies by the
wet weather streams now bear a
i green coat. terraces preserve their
| fertility. woods are cleared swamps
are drained. all to make way for the
plow. How wonderfully has cotton
culture raised the calling Of the far
mer! How rapid has been his trans
formation! No more Is he jeered at.
He is the pet Of the south, his inter-
ests are guarded. his home Is bright
ened. his children are educated, his
vocation is made a science. His ranks
are recruited with the flower Of
dents, men of talent, ambition, equip
ment Why? Because he holds
within his hand a world interest; he
Is the planter and producer Of cot
ton; and yet little thought or help Is
given in the marketing Of his crop.
Handle Crop Carefully.
How carefully, then, should the
crop be handled, how minutely the
acreage proportioned, how closely the
market watched, how carefully sup
piled? The question demands unit
ed effort a union not only Of the eff
forts of the farmers, but Of the mer-
chants and bankers and mill men as
well. for the fortune Of all Is found
ed upon 1t and with 1t all are closely
concerned. Our fortunes, our happi-
ness. our interests are all promoted
by this industry. We should all move
together and stand with firmness. but
only after mature deliberation. If our
position is uncertain. so will the mar
Rket be; If our purpose Is shifting, so
its results. And when we move we
should move intelligently. with all
the possible information at hand. The
fixing of a price involves an accurate
estimate of the crop, and that is al
| ways involved in more or less uncer-
tainty until the crop Is nearer ma
turity And at this point we can not
eXaggerate the danger of attempting
an estimate at too early date. Ma
ture moves in a mysterious way. She
may marshal a hundred forces to
tear down or materially effect that
which she has built up.
"A field that is smiling this month
might suffer and wilt the next. And
why need we hurry in stating figures?
The crop is in our hands, and 1t is
our safest asset. Our banker friends
will loan us money on it, and we
| should want no better security. To
let it go at ten cents today might be
as disastrous as when we let 1t go at
| four cents. When we take a stand
we can not retrace our steps without
| fear of a serious breach in our own
ranks. Experience has taught us the
danger of too hasty action. The out
look may be promising today. But
healthy weed is not the crop. A gen.
|
cess of growth as the plant advances
into fruition. The crop is young. The
early drought set it back in its early
stages and it was well up into the
summer months before it showed
signs Of rapid growth. Having begun
late it must be allowed to grow late.
A late fall is our only hope for any
thing like a full crop. And so an
early frost would cut short what
seems to some estimators the best
prospect in years. The cold rains OF
fall If they come early, will prevent
the opening Of a large part of the
crop
I'm view Of all these possibilities
common sense will tell us that 1t Is
nothing short of folly to base an es-
innate upon data that must be very
uncertain; and the following OF which
might prove disastrous. Aside from
the loss in money that might result
from too hasty action we can not es-
innate the loss that would result to
| the cause Of the farmers, II after tax
ing a stand we fail to hold 1t. The
movement for concerted action on the
part of all southerners Interested in
the cotton crop advances slowly be-
cause in the great stretch OF country
that ii covers there is such a diversity
Oh lpTtSl. ~ CllduSt VI pohNy
would suit our section might bring
calamity to another. We should wait,
therefore. until such a time when
there can be no possibility of great
mistake i'm the estimate of the crop.
Rasing our figures then on sure es-
innate we should count on the sup
port of all southerners
| And If when we are ready To mar
ket, consumers are reluctant to pur-
chase. we need fear no disaster. Hav-
| ing arrived at fair estimate of the
crop we may easily retire percent
age of il. leaving available only so
much as will supply the market at a
fair price to ourselves. If we are to
produce 14.00O.OO0 bales, let us re-
tire 100000 bales and stand firmly
by this fixed pledge.
Market Carefully.
with all the attention given to the
raising of cotton the industry is but
partially developed. \ crop must not
only be economically and efficiently
produced, but it must be wisely mar
keted Heretofore all our attention
has been given 10 the growing and
| a1 l,ttt nt r.n