The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-04
OBSERVATIONS ON COTTON BUSINESS One Who Has Had Experi- ence Tells What Is
 Needed


 To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Following up my criticism of the Forty Million for Farmers" sent out from New York some days ago, I now desire to make some suggestions, not so much for the present, as for the fu- ture solution Of the problem of how to secure to the farmers a fair price for cotton-their money crop.
 In the first place permit me to say that my early experience in business life was in the "cotton business" and I went through the school from A to z.
 It will be conceded by all fair minded men that there were not less than 14- 00O,O00 bales of cotton made this year not counting unspinnab1e cotton.
 It is stated that there were over D. 000,000 bales carried over from the last crop. I challenge this, as far as cot ton in the hands of merchants and farmers, if cotton sold on contracts to mills, but not delivered, were taken into account.
 And there is the proposition of the "counting year" to be considered, m the figures furnished by those who act as statisticians. Every one in a posi- ton to keep informed knows that the improved methods Of farming-fertilz- CTS, selected seed and even the seasons themselves--have steadily advanced the maturing, picking and marketing of the cotton crop. Note the receipts of new cotton in August and the large receipts in September! Why. sir in the 70s but little cotton came to mark ct before Oc- tober l, comparatively. What we first need is an adjustment of the crop year to changed conditions, say dating from August 1.
 The State to Aid I am averse to paternalism as a gen. eral proposition, and the popular idea of socialism, which is democracy worm eaten with paternalism. But as the laws enacted by Congress are being amended by the higher courts, exercis- ing quasi legislative functions in a con- structivee sense, the people will forced to accept some of the funda- mentals ofsocialism in saving the state and saving the republic from central
 
 ble eggs" the people can make the scramb1es respect the laws and the peo- ple's rights. The word reasonable" is a wonderful variant when used in law For instance, in criminal actions the court charges "beyond a reasonable doubt"
 The state of Wisconsin has taken up the insurance business, and it seems to meet with public approval; no one dares to invoke the recall.
 Brazil saved the coffee growers from the maw of the sugar trusts subsidiary. the coffee trust!" She banked the coffee and helped the planters, this too, with that old scrambled egg" cry-"over- production, demand and supply"
 The state of Louisiana has adopted in part my suggestion made to the first cotton conference held at New Or ieans-state warehouses with warrants. But Louisiahs Is only one of the lesser cotton producing states, and it is stead fly on the decline; not so here in Ala bama, where this years crop will ap- proach very near 1,500,o00 bales.
 My first proposition is that the state by law authorize and license ware houses; that these warehouses be bond ed; that they be inspected and checked
 
 they have on hand; that there. be a system of classification and weighing of cotton by licensed classers, authorized by the state agricultural department; that cotton be classed by these classers on an average of full grade-for in stance, if bale of cotton on examna- tion will show average middling, that it be so branded, instead ,offnarking it to the lowest class found ffl' any quantity
 That the class and weight be stamped on a tin tag and fastened to the bale; and one of these tags to be inserted in the bale. In case of loss by fire, or dis rute. the tags to be the basis of set clement; this would save much trouble in reclamations from spinners or their agents. The ! class mark to be also branded upon the bale. Make it a mis- for the purpose of changing class, but allow buyers or shippers to affix their own marks.
 That all damp or wet cotton be placed in drying rooms before being weighed and when weighed tagged by the state licensees. Sections of warehouses could be built of cement with sliding doors and operated somewhat as drykilns for lumber. t-
 That the owner of cotton be issued warrant warehouse receipts for one bale, or multiples of bales, upon blanks furnished by the state, to be guaranteed to the holder as to the number of pounds of average class of cotton. The individuality of the bale. or the owner thereof as to any particular cotton, to be nil-that is to avoid digging up bales by marks and also to make what I shall call a basic cotton currency, just as a receipt at the mint Tor gold gives the bearer, not his gold on demand, but coin of the standard.
 Each warrant receipt to show the grade and class; a separate receipt for each standardized class, and for each bale if demanded.
 In delivery, the pounds. of average grades to count, and the difference to be paid--give or take, at current prices. or fill in with lightweight bales, or split bales. if demanded this would seldom occur.
 This plan will accomplish one very nedful thing if nothing else--it will eliminate the bale robber" who over samples, who cuts the covering of cot ton to pieces. Also it will cut out the rascally buyer, who buys on one grade and marks up the cotton, i. e., grades it up. It will put out of business the thieves who split bales and don't go to jail. it seems; who forge bills of lading for two years or more, and go un- whipped by the courts, shielded by somebody CD. And the rascally buyers who destroy honorable competitors by