The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-24
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Letter From Secretary Reid TO President
Barrett Abeut Prices.
Want llIM TO HELP THEM

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There is No Reason For Lower
Prices Of Cotton, and 1t is Expect
ed that the Early Estimate Will
Demonstrate the Fact That No
Huge Crop Will Be Made.
The State says Secretary Reid of
the South Carolina Farmers Union
Monday addressed letter to Charles
S. Barrett, president of the National
Farmers Union urging that he as
sist in the campaign that has been
inaugurated to impress upon the
farmers of the South to market the
cotton crop in a conservative manner.
1--WE do not believe" says Secre-
tary Reid, 'that there are any good
reasons for lowering prices than the
average for the past season, if our
farmers and business men will mar
ket the crop in a conservative man
ner"
A letter has been addressed by
Secretary Reid to the secretary of
every county union in the State ask
ing for an accurate estimate on the
crop for this year.
Following the action of E. D.
Smith of South Carolina, in the Unit
ed States Senate, it is expected that
an estimate on the crop will soon be
furnished by the United States de-
partment of agriculture.
The following is the letter to Pres
ident Barrett:
"To Charles Barrett, president
National Farmers union, and the
State president of the Farmers un-
ion, and the commissioners of agri-
culture In the cotton belt:
"The Sumter county union direct
ed US to have a conference with the
Sumter Chamber of Commerce on the
best way to secure concert of action
between the farmers and the allied
business interests to maintain fair
price for their cotton.
From Information laid before
our recent conference by members of
the chamber of commerce and by
members of the Farmers union, cov-
ering a wide area in this section, we
think that the prospects have been
greatly exaggerated, and we sent a
Joint telegram to Senator E D. Smith
to call on Secretary Wilson for i'm
mediate investigations; and we are
sending similar reports to all cham
bers of commerce, commissioners of
agriculture and State presidents Of
the Farmers Union in the cotton
belt for thorough investigation
through our own agencies of the con-
dition Of the cotton crop, to be re-
ported to our national president and
back to us, that we may have the
true condition upon which to base
our idea of a fair price. We do not
believe that there are any good rea-
sons for lower prices than the aver
age for the past season, If our farmrs
and business men will market the
crop in a conservative way. But If
our neople become stampeded, a pan-
ic will result and there is no telling
where the price will go before we
recover from the shock We have
taken this action jointly because we
believe the legitimate business in
tests of the South should be indis-
solubly allied in maintaining a fair
Just price for cotton; and we take
pleasure in commencing to the cham
bers of commerce and the farmers
unions throughout the cotton belt
the hearty accord that exists between
our farmers and bankers and COM
mercial interests generally in Sum-
ter county.
cover wide areas in this state the
drought is not yet broken and the
cotton is literally burning up. The
few farmers who are blessed with
good crops are as about one to 100
that are below the average.
asking your immediate and hear
ty cooperation, We remain,
Yours respectfully,
"E. w. Dabbs.
"President Sumter County and Presi-
dent S. C State Union.
J. mt. Brogdon,
County and State Business Agent.