Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-01
"HOLD YOUR COTTON IS
ADVICE TO FARMERS
National President of Farmers
Union Issues Address to
Planters :
Especial Dispatch to The Journall

Especial Dispatch TO the Journal
UNION CITY, Ca. Aug. 29.-National
President Charles S. Barrett. of the
Farmers union, today made his first
official expression regarding the attitude
of that big organization in the battle
that Is coming this fall to maintain
the price of cotton at proper level.
THE Farmers union" says President
Barrett. tissues an invitation to the
entnre south to cooperate with it in
saving to this section many million dol
lars on the cotton crop of 19ll-12 1t is
for the merchant, the business man,
the banker, the smallest citizen. no less
than the farmer, 10 figure the difference
between or Scent cotton and 13 or IA
cent cotton The fight we are going to
win is not alone in behalf of the farmer
1t is waged in the interest of the south
ern business world. as a whole To
that degree, 1t is not only the duty, but
the individual profit. fevery element in
the southern states to join hands with
the Farmers union, to the end that the
powerful machinery of this organization
may be brought TO bear with complete
success upon the present situation.
ITO the farmer, whether or not
member of the Farmers union, my i'm
perative advice is hold your cottonr 1t
lis worth Infinitely more than the price
now quoted You should first go to
your local banker. If you are In debt.
and borrow sufficient money, with cot
ton as collateral. to enable you to hold.
Your own banker knows you best, and 1t
is TO his interest TO aid you in the fight.
Should he fail you-and / don't think
he will-you can depend upon us, for as
sistance.
The Farmers union does not intend
that a clique of bear gamblers or do
nestle and foreign spinners shall COM
/ bine to dictate the price of our product,
or to rob the section of a tremendous
sum of money. it is for the south we
are working Now is the time for every
southerner to prove his business insight.
and it is not the time for hypocritical
pretensions 1t is a cold matter of dol
lars and cents. II the farmer suffers, the
business man. every business interest,
suffers along with him.
/ 1T is no o ger possible to produce
cotton for s " cents at profit. If
we could return TO the old prices for
mules, supplies. farm machinery, land
itself. the proposition would be feasible.
But as we cannot, the farmer must in
sist upon the price of his product being
maintained upon level with that of
every other product.
THE south ought to be abupdantly
able to finance and hold its own prin-
cipal product. The accomplishment
should be matter of pride. as well as
of common sense. Practical men redQiz
that the cotton crop of the opening Sea-
son will not be nearly so large as it
has been reported. We, who have inves-
tigated; know that there will be de-
mand, at a fair price, for every pound
of the staple produced. The main thing
| is for the farmer, large and small, orga-
nized and unorganized, to get together
and resolve that he will not be cheated
out of the result of his toll
UNITY is URGED.
Every solitary southerner is inter-
ested in the same result. And to each
one, in wha tever calling. l extend a
cordial invitation to work, with US for
/ his own monetary interest no less than
that of the farmer. AS for the latter
another season or 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 assistance in its winning.
Capt Reuben F. Kolb commissioner
of agriculture of Alabama, has called
meeting of the commissioners of ag-
riculture of the southern states, and
of all interested parties, barring none,
to devise means for maintaining the
i price of cotton. This conference will
/ follow the Farmers union convention.
/ to be held at Shawnee, OKLA. Septcm-
Der s. and the convention will be lib
orally. If not as a body. represented at
! the conference. urge all southerners
who realize the importance of.the oeca-
sion to meet with the commiss, oners
and with the members of the Farmers
| union in this conference. Let all come,
not to discuss the farmers greatness.
which may he taken for granted, nor
any other subject but the securing of
proper price for cotton. That is big
enough job for a gathering composed
of the south's best brains. and it should
not be interfered with by hot afr or
discussions admirable in Their way. but
without any bearing on the paramount
! issue"
/ issue.
Prompt action taken by this joint con-
| ference, following the policies outlined at
the Farmers union convention, will
bring triumph in campaign which no
southerner however humble, can afford
\ in self-interest and patriotism, TO ig-
more" sr