The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-26
K. D. SMITH ON COTTON CROP
JUNIOR SENATOR ISSUES STATE.
MENT ON COTTON PRODUC-
TION.
Thinks South Carolina Good Index rs
10 Yield i'm Other Statcs-GOes TO
Speak for Wilson.

ior the west, where he goes 70 speak
for the Democratic cause, Senator F..
ID. Smith yesterday afternoon gave
out a statement in regard to the pres
ent cotton crop.
From information at hand" said
the senator, 1T is my opinion that this
years yield will amount to about two
thirds Of a crop or about 13 to 13 1-2
million bales"
Senator Smith says that, on ac-
count of what he thinks a compara
lively short crop, cotton producers
should make every effort to obtain a
higher price. Continuing. he says:
In view of the fact that for a num-
Der Of years the size of the cotton
crop has been estimated from June to
November, thought it best this year
to wait until the bearing period was
over before should issue any state
ment in regard to the probable Weld
of cotton.
1 nave not yet received responses
from different cotton growing States
as to the probable yield based upon
the actual outturn of fields picked to
the present time.
South Carolina is fairly good in
dex as to the yield Of the cotton grow
ing States. Taking the yield up to
the present, as compared with last
year, 1t does not indicate more than
two-thirds production. If this is a
OASIS OF comparison for the balance
or the cotton growing States, and
giving liberal margin Of excess, 13
to 13 1-2 million bales of cotton
would seem to be the maximum.
The farmers Of the South must
not forget that in spite of the enor-
nous production Of last year. and the
large percentage Of low grade cot
ton, that after temporary unwar-
ranted depression, cotton rose again
to IL 1-2 and 13 cents There is no
reason save the lack of organization
and a sensible financial system. WHY
cotton should not be bringing TODAY
10 cents pound or more. If ever
there was a time in the history of
cotton growing when those who pro-
duce it should exhaust every legiti
mate means in demanding a higher
price, this is the year.
You have heard the cry of over
production. Last year, according to
the figures Of the department of agri-
culture and the census department.
we produced 100000 bales. This
has been absorbed by the trade at a
price which, save for a short period.
was far in excess Of what might have
been hoped for had not there been
an organized effort on the part of
those who produce it To refuse to take
less than living price for their
product. This is one reason. The
other reason, as powerful as this was
the determination on the part of the
in 1901 to break
the power of the farmers organiZa-
ton. The manufacturers attempted
to do this by running short time there
by not consuming the amount of raw
normally demanded and
leaving "a surplus in spite of short
crops. This of course produced a
scarcity of manufactured gods.
When the price in 1911.12 drop
ped on account of the prediction Of
an enormous crop they of course
bought heavily to replcnish exhausted
stocks and to furnish an exhausted
market. SO that the crop Of 1911 has
been consumed to supply the artifi-
cial exhaustion produced by the con-
ditions above stated.
In several of my letters Of last
year | called attention To the fact that
from data carefully gathered the
world needed from 100000 to 20
OO0. 900 bales of American cotton TO
supply its demand.
1T seems almost suicidal in the
race of the South should take less
than Is cents minimum.
Il sincerely hope that throughout
the country there shall be a united
effort on the part Of the producers
to demand fair and legitimate
price.
You, the producers of cotton, must
not forget that eternal vigilance is
the price of success
Thc cotton mainpulator and spccu-
lator never ceases To look for every
advantage in his favor. Why should
YOU? y battle fought and won in one
year does not mean Il victory forever.
\n abundant crop made one year does
not guarantee an abudant crop the