Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-12-26
LOOK FOR RAISE
IN COTTON SOON
FARMER WRITES on JUSTICE OF
EFFORT TO GET FIFTEEN
CENT OTTON.
WOULD Leave A PROFIT
The Raise Would Not BE EX0rbitant
and Would Leave the Farm
cr II Small Profit,

The effort Of the Southern states
Cotton corporation to get the farmers
Is cents a pound for cotton seema
to be reasonable, practical and just.
First, Because they can accom-
plish their purpose II the farmera
contract to give them cotton enough
to enable them to set tho price,
Second, Because Is cents pound
basis middling Is not an exorbitant
price for the average producer to re-
ceive as II will appear II we take into
consideration the cost Of seed to
plant, the cost Of labor to produce,
the cost Of gathering, ginning, wrap
ping and delivering TO market and
the average yield per acre over tho
entire South; tbs true there are each
year a small per cent of producers
Of cotton who from the fertility OF
their soil and favorable climatic con
ditions coupled with intelligent Guilt
yation, make enormous yields who
could produce and market crops at
a small profit at less than 10 cents
a pound, but my honest opinion ia
that the average producer can mako
no profits and sell at a price less
than 10 cents a pound.
Third, 1t is only just that the pro-
ducers OF cotton should receive a
price sufficient to leave them small
margin of profit on the labor and
capital expended in making, gather
ing and marketing the average crop.
The producers Of cotton should noith-
er seek nor demand an unreasonable
profit, but 3 cents a pound basis
middling will allow the producers Of
cotton less for the capital and labor
expended than nearly any other class
Of people receive for a like amount
OF cash and labor. Suppose each
family producing cotton consists Of
five members and that their annual
production is ten bales to each family
(and my judgment is that five bales
would be big average for each fam
! ily) and that their annual net profits
is s25. to $3.50 for each family, then
their annual net earnings would only
be $50 for each member which In
my Judgment Is too small to be eitl er
unreasonable or unjust. II seems TO
me that the farmers who do not
certificate their cotton Mt once are
standing In their own light, as by
certifcating their cotton before Aug
ust l, they would very materially as
sist the Southern States Cotton cor
poration In getting Is cents for their
cotton this year and surely there Is
no one who would be benefited more
by lucent cotton than the produc-
ers themselves. The farmers sell to
parties who buy just as cheap as they
can to make profit for themselves
which is human, and in way right
but does not afford much financial
relief to the producers of cotton nor
does II help the merchant who de-
pends on the farmer to buy his wares
but the acreage planted must be con-
trolled to a greater or less extent In
order to make the price permanent
at Is cents We need not hope to
cover the entire South in cotton and
keep the price at Is cents basis midd'
! ling. Our greatest obstacle will be
in getting the big land owners to see
the error Of their way in forcing their
tenants to plant too many acres In
cotton. II they ever Ike UP to the
fact that ono thousand acres Of their
land on which they grow IA cent
cotton is only equal In money earn
ing power to five hundred acres on
which they grow 15-cent cotton. II
they would think over II awhile right
seriously and make few figures
while thinking, they would certainly
conclude to put half their land In
grain and pasture, raise some fine
stock and grow 15-cent cotton on tho
other half They would get rid OF
working five hundred acres Of cotton,
picking five hundred acres Of cotton,
also get rid Of ginning wrapping and
delivering to market five hundred
acres of cotton, and receive the same
income measured by dollars and
cents. If any man has good reason
for our past methods Of growing and
marketing cotton. / am anxious to
hear from him.
G. w. BOYD.
Bonham. Tex, Route No G.