The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20
SUMTER. G, SATURDAY, JANUARY co. 1919


our farmers will say that Mr.. Jone,
Is going to cut his cotton crop ant
i will just plant q little more. Now
the man that will do that is not 6
true man to his neighbors and to hi:
country, and when he passes ovel
the river he will soon be forgotten
Brother farmers. stand for the right
thing and the right thing to do now
is to cut cotton acreage 80 per cent
with like reduction In the use OF
fertilizers.
after our experience. in 1911, why
should We have to be solicited to re-
duced cotton acreage? 1t has been
previously demonstrated to us that a
14,boo. 900 bale crop will bring about
sso0.ooo.ooO less money than our
12.t00,ooo bale crop at 1910, SO you
see we have practically raised 3,000,-
900 bales Of cotton for nothing. Why
will the farmers do such a thing
raise two bales Of cotton to get the
price one ought to sell for? Remem-
Der you did It. do not blame anyone
else. Who is to remedy this state of
affairs? I say the farmers, you who
produce the cotton.
wish to state to you. brother
farmers that you are up against the
largest proposition you have ever
been up against and you have got TO
fight the battle.
As to the cotton mill managers,
/ do not blame them. They have
merged for their own benefit. SO as
to buy the raw material cheaper and
to sell their finished product better,
and they can certainly control their
labor better. So It 10 now Up to the
farmers to join the Farmers Union,
and stand shoulder to shoulder. CO.
operate with each other. Stand as
one man and il you will do this aad
make home salf-supporting, you can,
always dictate the price you will sell
your cotton for. / have heard many
farmers and like expressions from
other professions. that we would not
see any more cheap cotton. told
them that they had not studied the
cotton situation. We are all wiser
than we were year ago. We have
practically raised three millioa bales
of cotton for nothing curing the past
ksarre Hratb.r EarmsrA sis ss- plain
az A B c as to what is the matter.
1t is ruinous to any couatry to have
only one crop. Let me remind you
farmers that we did tive raised the
enormous crop and put this stick In
the hands Of our enemies to crack
our own heads with aad they have
used II on us to their own good.
The stick was the three million bales
that we raised for nothing. 1t was
bear on the cotton market, which
has forced the price Of cotton down
10 below the cost Of production.
Now. In conclusion. want to say
word In justice to our bankers.
They have been quite liberal for the
past year. having allowed our farmers
the money to raise the enormous
crop Of cotton, and they did all they
could to let them hold their cotton
for better prices. and many Of them
have almost strained their own
crdit to tide over their customers
Farmers. you are the ones that
make high price cotton and you are
also the ones that make low price
cotton. Which do you want for 1912
High or low? If you want low prices
for your cotton this fall, do not cut
acreage. II you want high prices
cut your acreage 80 per cent. as well
as the use OF fertilizers and plant
oats and corn. The conditions that
exist In South Carolina Is the same In
every cotton State, which shows why
cotton Is selling below the cost O:
production.