The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-04-25

on this occasion and deliver a ten
minutes address.
In accepting this invitation I had
the temerity of suggesting my sub
ject, Legislative Protection for Geor-
gia Cotton Growers, a mighty big
subject to be encased in ten minutes,
and that too on post prandal
occasion where, with delicious edibles
and exhilirating drinks you naturally
expect only wit, humor and "flOw of
soul" If l give you something more
substantial I trust you will excuse
me, because / am a farmer, and
should only be used to diet Of "hog
and hominy." l hope, as this is a
meeting Of business men to consider
subjects for the upbuilding of our
section, that my remarks may not be
inappropriate.
AS I have said, my subject is
mighty with it's bigness, and in the
brief time at my disposal can merely
suggest to you the plan that is
intended to make the cotton growing
states not only the richest and most
desirable agricultural section of the
United States, but Of the world!
The plan is based on the efficacy
and power OF monopoly. If you own
and control any product or article
for which there is a universal
demand, and it is legitimately yours,
have you not the right to fix it's price?
You certainly have the legal right,
and also the moral right if the price
you fix is reasonable. The Southern
q ,hf GO
fu1 products, cotton and naval stores;
and the world looks to them for it's
supply and can not get them any
where else. Then why should we
not fix their prices? But instead we
occupy the anomalous position of
having the price Of cur products
which we sell. fixed by those who
buy them, and those things which we
. buy fixed by those who sell u.s. It is
no wonder that our section is poor
as compared with other sections of
our country. We are the slaves Of
commerce, shackled by customs, are
bearing the burdens Of the world,
despoiled Of our products at the die
tate Of ayarice, and for the fruits of
our labor are paid in the inflated
prices of those who sell us. Like
the negroes coon trap, we are
caught agoin and a'comin" AS
an agricultural and export country
we are more concerned about the
price at which we sell our products
than about the price at which we
buy. Let those who sell to us fix
their price; but we ask the same
right to be allowed to fix our price.
/ do not believe there will be any
dissent to these statements. But
how are we going to do it? Before
applying the remedy let me show
that the only one who is imposed
upon, takes all the risk, endures the
hardest grinding toll, and who bears
all the heat and burden of the day,
is the cotton producer. His business
is a gamble from the time he breaks
the sod for his crop until over the
counter he is paid his mearer pay.
Every one else who is Interested in
his cotton is certain as to what he
will get out of it, whether it will be
small Or large, the staple good or
Inferior. They take no chances.
The fertilizer dealer gets his price,
already fixed in the contract by the
fertilizer trust, The bank gets it's
eight Cor more) per cent. On the
loan made him; the merchant his rs
or 100 per cent. GA the goods sold
him. and so does the doctor and the
lawyer get their fixed fees. But that
is not all. The cotton merchant who