Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-18
PRODUCTION and Price.
Hon. John |. MCLaurln Talks Of Prob.
lens Of the Farmer.
EXPLAINED STATE WAREHOUSE idea.

Senator from Marlboro Continues q
Hammer at the Idea Of Securing fo
the Cotton Planter q More Libsra
Share Of the Proceeds Of His Labor
Richmond, Va, April 15.-Hon. Johr
L. McLaurin, of South Carolina, ad
dressed the Southern Educationa
conference here today on the economic
problems Of the southern farmer. Hi
speech which, received the close anC
interested attention Of the big audi.
ence was as follows: '"-"'
Gentlemen:
I was invited by the Southern Edu-
cational conference to say something
on the subject of cotton and cotton
marketing. I suppose because I an
the author of bill providing for 9
state inspection and grading with
state owned and operated warehouses
I see q measure very similar In prin-
ciple has been commanded to the leg
islature Of Wisconsin by the governor
OF that state and believe that sooner
or later all of the great agricultural
crops will be handled In this way
There can be no doubt that much OF
the high cost Of living comes from the
enormous profits that go to the mid
dlemen who stand between the pro-
ducer and the consumer.
There is q great deal being said In
the public prints about cheapening the
cost Of living, but hear very little
about the profits Of productive labor.
II the propaganda was less for the con-
sumer and more for the benefit Of the
producer, the evil would be sooner ad-
justed to their mutual benefit. More
profits on the farm would attract those
now in non productive fields, creating
more food and clothing. Our. census
tells a story of decreasing per CEN
tage of country population as compar-
ed to the town, and It Is g. manifest
impossibility in this free country by
any fiscal or economic policy, to COM
pei the farms to feed and clothe a
constantly increasing urban popula-
ton at less and less cost l was born
In the early days Of the war on big
cotton plantation on the Little Pee
dee, twenty miles from railroad, and
am today a practical not theoretical
planter, and can truthfully say, that
there IL very little net profit In cotton
at even fifteen cents per pound.
There Is constant labor shortage,
because we cannot compete in prices
with the saw mills and railroads and
factories, and as consequence the
most energetic labor goes where 1t
commands a higher price, leaving US
the naturally idle and unambitious for
the farm. n..
There Is nothing to keep the eper-
getic ambitious and educated boy on
the farm. Rural life commissions may
cry back to the farm" but the coun-
try lanes and blooming fields do not
attract. when the only place where the
comfort which wealth alone can bring,
Is in the city where traffic makes gold
by its very touch. "a
This exodus from the country to the
town not only effects the cost Of liv-
ing, but goes deeper, for history teaches
US that nation draws itstmost un-
selfish patriotism and purestj life from
the deep wells Of a prosperous agricul-
ture.
It is not my purpose to discuss the
tariff money or transportation ques-
tions, further than to say that for 80
years our whole scheme Of govern
ment has revolved around their pro-
lection and development at the ex-
pense Of both producer and consumer.
The farmer Is compelled to buy In
the protected home market and to sell
in the unprotected open world market.
] doubt II there is a great fortune In
this country whose source cannot be
traced to special privileges conferred
by legislation.
Every article which the farmer uses
in his business in addition to protec-
ton, is trust made and the price trust
fixed. He must either pay or go with
out. When he comes to sell his pro-
duct, he has nothing to do with fixing
the price, he Is q competitor with ev-
cry other farmer, and his product is
forced on the market under q crop
mortgage and lien law system and he
must take such price as may be offer
ed.
Time and again we have tried to
organize and build warehouses, In
fact in 1911, we did not lack facilities
for storing. but found 1t impossible be-
cause our debts were due, and money
to finance the crop could not be had.
There are several reasons why private
warehouses do not furnish satisfac-
where all Of the parties to the transac-
tion are we'll known.
1st. A bank in New York or Boston
must be sure about the title Of the cot
ton. How do they know II present a
warehouse receipt for one thousand
bales of cotton in g. warehouse In
Charleston or Columbia, but that some
merchant or banker In my home coun-
ty, Marlboro has a crop lien for ad-
vances and will seize the cotton?
End. Cotton differs 80 In price owing
to the grade, how can the Boston man
know, II substitute low grade cotton
and thus cause him loss. 1t Is the
constant practice In many warehouses
to substitute cotton, the only care be-
ing to keep the same number Of bales.
A warehouse receipt to be good
collateral, should specify the number
Of bales, the weight and the grade of
each bale, and carry absolute title to
the cotton in the hands Of any bona
fide holder. The holder Of the receipt
must receive on demand the Identical
bales or bales described In the receipt.
This requires such cooperation on the
part Of the growers Of cotton as I do
not think will ever come, except by
invoking the powers Of the state gov
eminent.
The state Is not to buy my cotton. 1t
Is merely to provide a warehouse
where my cotton Is stored and charges
me 80 much per bale for storage.
The state is not to loan money, 1t
merely gives me a receipt which will
enable me to borrow money in the reg
ular way. The state Is not holding cot
ton, she is providing storage, I am
holding for my own benefit. =,
The state in her sovereign capacity,
says in this receipt, that John Doe, has
one hundred bales in my warehouse,
and gives the number, weight and
grade Of each with the marks 80 that
the Identical cotton named will be de-
livered on presentation Of this receipt.
Certainly there could be no finer coll
lateral in any Of the money markets
Of the world, because cotton properly
cared for never deteriorates. It IL also
the one farm crop, easily convertible
into gold at a moments notice.
A bill embodying these general prini
ciples passed the South Carolina legis-
lature in 1911, and received the sigma
ture Of the governor. It was carried
before the supreme court and declared
unconstitutional on account Of a pro-
vision for bond issue. The court,
however. emphatically admitted the
right of the state within the exercise
Of her police powers to build, equip
"a at1Nh