The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-08

To the Cotton Growers Of the South:
"A week or two ago, feeling 1t my
duty to do so, / sounded a note of
warning to YOU against planting too
large an acreage OF cotton this year
i said to you that you were now fac
ing a greater danger at this planting
season than you had faced in several
years. The course of events since that
time led me to again appeal to you
not to increase, but If anything. rather
decrease the cotton acreage for the
year 1915.
Commenting on the brief address
issued to you a short time ago. South
ern Farming, in leading editorial on
March 1, has the following: THE
question Of over production of cotton,
through too big an acreage. with con-
sequent low prices, Is adequately COW
cred in Col Watson's appeal. Read
IL on an earlier page. Southern
Farming has unbounded faith in the
farmers OF the South. but we know
from actual experience that there Is
no word under the sun so sweet to
farmers as cotton.
Farmers OF the South, you know
perfectly well that the price of cot
ton next fall will be largely deter
mined within the next two months,
and you know that you are the ones
who will determine II mostly We ask
you earnestly TO give this matter the
serious attention which It's Importance
justihes Don't yell about low prices
next fall IL you go and make a rec
ord breaking crop. Observe wise di-
versification In planting your crops.
You have the solution OF the problem
In your hands now, You will not have
IL in hand next fall"
Cotton and Finance, published in
New York, In leading editorial on
the subject OF cotton and the cotton
market. in the issue of March /, has
the following to say: "On the other
hand. nearly ali reports agree that the
South Is planting an exceptionally
large acreage; that the season Is an
early one and that In most sections
the winter rainfall has been sufficient.
The apprehension that the
thoughtful men OF the South feel over
this tendency to increase acreage, is
attested by the appeal to the South
ern farmer made by Z. j. Watson.
commissioner of agriculture OF South
Carolina and published on another
page Of this issue.
The position OF the spinner was
aptly stated by a cotton manufacturer
with whom we were conversing re-
Gently. He said. L am going into the
next crop with the smallest reserve
supply J have ever carried Asked if
lie did not consider this dangerous, he
answered; II you were very hungry
and could buy for 81 q moat that you
could get is minutes later for SO
cents, would you not consider yourself
lacking in self-contol II you didn't
walt? This coiloquy seems TO At the
present situation exactly"
This same publication in giving
space to the address issued 20 you In
February, accompanies II with an edi-
torial note saying: During the last
ten days, the editor has travelled ex-
tensively through North and South
Carolina. We can testify TO the time.
illness TO Mr.. watson's words. Never
before has the tendency TO Increase
the acreage OF cotton at the expense
OF the other crops been as pronounced
as at present"
have already pointed out the rea-
sons why the slightest increase in
acreage will spell disaster so far as
the price Is concerned for cotton the
coming season. 4 few weeks more
and II will be too late for the warning
TO be needed. !. therefore. again
most earnestly appeal To every man
who expects To plant an acre OF cot
ton Co let reason control him. IL he
does not, a month hence II will he too
late TO cure the damage that has been
done and II viii bo useless this fall To
appeal To anybody TO stop the down
ward trend OF prices.
1 have issued this second note of
warning In order that it may reach
the man who might otherwise COM
NIT flnancial suicide in time to stay
brief letter 1 have today received
from the most eminent authority in
this country on cotton, man who
wants To- see Justice done To the cot