The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-20

Therefore, when statesmen point out
that the buy-a-bale-o f-cotton move
ment was one of the greatest mis-
takes the south has made, there is
reason to believe there is truth in the
statement. And further, when these
same statesmen advocate the releasing
of the cotton held by the farmer, that
the latter may liquidate his honest
debts, the farmer would be doing much
for the interest of not only himself
but business at large by following
their advice.
]. Rosenfeld, manager of the United
Jewelry company said yesterday that
the inauguration of the buy-a-bale of
cotton movement in the south was
serious blunder
THAT movement said Mr. Rosen-
field. established fictitious value for
cotton, value which was unwarrant-
ed. 1t made the farmer, as a rule,
believe that his cotton was worth
10 cents pound and caused hum
dreds of farmers to refuse to lqui-
date their indebtedness unless they
could dispose of their cotton hold
ings, at 10 cents a pound. In many
instances, farmers have fought legal
mortgage claims and crop liens in a
vain attempt to get 10 cents pound
for their. cotton.
.'As a matter of fact, had there
not been a war in Europe it would
have been impossible for the farmer
to have secured more than or 3
cents for his crop at the outside The
estimate of the crop this year is about
100000 bales, I understand-more
L
fact alone would have caused the
price of cotton to reach a level very
near to the present price. The war
cannot in any measure be blamed for
the low price of cotton, because it
Is the lack of foresight in the farm
ers themselves that has caused it.
The utter lack of forethought in the
growing of cotton is the only thing
that can be held accountable. Crop
diversification is the remedy and I'M
less the farmers can be made to sec
this viewpoint hard times win really
be here next fall.
The people of the south must come
TO a realization of tho fact that this
section does not grow more than two
thirds of the cotton consumed in the
world. There are other regions Of
the world which are just as well adapt
ed to the growing of cotton as is
t15G. aodttlGiH SUITES. LNtH pticit TIC
war, many European countries were
experimenting in various parts of the
world in cotton growing and wherever
II was found that cotton could be
grown large acreages have been placed
In the ground. a.sa. 4..s..
ut is only question of time until
there will be practically no export
demand for American cotton. When
that time comes, the southern states
xxriIl 20 m it,eS&af
that in 10 years from now the state of
Texas will raise all the cotton con-
sumed in the United States and there
will be no export trade in this crop.
THE south is we'll adapted to the
growing of grain and the raising of
cattle and other foods. The people
of the south must needs make the
most of their opportunities, instead
of grasping at the straw of a crop
that once paid handsomely. There is
more money in other crops than there
ever was in cotton and henceforward.
unless the acreage is small, there Will
ae a loss in cotton.
las to business, the outlook for
spring trade is very bright. Mr.. Will
liam Rosenfeld. our buyer. is now In
New York, making rather heavy pur-
chases in anticipation of good trade.
We cover Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi Arkansas and a part of
Louisiana. Business In Florida has
been fully up to normal but In the
other states there has been slight
falling off in the demand. However.
all of our customers state they are
looking forward to a very much i'm
proved condition of business after the
first of the year. Our collections are
improving every day and during the
last two weeks they have been un-
usually goOd.'