The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-10-21
BURNING THE FARMERS
CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

Cotton goods are selling at the
same prices that prevailed when cot,
ION was 133 cents, and many of the
mills have contracts from six months
to twelve months ahead; but the
mills are buying their cotton at 81
cents. In other words, If the mills
had a profit in their cloth when cot
ton was 49, cents, they now have 8
profit in outstanding contracts OF
more than 100 per cent. =
Cotton seed oil is selling now al
the same price quoted when cotton
seed were IS to 40 cents per bushel.
Now cotton seed are selling from 20
to % cents per,bushel, or whereabouts
If the oil mills had a profit at 40
cents per bushel, they now have a
profit of something like.75 per cent,
even granting a reduction in the
price of meal and huEs, which can
not be used as a human food product.
Now, then, the cotton oil mills and
the cotton mills are Southern instita-
tions. An other Southern institu-
tions, of whatever nature, are ex-
hansting thelr energy and thought
in the effort to save the Southern cot
ton farmer from destruction. Why
could not the cotton mills and the
cotton oil mills lend a helping hand
by sharing their profits withthe pro-
ducer, even in ever so small a; de
gree. They could give a premium
on the market price for raw products
oinstead of becoming parties to agree
ments that keep competition out of
their territory. For instance, if the
cotton mill~at this place gees f1tgto
bHyeetton away from home, it must
send outside the zone of its agree
ment to get the cotton and the same
thing Is true OF, cotton seed. This
county is.pareellsd out to the various
/, cotton mills, most of it belonging to
the AbbeEille Cotton Mill. Due
West and Donalds, in. this county,
elzer sor did, and no 9th.
er mill will send It's buyers into those
towns, as the buyers from this town
for the mill will not undertake to
buy either in Due West or Donalds.
Of course, export buyers or buyers
Tor private account are not governed
by this combination. Z
. IT it Is not q fact that the entire
upper part Of South Carolina is par
celled out to certain cotton mills, in
which. fields two, mills will not com
pete, we would beglad FOL, some one
well, enough informed to speak, to
deny the fact. The same, is true of
the seed business, though in this
there Is little .eonspatitie n-beeaase of
the great monopoly by the Southern
Cotton Oil Company. =
If in times OF peace these combi-
nations were deemed necessary, they
may have been 'excusable; but now
when ruin threatens the whole coun-
try because Of the destruction of
prices, on raw cotton, It is, time for
W ~. .' 0
these organizations ,of capital to; lift
the hdsjustta liittleibit and give the
farmer just a breath of air, For in
stance, instead of paying as much
for cotton in some other State and
shipping it ito this State, the mills
might pay the added price Of freight
to the producer. 4
IF the mills act i'm O. hostile way to
the producer in his extremity, it is
just as certain as fate,, that the pro-
Queer viii retaliate when his inning
comes. If, ON the other hand, the
mills show asreal sympathy with the
producer by helping him, out of his
abundant margin of profit, the pro.
ducer will be more liberal with him
wheafttescalas are turned.