The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-16
Cotton Grading in the South.


ton grading question until the farm
ers get into a position to get the
real worth of their grades above mid
ding, and in a position also to o,know
whether or not the buyer is right
when he claims that a grade is be-
low middling.
Only a few days ago one Of the
most thoughtful agricultural leaders
in the South said to the writer: II
am convinced that cotton buyers get
half of the increased prices that the
mills pay for grades above ordinary
quality" In other words, under our
present system half of the hard-earn-
ed wealth the farmer creates in quail
ity of staple is confiscated by buy
ers instead of going to the growers
needy wives and children. Our
friend then gave us an illustration
81 was in a cotton buyers office last
fall" he said, when farmer came
in. with a few bales to sell. Ordi-
nary cotton was going at 12c and
a fraction, but the buyer told the far
mer that as these bales were of su-
perior staple he would pay IA cents,
Or two cents extra per pound. And
then Mr.. Buyer told me that the cot
ton was really worth Is cents or
nearly cents extra on the pound. "
In other words, on eaca o00-pound
bale the buyer made $50 clear profit
by two minutes sharp practice or
about one-third as much as the far
mer and his family had made through
a year of weary toiling and planning
breaking the land in winters cold !;
preparing, fertilizing, planting in
spring; hoeing and cultivating under
summers suns and laboriously pick
ing the crop in the fall.
How long will free people submit
to such a system? How long will
our cotton growers be content to be
mere laborers, surrendering all the
business side of farming to alien in
terests? "Who makes himself a worm
must not complain if he Is trodden
on" If cotton farmers shut their eyes
and invite buyers to do their worst,
what may they expect?
1t is true of scores of markets all
over the South that there is no real
competition among the buyers. The
writer has himself witnessed the pri-
vate signaling by means of which
buyers would divide the spoils,' as
the farmers cotton comes into sight.
Buyer A makes his bid and Buyers
B, c, D, and E do not interfere, for
they will take their turns with later
bales. And with such a system it is
always possible for the shrewd buy
er to get the farmers cotton for
much less than it's real worth. We
know, of course, that many honest
buyers will not take advantage of
the weak, but it is not fair for the
laborer to be thrown bound and help
less before whomsoever wishes to
plunder him. And it is not fair to
honest cotton buyers for them to have
to compete with dishonest ones when
conditions give such an advantage
to dishonesty.
Well, then, Mr.. Farmer, let us put
this question squarely up to you DO
you know that cotton will be proper
ly graded on your market this fall?'
And if not, what are you going to do
about it? Take up the subject In
your county farmers union. Or II
YOU have mt a county union, or 9TH
er farmers organization, just re-
member that this is only one of a
hundred problems affecting the far
mers' welfare which can be solved
only through organization and CO.
operation. Talk it over with your