The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-08-11
THE COTTON SITUATION
SVAST IN IMPORTANCE
Farmers Who Can Should Attend Southern Cotton
congress IN Washington Next Thursday and Friday
for the Cause is An Urgent One.

49,
wish TO call the attention of every
cotton grower in North Carolina to
the meeting of the Southern Cotton
Congress. called by the president.
Commissioner E. J. Watson. of South
Carolina, to meet in Washington city
next Wednesday and Thursday, Au-
gust 13 and Il. There ought to be a
large attendance from North Caro-
lima at this meeting. Not only is the
cotton situation unprecedented. but
as North Carolina is the
nearest cotton-growing State to Wash
lngton, u State will be expected to
be all the more largely represented.
1t is the general conviction that
the present European war cannot last
long. With such enormous armies
crowded together, armed to the teeth,
each right at the others throat. and
with expenses running into millions
OF dollars per hour, it would seem
that it must be short. In any case,
it seems safe to say that before
spring the war should be over, and
the survivors Of the present struggle
ready to resume their Wonted occu-
p%ations. While all the nations will
suffer heavily in money, as well as in
men, the people will ave to be
clothed-and cotton will be the
cheapest clothing they can wear.
While for a few weeks. therefore.
the cotton trade will be seriously up
set, both by reason of the ~deranged
commerce Of Europe and by reason
of the fact that sufficient European
ships will not be available for carry
ing our cotton abroad-the hopeful
fact is that within a few months any
how, the world must have our pres
ent 1914 cotton rop and with the
indicated small crop, should pay a
high price for it.
The only question is as to whom
the world will pay-the farmer or the
speculator : buyer. At present it
seems certain that a golden harvest
is going into the hands of the specu-
latOrS unless something is DONE.
Until the war issue clears up cot
ton, if marketed in the usual early
autumn quantities, will certainly be
a drag on the market and will brint
far below its real worth. The prob.
lem is as to whether our farmers arr
going to be forced to sell under sucf
conditions and literally hand over t.
the Spectator class millions and mil
lions Of dollars the toiling classe
nave created. .
We don't want to see the farmer
sell cotton for 8 to 10 cents his fal
and the spectators sell the same cot
ton for ID to Is cents next spring.
LII II 4dSC VI ouSA q a
genuine and as serious as if caused b,
flood, famine, or earthquake-it seem
to me imperative that the the ma
tional government should lend it
aid. The government should furnisl
sufficient money to enable ever.
Southern farmer to borrow very near
ly the value Of his cotton and s.
hold it until conditions become norm
al. And what is more-a most imPOr
tant point-the government must S
control and manage affairs as t
make sure hat this assistance goe
directly to the farmer it is intendee
to help, without forcing him to pa
high interest rates or excessive bank
ing charges.
1 earnestly hope that every cotto.
farmer who can do SO will go t
Washington and work to this enc
and that those who cannot do SO wi
write their Congressman and Sena
tors. II the farmers will prod Con
gress into providing just plans for f
nancing the crop, and then will them
selves range to warehouse n hol
: all cotton possible, n sell what the
must sell in pools accurately grade
and priced, there should be no US
for alarm. CLARENCE POE.
Raleigh, N. c., Aug. Z, 1914.