The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-27
MERCHANTS TALK OF TON SITUATION FACED BY FARMERS Unanimous in Belief That
 Government Should Help
 Immediately
WILLING TO AID IN
 SAVING THE STAPLE
Will Handle Warehouse Receipts as Much as Possible-Acreage Will Be Reduced in Coosa County Next
 Year, Says w. J. Coriey

S. H. Reynolds of Clanton, Chiffon coun- ty. is an optimist and has confidence in the efforts of the government to finance the cotton crop and thereby save the south from d most disastrous situation. Mir, Reynolds is merchant and is in attendance at the convention of the Ala
 bama Merchants association.
 Mr. Reynolds also believes that unless the United States government does come so the rescue of the farmer if the soutH and aid him in holding his cotton fer the farmer enough to live on through the winter and aid him in the making of a crop next year. the south will find itself bankrupt in 1915. The wheat and other grain crops, contends MT. Key holds, do not need the aid of the gov- eminent for people simply have to eat: they can. if necessary. do without clothes for a time.
 Mir. Reynolds believes that if the war in Europe lasts for a year more and no market can be found for the cotton that is now ready to sell before the 1915 crop is placed in the warehouses, it will mean ruin for the south. And. he says q the United States cannot, in view o,f the neutral position it has adopted, send grain and cotton to a country at war without incurring the enmity of one or another of the warning factions. Must Save Cotton Crop
  be saved" said MT. Reynolds yesterday at East Lake park, while the barbecue
 was in progress. For 50 years the south has been sending cotton abroad and bringing to the United States gold in re- turn for it. The situation now will not permi. of exports and the government must come to the rescue of the farmer in this section. If cotton Is forced down to 8 or cents pound the situation will be almost as bad as though ytlie entire crop were lost. It costs the farmer now about II cents pound to produce cotton. The staple is worth at least 121s cents and should not be sold for less, The storekeepers in Alabama who have
 advanced their money in the fall when cotton was marketed, are facing serious
 situation. The money with which they were to buy their fall goods was to have 1 come from the farmers cotton That cot- ton cannot now be sold Many of the storekeepers have enough money to make their fall purcha ses, hut there is no money in the country unless cotton can be sol9 T intend to do all l can to aid the farmers in my section in holding their cotton. When they come to me with their cotton will take the warehouse receipts and do all can to secure a reasonable price on the staple. I know that every storekeeper who can do so will do as l intend to do. 1t is the only way by which we can hope to meet the situation which confronts us.
 ..McLane T'iiton's plan for selling cot- ton, as outlined in a telegram to w. PIG. Harding. reproduced in Tuesdays Age, Herald, is good if it can be carried out. He proposes to compel countries which receive wheat from this country to pur7 chase like amount of cotton. Fortunate in Having Harding And, by the way 1t was a piece of G. Harding was appointed as member of the federal reserve board. MT. Hard l ing is one of the best informed men in ! the United States on the cotton situa- I ton, and is aereal friend of the south. l He understands conditions here and knows the people of the south. If there l is any way in which relief can be given us he will do all he can to bring: It about.
 The cotton crop in my section this yea | is very good, but business Is practically at standstill. The people have con-| I fdence however, in the government and believe that the southern congressn3&n r., ~.fA fr,f 1,fu hate M<- I of dire need.
 l Other visitors to the Alabama AiIl kr. chants association convention who $S&. l pressed views on the cotton situation y1s-y terday were: A. c. Harris, Alexander City, Taiia- poosa county: The crops in my section
 are up to the average and the farmers <csaarsea = Pare Sssesss.s