Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-09-16
PRESIDENT BARRETT
SPEAKS TO PEOPLE.
Farmers Appeal to Government, Not Mendicants,
But as Men Who Have Been of Immeasurable
Value the People.

sis, to give to the public an express
sion, not only OF my own opinion,
but that Of the great National Con-
vention Of the Farmers Union. which
has just ADJOURNED It's annual con-
vention, held at Forth Worth, Texas.
The sorrowful and disastrous war
in Europe has had, in business
sense, a most disastrous effect upon
the producers of the United States.
We are but at the beginning Of that
war. No living man can safely pre-
dict how Lore, it will last. and, there
fore, more of us can foresee Jus how
soon this unintentiOnal embargo up
on ou" foreign trade will continue.
Natu ally, the destruction in Europe
will make a demand for our super
hrous foodstuffs just as soon as
shipping facilities can be provided
for getting these foodstuffs to the
hungry millions Of Europe.
With our great staple-cotton-
the situation is different. Europe
takes an average Of 60 per cent OF
the cotton crop. The demand from
Europe has absolutely ceased, with
no immediate prospect of a renewal
OF that demand. It is possible that
England may take a reduced amount,
but it is very Gel tain that the amount
which England can use, when en-
gagged in a life and death struggle,
will be greatly reduced.
AS see it-and this is also the
opinion Of my colleagues, probably
SO per cent of the cotton crop will
be unstable during the present cot
ton season at any price whatsoever;
and this will mean that the other
half will be sold at a price far below
the cost Of production.
have never been a pessimist-my
temperament rather leading me to
the opposite view; but we are con-
fronted to-day with a situation so
grave that it would be worse than
criminal for me to minimize this
situation. or 10 Eaii In ..ttina 70 forth
pl3,uly.
- Numeroua yo' untary e149Ite are he
ing made hastily by many OF our
splnu3jj ciJaens who have the best
intentions, and who want to relieve
the situation. These efforts, how
ever we'll meaning, and however
worthy of our regard, will Of neces-
sity fail. One and all of them, when
narrowed down, means that the peO-
pie Of the cotton belt must, out of
their own resources. invest at least
$400,00O,O00 in cotton with the pros
pect of holding it one year While
there are a large number of people
in the cotton belt who could buy and
hold some cotton one year as an in
active Investment, the mere state
mcnt OF the fact, which is true, that
it will require 100000, proves
the utter impossibility OF the cot
ton belt, out Of it's own resources,
putting this immense sum Of money
into an active investment.
Since 1878 we have had several
panics in this country. In each case
the financial equilibrium has been
chiefly restored by our exports Of
cotton, which established our for
eign credit and brought to us i'm
mense stores Of gold. 1t is by far
the largest single item in our for
eign trade. 1t is indeed our main
reliance for keeping us in healthy
condition. and from becoming too
deeply indie 1ted to other nations. 1t
- -he rock upon which res IS all the
prosperity - 0ne-third Of our comn-
try and aeacly one-thrd of our pop
ulation.
All men are fond of recognizing,
in speech, the service of the farmer
who clothes and feeds humanity; but
the time has now come when this
friendly expression must be concret-
ed into the deed. 1t IS absolutely
true that the situation is so urgent.
and the sum needed so great, that
no other power in this country, eX-
cept the government, can get ade-
quatc action quickly enough to save
the farmers, who are losing every
day millions OF dollars.
In the stOng intcr-de rendencc
"hlch exists between all classes, the
larmer,. when he goes TO destruction,
VIII not go alone. The merchant and
the country banker, the doctor and
the ieruliZ"r men, to all Of whom he
owes money, will share his fortunes.
The wholesaler and the manufactu-