The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-16
Advocates II Gents Cotton.

Mr. Editor:--Will you allow me space
in your valuable paper to express my
views and make some suggestions TO
my brother farmers in this, . time
when there is no market for our cotton
crop. We have toiled hard and accord
ing to reports have made Il large crop
Of cotton this year, and we are now face
TO face with condition that We have
never had to contend with before.
When there is no market for our cot
ton, what are we as farmers going to
do about this matter? Are we going 10
sacrifice our cotton crop? l say no, no,
with all my heart, no. It has always
been mystery TO me that the farmers
have had no say so in fixing theiprlce of
what he had to sell, and now my broth
er farmer we have the opportunity OF
placing q price on Our cotton, the only
opportunity that we have ever had.
Now let US fix living price on our
cotton. Let US say that we will not sell
for less than y cents per pound. and
hold our cotton off the market. BY
holding we will create a demand, and
the Logger we hold the greater the de-
mand. Oh, some one will say that l
am forced to sell and pay my rent and
other obligations. Well, my friends,
how can we pay our debts when there
is no market for our cotton? Let US say
to our landlord and supply men, am
ready TO settle my obligations with my
cotton at II cents, and if they refuse to
accept the cotton as payment, store
your cotton away where 1t Will not
damage until cotton will demand II
cents. We see where our sgovernmentI
has been trying to formulate some plan
to assist the farmers in holding their
cotton, and what have they done, and
what are they trying 70 do: Nothing
that would amount to row OF pins to
the farmer. BY their various plans the
farmer can only realize $40 per bale for
his cotton, which is far below the cost
of production. l: seems 10 me that this
is u plan TO get the cotton out OF the
farmers hands into the bankers and
SPECTATORS hands. which is to help
the farmer TO sacrifice his cotton crop. |
Why can't our lawmaking body make a
law putting stay on all debts until
cotton will demand II. cents. II looks to
me like this is the thing to do, il our
government wants to help the poor
farmer out of this trouble. AS we all
know, when we purchased our guano
and supplies last spring, we did it with |
The expectation of getting y or Is
cents for our cotton on payment OF the
debt. Now let US pay the debt with cot
ton at II cents or keep it until cotton
will demand 10 cents. We see where |
some Of our smarter men are advocat- |
ing the calling of our legislature into
extraordinary session to pass an act to
prohibit the farmer from planting any
more than 50 per cent. of the present
crop next year. / look On such law as |
unconstitutional and don't think that
there can be law passe1 that would
prohibit the farmer from planting just
what be phases on his owo soil, bu5 l
I'm satisfied that the acreage OF cotton |
will be reduced 10 a large extent next
wear, and am ct the opinion that is
the thing for US to do, if We arr su S.
full in getting 10 cents for this crop.
We all realize that if the European
war continues that there is a very da,k
time just ahead of US financially. but
when turn my mind back 10 the time
and the experience that we passed
through from 1861 to 1864, when this
country was 0vershadowed with the
bloodiest war that America ever ex-
perienced, wh"n all the men and boys |
were urd-r arms at the front and no
one az home but our mothers anC sis
ters to do all manner Of work, when We
could not sell anything we had, ano
could not buy an, thing that we wanted.
When We had to teas our cotton and |
pick the seed, spin the cotton and weave
into cloth to cover our backs, kill the |
COWS, skin off The hide and tan it and |
cobble up something in the shape OF
shoes to wear on our feet. When our
sisters wore the homeSpun dress and |
made the corn shuck hats for Sunday |
wear. When we had no style and young |
ladies were the prettiest and fairest
that the sun ever shown on in America,
and how we endured this oppression
for a term OF four years, and how did
we pass through this experience? Well,
I don't know, but here we are now
passing through another dark time
financially. but an satisfied that the |
Head OF the Allwise Providence is
working and if We will only put our
trust in him we will pass through in
safety. Now let US hold our cotton at
II cents and should we have any on |
hand when the war clouds pass over we
will realize IA or Is cents for it.
Turbeville, S. c., R. F. D.