The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-26
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Something Wrong Somewhere

To the Editor of The Age-Herald. have been thinking over the unusual condition of business for the last few days, and 1t is plain to me that unless there is some relief for the farmers in a something on his cotton, that the south will be bankrupt. Millions of debts will be due in a few days and no way provided to meet them.
 I have come to the conclusion that the farmers, the retail merchants, the guano people, the bankers, and the wholesale merchants will have to work out their own salvation, if it is worked out.
 l firmly believe the only thing that will save the south is for all guano com panies and wholesale merchants to agree to give the retail merchants 10 cents for cotton on account, and then the retail merchants could pay the farmer 10 cents on his accounts. This would place prac- tically all the mortgaged cotton in the hands of business men that could arrange to hold the cotton for 10 cents per pound. If the guano people and the wholesale
 merchants will agree to the above plan, cotton will be 10 cents in 10 days. This will not cause the guano people and wholesale merchants to lose anything, but, on the other hand, will save them money, and start up business right away Under the present conditions the retail merchants cannot buy goods from the wholesale merchant, for the farmer can-
 not buy from him, and if this crop is sac rificed at a low price, then the farmer
 will not be able to buy goods or fertilizer next year.
 I think the south should feel proud of the sentiment that prevails everywhere today to help the southern farmer the newspapers especially have done all they could for him, but the time Is only a short ways off when sentiment will not help. and something must be done. If cot ton has to be put on the market to pay the debts that will be due in a short time it is the opinion of well posted people that the price will so much below the present price.
 I want to ask if the business people of this country are going to stand by and see spectators destroy the business of the south, by buying what the farmer has to sell at less than half price. Look at the price of cotton seed, and the price of the products? Compare the prices with this year and last.
 do not sec how anyone can figure out that the war in Europe has caused all the trouble. The government tells us that we have one of the largest wheat crops ever raised; Cuba has one of the largest sugar crops, and yet sugar and wheat are higher than almost ever before. Spectators tell us that we cannot sell cotton, because We cannot ship 1t to Eu- rope, and l. nthe same breath they tell us that flour has advanced g per barrel because we are going to ship 1t to Eu- rope.
 There Is no money to buy cotton with. and yet on the 12th of this month fine banks report more money in their vaults than ever before at this time of the year.
 The government sends out money to help move the. crop, and the banks win not let the farmer have it, but on the other hand 1t is reported that specuIators get 1t to help oppress him.
 There is something wrong so,newhere and I believe we. the people of tbe south. can stop this outrage before if is too late. Respectfully,
 L. H. REYNOLDps.
 Clanton. September 2l 1914.