The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-09-25
BUY-A-BALE PLAN
SOLVES PROBLEM
SAYS GONZALES
MEN OF NATION MUST STAND
FIRMLY TOGETHER.
William f. Gonzales Points Out That
government Has Furnished Aid
And Can Do No More-The
South Can Save Itself
To the Editor of The State:

Illusions, but my concern for the well
rare OF the Southern cotton grower is
so great and my understanding that
only prompt measures for his assist
ance can be beneficial is so clear that
must speak against an illusion.
Every hour that our people wait in
active, in the hope that the general
government will purchase and retire
the 100000, 100000 or 100000
Dales OF cotton in excess of the de-
mand for manufacture is an hour lost.
Every effort to get the government to
do that thing is effort wasted, and
this is no time for the South to waste
effort.
Even were the government willing
the machinery could not be organized
to embark in revolutionary venture
and set in motion in time to save the
small farmers and the weak holders
from disastrous losses; and those are
the farmers whom it is most import
ant to assist. But the government is
not going to buy and hold cotton when
there is overproduction, any more
than it will buy and hold wheat or pip
iron in similar circumstances. There
is an overproduction of 100000 or
100000 bales this year because the
European war has curtailed the de-
mand by that amount; but two years
hence, when the consumption through
out the world is normal, the Identical
problem would face us if the South
produced 81 100000 bales. The gov
ernment will not establish precedent
for buying cotton in years of over
production. 1t can not control the
production. Even were it possible for
the general government, under the
constitution, to limit the acreage (and
the South would quickly resent such
an attempt) the production depends
upon the seasons, upon cultivation
and the quality of seed, and it can
not be regulated by governmental de-
cree.
[ believe that in agreeing to issue
S75 in currency, at low rate of in
terest to every bank lending 500 on
cotton, the government has gone a
long way TO help the South. No strin-
gent regulations are made for ware
housing. and the United States treas
TRY makes no attempt to fix the value !;
the banks may lend on cent or a
- cent basis.
Of the multitude of plans proposed
to meet the present situation in the
South and save the farmer who can
not hold from disastrous loss, one
only--with its developing possibili-
tivs--stands ont as practical and i'm
mediately effective. That is the bay
a-balo plan.
The South is the part of America
hi hardest by the war in Europ, AMI
!,oth:r g can prevent us from suffering
less, but if we can establish mGr-
kCt for cotton on a 10-cenU basis we
will be saved from disaster, and that
Is What this buy-a-bale movement
will 40 if pressed to its possibilities.
NH.ldes giving relief to the individual
who sells for $50 bale instead q:
%5r' $40, it can be made to stirlu-
late holding by those who could orh-
erwise throw their cotton on a de-
ro:alized market. For example, if
1t we've known that next week, at so
different points in South Carolina,
5000 bales would be bought for $50
a nale, thousands of small farmers
would hold, maybe 10000 or 1000
bales on 7 cent market this week,
in ~, hope of participating in tie
limited but better market next week
Again, every purchaser of bale of
cotton at 10 cents, becomes an advo-
cate of "holding" and a talking advo-
cate for reduced acreage and higher
prices next year. Better than that, in
the years to come, will be the devel-
oped self-confidence of the South and
the spirit of aiding each other and
our section in times of stress.
There are thousands in the South
who can buy, in the spirit of this
movement, five, ten, so or 100 bales;
and they will do it if "worked up" to
the understanding of the Importance
of their cooperation. The press, from
Virginia to Texas, should work on
this plan as earnestly and systemat-
cally as when raising a Democratic
campaign fund.
And then there are innumerabIe
opportunities for developing and ex-
tending this movement. One sugges-
tion of great Importance made re-
Gently by South Carolinian was that
the fertilizer companies to whom
farmers of the South owe many mil
lions of dollars, take their pay in cot
ton or a 10-cent basis and retire that
cotton. They, as was suggested, are
vitality concerned In the South's pros
perity; therefore they should help tiir
farmer help himself in time of pres
sure; and they are in better position.
to insure the increase in value of their
holding of cotton because of their
potency in bringing about reduction
of acreage. If the fertilizer com
panies should take half their dues in
cotton at $50 bale, the movement
would gain such impetus as to insure
success.
There are thousands of other cred
itors, great and small, in the East and
West who would cooperate in this
movement and take cotton on a 10
"""t basis if the facts were put be-
fore them. If big concern in New
York of Chicago takes cotton in pay
ment for debts on 1O-cent basis from
n Cn,,Ehn..x.