The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-24
SHOULD BEAR PART OF BURDEN.
Merchants should Meet Farmer Half
Way in Effort to Save Situation.

To the Southern farmer whose
debts were contracted on the basis
of II and 15-cent cotton, the a!l-im-
po7tant question is how shall he
meet these obligations, as many of
the small planters, especially the ten
ant classes, have no means of paying
their debts except with the current
cotton crop whose value unfortunate
" is too nearly universally antici-
pated through the lien or time
price" merchant
The small farmer, then. in the vast
majority of cases has already receiv-
ed the value of his crop, but if he
does not approximately meet his gu
ano and ration account he cannot ex-
pect to get advances for another
year. But how can he expect to get
advances for another year unless the
retail merchant is paid? 1t is very
clear that the "one-horse" farmer
cannot pay accounts in full contract
ed when there was prospect of 15-
cent cotton when it develops that he
cannot get more than eight cents for
his only money crop.
Assuming that the farmer will
make enough money even at war
time" prices to pay his lien it is evil
dent that the farmer and not the mer-
chant is the principal loser on ac-
count of the depressed market for his
money crop. The merchant has al
ready charged and collected his
time price" profits Of 10 to so per
cent, but the farmer has nothing
left "clear" with which to buy win
ter clothing and necessities for the
family during the idle season.
Many a small farmer is going to
try to hold his cotton off the market
in the hope of realizing five or ten
dollars a bale extra. In the mean
time the retailer is unable to lay the
wholesale merchant or to buy more
goods, resulting often in the failure
of the supply merchant to continue
in business.
To relieve this condition in many
cases | suggest that the merchant Of
fer a liberal discount to all his farm
er debtors of Is to 20 per cent. or to
put it in a more attractive way, offer
to pay the producer $40 to SIS a
bale more for his cotton than he can
secure in the open market. This
spirit will divide the burden of the
war between the merchant and the
producer and will enable the farmer
to put his debts behind him and will
enable the merchant in turn to settle
his accounts and thus keep the ave-
nues of business open. The farmers
credit is saved and the retailing mer-
chant is enabled to do business at
the same old stand, and all take up
luSlE "OIh duOluOl sOoi, VAIN SiSoh
sheets. having helped and shared
each others burdens.
Remember, Mr.. Merchant, that a
bird in the hand is worth two in
the BUSH" and that fires destroy,
thieves abstract, and weather deteri-
crates cotton. Charge off some of
your anticipated profits" to loss"
account and help the backbone of
the country and you will retain his
good will and patronage for genera
tions. The merchant who acts upon
these suggestions and acts quickly
will get the most benefit and will do
the most good in his town and COM
munity in these times of unpreced-
dented financial distress.
These suggestions apply equally to
the country banker who has loaned
money on the cotton crop.-W. w.
Watson, Orangeburg, S. c.. in the
Progressive Farmer.