The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-29
War Can Be Made a Boon to Cotton Men,
Declares Colonel Robert Nj. THOMPSON
Greatest Danger Is Eng.
land Buying Entire
Yield. Not Blockade.
as Supposed

Nas no; We; oeen Felt. hut {; will II
felt when the present crop come:
sweeping into the market unless som'
sensible steps are taken 10 prevent
wholesale sacrifices
Two public suggestions for rehe'
have been recently made with much
more noise than reason. The over
towering desire % the south 20 sci
Is capital for the a~c:tators
The first suggestion IL directed Al
England: il Is asserted hat an EN-
largo on arms and other exports ID
England should - declared unless the
cotton blockade IL lifted This plan is
manifeS;ly Of Teutoric origin md IS
only another phase 81 the arms EN-
largo p~0cpagands
The second proposal which ;s helms
considered with N seriousness is
20, have England take two and A ha
million bales AZ a price slightly over
the cost Of production. THIS susses-
,ior IS received with fcrvor In the
south because il falls in line with the
general theory ~ having some one
bay cotton at once
u. were in Eugiands boots. I
would instantly snap NJ the bargain.
II would take a hundred million o
lars but England would make far
more iAau tina; 81 the investment
With such a stock .. cc;ton. England
could dictate prices Tor twenty years
The South would sell at the prices
which England fixed.
Neither ot these plans has bust
ness sense. cotton needs business
sense. Il needs some Of the skill that
NAs been applied 70 o. We get cheap
oil. yet the oil companies make MILL
ions because they know how 10 sell.
i have a plan which I think would
end the cotton troubles for all time
and make the South a prosperous,
stable section II IS a plan which
commends itself - the business men
and bankers Of the cotton States and
which. II now applied, should ind the
growers in a receptive mood.
L have shown hat the whole
trouble with cotton Is tina; IL j. grown
and sold without regard 10 the de-
mand. There is need for a stah!l.1er.
The hes; staNi,i-er would he a sres;
company with a capital Of a; less;
$50 900. 900.
II should organize this company
with all Of the cotton growing States
ers and general investors interested
in order that the advantages ~ rr!-
business methods m.cht Ne had.
This company would possess itself
O. information as To- the needs .: the
IN the year - come Il then
regulate the acreage 80 that the yield
and The demand would fairly match.
The regulations could ~ easily IN
by refusing 10 deal with such
growers as rehelled.
When the cotton ? came N. this
company would receive il. make a
advance 10 the farmer, ship each
the amount required FOR the
worlds consumption and store the
balance. by proper bargaining with
the consumers. fair prices could be
arranged for the years consumption.
economies could be introduced
in ginning. COMPRISING, storing and
shipping the cotton.
The enormous expenses " the cot
ton exchanges could ne eliminated and
the southern planter could I've paS an
Of $40 a bale more than he
will get under the present method,
This would mean $3.50. 600. 900 more
yearly 10 the South. without any large
expense 70 the ultimate
The earnings Of the company from
its commissions for marketing the
crop would make a profitable invest
nent 10 the stockholders, without
any burden 10 the farmer.
The hanks instead Of having 10
aeal with a multitude q small Dor
rowers would advance only - a large
and wealthy concern. SO that there
he no difficulty IN borrowing
sum that would be wanted Il is
not collateral that the South requires,
hut credit.
by having an absolute control ~
product, the necessity for future
and the consequent spccu-
OF the cotton exchanges would
ease. The exchanges would pass out
" existence because the producer and
the ultimate consumer had met.
The present conditions can he
aiken advantage ~ 10 inauEurate this
Company-the California Fruit
Growers have saved themselves by a
plan-and the war can he made
m instrument 81 greatest benefit to
IA. South"