The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1917-02-15

W suC uutsGIodt dabuuuY pun Nuat LHG
acreage 10 be planted in cotton for
the coming year will be abnormtlly
Increased and that In consequence,
la materially larger crop than the last
Is probable. The vision OF bumper
crop coming In precarious future
casts the shadow of fear upon the
distracted present. But suppose this
status should be reversed? Suppose
the fear should fall upon the con-
Stunning element of the cotton trade
that there would be no increase in
acreage, but reduction rather, and
than in consequence another famine
crop was probable? Suppose the far
mers, the bankers and the merchants
should determine that the 1917
acreage should be curtailed to limits
which would make practically inn
possible any surplus of cotton during
the next eighteen months? In such
case, would we see men frantically
endeavoring to sell at enormous dis
counts cotton for delivery within
said period? II is an everlasting
verify that they would not On the
contrary, there would be stampede
to buy cotton. which would lift val
ues to new high levels.
Size of Next Crop Main Factor.
The crux of the situation lies,
therefore, in the size Of the next crop.
The most important and obvious fac
tor in determining the probable size
of the crop Is the acreage planted.
The extent of the acreage lies within
the control of the farmers, the bank
ers and the merchants of the South.
They cannot control the season, but
they can curtail the acreage. The
people most vitality interested are,
therefore, the arbiters of their own
destiny whitley seize this oppor-
tunity and by common effort avert
disaster and insure remunerative
prices for their great product?
Even without a systematic and de-
termined movement for acreage cur
tailment, it is hardly possible under
the circumstances that will surround
the making of the next crop to pro-
duce any more than a very moderate
yield. The discouragement caused
by recent developments. the scarcity
IL. l.
tailed labor supply and the tremenl
dously enlarged scope of boil weevil
devastation will. of themselves, in
evitably restrict within moderate linn
its the production on even largely
increased acreage. But If a compare
lively large acreage should be plant
ed, several months would elapse be-
fore these conclusions were demon
strated, and in the meantime meal
culable damage might be done. In
such case, support to the market
would come too late. The time to
act is now. A determined movement
for restriction of acreage inaugu-
rated now would vitalize the markets
as by an electric shock and would
not only insure good prices in the fu
ture, but would save the considerable
remnant of last years crop from
ruthless and wholly unnecessary sac
rifices.
The vital interest OF the farmers
ii. maintaining the price of cotton
is obvious The bankers are vitality
interested in this ISSUE because they
are carrying large part OF the un-
sold remnant OF the crop. The mer-
chants are vitality interested, be-
cause their future prosperity or dis
tress will be determined by the prices
at which the remnant is sold. Every
southern state is vitality interested,
because prosperity can not flourish
in any of them when their great sta
pie crop is in eclipse.
Essentials of Campaign.
These are the essentials of the
necessary campaign:
Hold all cotton until the period
of generalization is past.
Curtail acreage to point which
will render any other than moder-
ate crop impossible.
In order to accomplish the end
in view, the farmers should individ-
ually and in their unions vigorous
ly speak and act. The bankers
should extend credits on the rem
nant of the present crop. but should
curtail credits on the preparations
for the coming crop. The merchants
should, by limiting advances on the
coming crop, curtail the acreage OF
their credit customers. The COVER
rers of the several southern states
should call conferences of the in
tercsts involved in order TO focus
attention on this vital issue and to