The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-15

IL competent man. qualified by train
ing and experience to samp,e anu
properly srade and classify cotton. H.
grades cotton according to the gov
ernment classification. and when he
says a bale OF cotton is middlin.. the
owner OF that bale should refuse to
sell 1t to any buyer who declines to
accept the classification of the accrcd-
tied grader of the association. There
should be no conflict between tho as
sociation, representing the farmers.
and the buyers. but IL there is to be
a conflict, II the Ldyers show deter
mination to force fiLht in the mat
ter OF grades. the fight should be
made now and the issue settled once
and for all. II the buyers are tn con-
troll and dominate this market and
prevent the establishment of a mar
keting association by the farmers, for
the benefit Of the farmers. it will be
TINE and money saved to the farmers
II they find out Immediately where
they are at. II they are not to be
permitted to have a marketing asso-
citation and to run 1t as seems best to
them. they should know it now and
quit playing with useless toy, for IL
the association cannot command and
enforce the respect Of the buyers to
the extent that they will recognize md
accept the classification of the accl ed
tied agent Of the association, 1t is q
useless and worthless organization.
or course the association cannot
force the local buyers to accept the
classification of the grader of the as
sociation. but they have an alterna-
tive-they can sell their cotton to
other people-and that is exactly what
the association was organized to do
to market the cotton Of the members
Of the association to the best advan-
tage. Do not doubt that the associa-
tion can find market for the cotton.
Cotton In large lots can always be
sold, and IL the local buyers force thu
issue and refuse to buy on the classi-
ncation of the associations grader, tn,
association IL In q position to find
a market for Sumter county cotton
elsewhere. 1t 10 up to the producers
OF cofton-if they want an association
to grade and market their cotton. an
that will standardize this
market so that all cotton, cotton Oh
the big farmer and Of the little farm
err. shall be sold strictly on grade, ac-
cording to the government standard OF
classification. they can have 1t by got
ting behind the Tri-County Cottor.
Marketing Association and standing
by 1t to the last ditch. The issue is
being made and II the farmers back
down 1t will! be at the sacrifice OF
principle and to their own flnancia
hurt. What are they going to Dc
about 1t?
Those who have long memories
well recollect the fight that attended
Of q public cotton weigher
for Sumter. There was opposition and
contention and objection to a public
cotton platform and q public weigher
to weigh oil cotton sold on this mar
ket. but the demand for q disinterost-
ed official to weigh the cotton was
too strong and the determination of
the cotton farmers too steadfast e.
be overcome and the objections ulti-
mately subsided. Now no one would
think Of suggesting the abolition of
the public cotton weigher and a re
turn to the old custom Of every buy
er having his own scales and weigh
ing the cotton he buys. A disinter
ested official to grade the cotton is
just as essential. IL not far more so
than a disinterested official to weigh
the cotton. II the farmers will give
the matter dispassionate considera-
tion they will see that it is to their In
terest and to the interest OF Sumter
as n cotton market that there be a dis
Interested official cotton grader for
this market. If the cotton buyers will
likewise give the matter dispassion-
ate and unbiased consideration they
will also see that 1t Is to their interes,
and to the interest Of the Sumter mar
ket that the Tri-County Cotton Mar
keting Association be firmly establish
cd and that this association have an
official cotton grader. representing the
Bureau OF Markets OF the United
States Department of Agriculture
which guarantees his fitness and com