The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-18

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 pose the fear should fall upon the consuming element of the cotton trade that there would be no increase in acreage. but a reduction rather, and that in consequence another famine crop was probable? Suppose the farm CTS, the bankers and the merchants should determine that the 1917 acre. age should be curtailed to limits which would make practically impossible any surplus of cotton during the next IS months? In such case would we see men frantically endeavoring to sell tt enormous discounts cotton for delivery within said period? It is an everlast- ing verity that they would not. On the contrary, there would be a stam- pede to buy cotton which would lift values to new high levels.
 The cruX of the situation lies, thera- fore. in the size of the next crop The most important and obvious factor in determining the probable size of the crop is the acreage planted The ex- tent of the acreage lies within the con trol of the farmers. the bankers and the merchants of the south. They can not control the season, but they can curtail the acreage. The people most vitally interested are, therefore, the arbiters of their own destiny. will they seize this opportunity and by com mon effort avert distress and insure remunerative prices for their great product?
 Even without 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 very moderate yield The discoura cement caused by recent market developments the scare 1ty and high price of fertilizers, the curtailed labor supply and the tremen- dousiy enlarged scope of boil weevil devastation will of themselves inevi- tably restrict within moderate limits the production of even a largely in- creased acreage. But if compara lively large acreage should be planted several months would elapse before these conclusions were demonstrated and in the meantime incalcuIable dam age might be done. In such case, sup port to the market would come too late The time to act Is now A de- termined movement for restriction of acreage inaugurated now would vital lze the markets as by an electric shock and would not only insure good prices in the future. but would save the con- siderable remnant of last years crop rom ruthless and wholly unnecessary sacrifice.
 The vital interest of the farmers in maintaining the price of cotton is ob- Vlous. The bankers are vitally inter- ested in this issue because they are carrying large part of the unsold remnant of the crop. The merchants are vitally fnterestd. because their fu- ture prosperity or distress will be de- term1ned by the prices at which the remnant IS sold. Every southern state IS yitally interested, because prosper lty cannot flourish in any of them when their great staple crop is in eclipse.
 essary campaign:
 Hold all cotton until the period Of demoralization is past
 Curtail acreage to a point which will render any other than a moderate cron impossible
 In order to accomplish the end in view the farmers should. individually ana In their unions, vigorously speak and act; the bankers should extend credits on the remnant 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 acre age of their credit customers: the governors of the several southern states should call conferences of the interests involved, in order to focus attention on this vital issue and to the end that the facts of salvation in stead Of the fears of destruction may be widely disseminated.
 There are battles to be fought other than those of blood and iron and sink ing ships. This is one of them. It is a light for economic independence. Duty as well as interest points the way The means of victory are at hand. The fight may be won right now before A new sead iS mt ,t the ground The course proposed will save cotton now and hereafter. despite wars and rumors of wars Will the people act?