The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-03
THE COTTON SITUATION.
CLARENCE oUsLEY, ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF AGRICUL-
TURE, SAYS NO Ca
LANIITY INIPENDS.
Farmers Can Control Situation and
Dictate Price by Warehousins, Their
Cotton and Selling in InstaElments
J. From Month to Month.


From Month to Month.
College Station, Texas, July 2e.-
Speaking on the cotton situation be-
fore the Farmers Congress here to-
night, Clarence Ousiey, Assistant Sec
retary of Agriculture, said that as he
sees the situation mo calamity i'm
pends if we do not lose our heads ;
and that he is more concerned
about the gathering Of the crop than
about disposing of it,
He offered a solution, even il there
is a surplus of from 3 to 4 million
bales, and says:
IF every farmer who raises ten
bales Of cotton will pat two in the
warehouse and sell the remainder by
instalIments from month to month
throughout the winter and spring in
stead of forcing it all on the market
worst aspects Will disappear.
He thinks that if there is a sur
plus of cotton this year it must be alb
serbed by reduced production next
year Furthermore, he points out
that the government did not ask for
so large crop, and that in all fair.
ness this fact must be recognized, the
crop having been produced because
the Southern growers refused to heed
the warning of agricultural leaders
and economists.
Governments Aid Limited.
out, the government is prepared to
do, whatever it can to help avert
hardship, though its ability in this
direction is limited, even though it
exercises its war powers to the ut
most It must be remembered, he
cautions, that not even the govern
ment of the United States, with all
its powers, can make two bales of cot
ton fit into the place where there is
only room for one. By the aid OF
government agencies, by judicious
marketing, by Withholding part Of the
crop for later development, by ad-
jusfment of next years acreage, the
South can come out whole and with
profit.
Farmers Alone Not Enough.
There are not enough persons on
the farms-men, women, and chh-
dren-to gather the crop, much OF
which must be lost, Mr.. Ousley
thinks, unless the people of the towns
will help. The prosperity of every
town In the cotton belt depends upon
saving and marketing this import
ant money crop, and it is imperative
that the people of the towns organ
re for cotton picking. There is no Ia
Dor that may be imported, and
none that may be created by the gov
ernment or conscripted. On the 9TH
er hand there are enough men and
women at useless tasks in the South,
whe car turn in and save the crop.
He did not doubt that they would do
it when they perceive the need.
Secretary Ousfey's address follows
In full:
Tits an old saying that the aver
Aage cotton farmer will not sell when
rices are advancing and will not
koId when prices are declining. From
fwhat have learned during the last
few weeks, am inclined to the view
that the cotton farmers today are re-
solved and are prepared to pursue
more rational course. I find little
evidence that the actual farmer is the
least panicky over the cotton sltua-
ton. He remembers the sad expert
ence of 1914 when we brought big
crop to market just after the world
war broke, and because there was
then more cotton than could be sold
and delivered, we fell into mysteries
and sacrificed a large part Of it be-
low cost of cultivation. If we had
been wiser then, we would have retir-
ed a small part of the crop and sold
the greater part Of it ut fair prices
because, as q matter Of fact, we had
to hold small part and ultimately
: we absorbed it in the re@aced crops
of the three succeeding years.
Some people seem to have the no.
tfen that the situation now is as Sc
rious as it was in 1914. It does not
SO appear to me. But even if ii
were, if we will only profit by the
experience Of 1914 we can easily solve
the problem.
AnaIyzing Statistics.
LET us first analyze the statistical
position. The July crop report indi-
Gated a production Of 15,S00,O0O
bales That estimate is based upon
an acreage Of 60 per cent in excess
of last year and upon a condition OF
S5.S per cent compared with 7G.3 per
cent in 1917 and 1913 per cent for the
ten-year average. Unfavorable wealth
er fron this time forward during the
growing season, or early frost, OF
both, might reduce that estimate q
full million bales. The boil weevi
has ample time yet to reduce the esti-
mate half million bales. Still W.
must accept the estimate as q prob
ability.
Id the INIT