The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-12-26
THE SPINNER and rHk PLANTER

THE SPINNER and THE PLANTER
Nv. W. Robinson in the News apd
Courier.)
The spinners are subject to a good
deal Of criticism. Most business men
are. In fact few people, whatever may
be their pursuits, ever escape the
critics. Some things said about the
spinners are probably true. It would
be most unusual IL they were not. 1t
would be equally unusual IL al of
them were true. 1t is fairly certain
however. that the spinners are quite
up to the average of American bust
ness men, women is unquesti nably
high.
Whatever may be the spinners
faults. the fact remains that the spin
ming industry is one Of the great con-
structive industries Of the country. A
bale of cotton shipped abroad as a
raw product means about $50 to
be divided between commerce. capital
and labor in this country. Shipped
manufactured into the various
products. Of which cotton is suscepti-
ole. 1T would mean from three to four
times that amount to be divided.
This reveals how intimately the
spinning industry concerns the econ
omic resistance and financial power
OF the nation. 1t makes Il clear also
that manufacturing all the crop of
american cotton by American mills
Is In the direction of the soundest
public policy. and looking to that
end, the spinning business should,
be steadily fostered by wise
laws and by an active and sympathe-
tic public opinion.
NOW that shortcomings of the in.
dustry are, more or less. superficial
and are constantly undergoing the
process OF correction which time is
always applying in human affairs. t,
let what is temporary and minor in
character obscure and ncutralize our
interest IL the big and vital facts
outlined here would show a lack OF
vision and lack of ability to use
great opportunities which the era
now dawing aud the future it fore
casts, demands of the American peo-
pie. and especially in the instant case
oil the cotton producer ald of the
cottoE spinner.
This prospective achievement in
the Judgment of the writer, over
in importance every other
outlook OF the cotton trade. It's SUE
cess intimately and equally concerns
alike the spinner and the planter
TO orins 1t about. it is EftiiI-n Er,ftiIn that the
output OF the Manufactured product
: . i-s...he production of the raw ma
terial must both be kept on a stead
lily expanding basis. More American
cotton every year and more of it
by American mills ev-
cry year should be the watchword.
The best way, in fact the only way
this end can be realized is through
a sound and steady profit for all in
terests concerned. Without such a
profit, the spinner would not contin-
ue to spin, nor would the planter con-
tinue to plant. Now an abundant sup
ply of cotton is certainly essential
to the steady growth of the spin
ing industry. but this does not mean
In other words, it does not
mean that the property OF the indus
try in the future depends on the
price of cotton, returning to the
levels which brought nothing but
poverty and its privations to the
producer for more than forty years
after the close of the civil war.
This opinion, widely current, that
cheap cotton was necessary to the
expansion of the spinning
business is one of those sophistries
that often find lodgment in the pub
lie mind through kind of inherited
habit of thought. It's fallacy is COM
pletely exposed by the easily prova-
BILE fact. that cotton at three or four
times above the average price it has
brought, would still be the
cheapest fabric for clothing the hu-
man race. The fact Is, it is the only
fabric of which the supply Is suffi-
cient. If the demand for cotton had
to be transferred to linen, wool and
silk. where would it put the price,
and what would be the extent of the
of those who could not get
it at any price?
In the last analysis not only the
healthy growth Of the spinning in
dustry, but the economic and finan-
cial power of nations depends on an
supply Of American cotton.
How can this be assured? That is
one Of the momentous questions of