El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-23
GROWERS OUGHT TO INSIST UPON
ACTION IN COTTON PRICE FIXING

THE cotton industry of Arizona and the Imperial valley
Of California of the biggest industries of the south
vest, is tied up and has been for time.
There big crop Of the long staple cotton and it is
being harvested But it is not being sold. There
Of last years crop hand which has also been sold
Tbs is that the government limited some time
ago the price Of would be fixed No announce
made Of the time the price would be fixed
and It has not yet been fixed The hint enough to
parayIe trading IN the commodity No would buy
anything ike fair price, fearing he would buying
above the price which the government would fix and would
thereby suffer Naturally would sell at d price
rolculousy low It is understood the banks unwilling
to advance money the crop, except in very small
amounts, for they, too, require protection.
Long staple cotton sold last year high 70 cents
pound Averaging half bale the and running
as high bale the acre, It of the
most profitable crops that could be raised greatly
IN demand by various industries One of the big tire
panes acquired great tract Of land in the Chandler dis
tret and grew long staple for in making its tires
The total acreage tTebled under the price stimulus
Many farmer who had been raising other crops plunged
into cotton this year, Of them with insufficient
money to it through They would have been all right
had it not been for the price fixing announcement They
could have borrowed money enough to meet their ex
penses and especially The heavy cost of picking PickeT
demanding and getting the highest wages paid
for such services, about three cents pound.
As for the price fixing the trouble IS that has
any idea what the governments price will be- 1t possibly
but not probably may be high last years best price
It may be SO cents pound s. Nobody knows and it
Is that uncertainty which has psrayzed the business Nat
uTsy the farmers and those who buy their product fear
the low price and there farmers especially those who
have leased land for cotton planting high rental basis
Tin about $50 acre., who stand to lose
heavily low priced cotton. They fear low prices be-
they believe that when the government undertakes
fix pTce for long staple It viii fix the short staple
price also and viii make the long staple price in de-
gree contingent the short staple price
Nothing IS being done about 1t, far anyone
The government having indicated its intention to fix
cotton prices has let It 60 at that Months have passed
and price has been fixed The paralysis continues.
In most of the cotton growing localities, there
soaoHs Of growers formed for the purpose of promoting
marketing and for dealing with labor questions These
socatons and the chambers Of in the 10
caes ought not 20 Jet the situation IN its present
saguaon Cotton growers have waited long enough and
patiently enough for governmental action Now they ought
10 press Washington fix prices if there is to be fix
ing urparotic not to sit silent forever There
has been demur government price fixing but if it is
be done ought to be done at IF the and
the chambers Of to insist action and
enlist er representatives in congress in the
cause prices would undoubtedly be fixed quickly and the
industry would begin to move again
What want is the peace that passeh Understand
ing.
william, has any divine he nav have \