Imperial Valley press., 1918-01-28

The business of growing cotton and
the business of spinning cetton be-
long to the fundamentals. They vi
tally concern the military efficiency
of the nation in the struggle just
ahead. 1t is certain that this is the |
governments view. 1t is certain al |
SO that the government fully recog
nizes that the well being of these
industries during the war vitally con-
Germs the efficiency Of the nation in
the economic struggle that can be
expected to follow it's close.
England clearly takes the same
view. That government all along has
taken elaborate measures, not only
to maintain, but to expand her trade
in cotton goods while the war is go
ing on. That being regarded by her
statesmen, and very correctly so, the
best preparation against the compe
tition which peace is certain to bring.
What is important for England is
still more important for this country,
since we control most of the raw
material in the world.
This military and economic eff
cheney, which SO vitality concerns the
life of the nation now and in the fu-
ture, depends primarily upon an ade-
quate supply of raw cotton. This
means, it is well to keep in our
minds, not only what may be neces-
sary to supply the current demands
of these interests, but also surplus
sufficient to keeu the matter Of ade-
quacy in perfectly safe and de-
pendable position. Those who know
Southern conditions realize that the
outlook for such a supply of cotton
is fast becoming as momentous as
the outlook for a supply of food.
What is this outlook for the COM
ing season? In this connection it
will be found that during recent years
there has been a marked tendency to
abandon cotton for those products
| which have been proving more profit
able. This tendency has no doubt
had more to do with the short crops
during the last three years than ad-
verse climatic conditions. Informed
people know that this condition ex-
lists today. The opinion widely spread
among uniformed people that this
tendency is counteracted by high
prices, is entirel ymisleading The
record demonstrates this.
The scarcity of labor is an acute
menace. Tractor plows and modern
harvesting machinery enormously in
crease the potentiaility of labor when
lit comes to growing grain. They do
do not so when it comes to growing
cotton. The ratio when applied to
smaller grains is about thirty to one
in favor of grain as against cotton.
When one has seen a demonstration
of the practical effect of this ratio
against cotton, they can realize more
fully what real menace the high
price of grain and scarcity of labor
is to the production of an adequate
supply of cotton the coming year.
1t is plain that, unless these influ-
ences are neutralized, the output of
cotton the coming season could be
easily reduced to where it would be
serious menace to the military and
economic efficiency of the nation 1t
will be Illuminating to recite in this
connection that since 1913, when the
price of cotton averaged 1879 cents,
the cost of production has increased
1877 per cent and the price of cotton
only 1875 per cent. Or, in other
words, cotton should bring today 80
cents to be on a parity with the
prices of 1913.
This reveals the position of cotton
and what has to be overcome. 1t re-
veals also how dangerous has been
tn propaganda that there has been an
enormous profit in cotton ever since
it passed Is cents. This propaganda
has endangered vital interests of the
nation. 1t has not endangered the
interest of the producer, except in so
far as it relates to his interest as a
citizen. Wei informed people realize
that something must be done to make
the production of cotton as attrac-
tive as other products have proven
to be, if this problem is adequately
met.
Just the way to do it is not so
clear Fixing minimum price seems
hardly advisable. Fixing maximum
price could easily reducethe crop
insctead Of increasing it. 1t looks
that if the farmers could feel assured
that supply and demand would be
left to regulate prices in normal