The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-03

1,402,403. In these two items we
have only 633.362 bales more than we
had at this time last year. That is a
mere trifie in view Of the increasing
demand for cotton goods on account
of the scarcity and high prices Of wool
and silk.
Shipping Problems Being Solved.
"Of course, no man can say with
any certainty how much shipping will
be available for export during the
next twelve months. but we do know
that at the present time the allied
countries are constructing ships fast
er than they are being destroyed ana
that submarines are being destroyed
faster than they are being built. l
hope that we can maintain this rate
Of progress; in that event there may
be considerably more shipping for
cotton the coming year than we had
during the closing year without Jeop-
ardizing or decreasing the military
movements. We do know that Eu-
rope needs cotton. The total visible
supply of cotton in the world on July
y was 3,370,211 bales compared
with 3,026,904 bales in 1917, 3,651,-
272 bales in 1916. and 5.21S, 7S4
bales in 1915. Total European stocks
On the same day were $4,000 bales
compared with 63S,000 in 1911, l.
241,00O in 1916, and 2,6SS,O0o. in
1915.
"One million Or two million bales
of cotton in European stocks is no
more to be regarded as menacing
surplus than a million to two million
bales in American mills. In fact, any
well conducted manufacturing enter
prise is not comfortable without hav-
ing in hand its raw material sufficient
Tor one to five months. In addition
to the low stocks in Europe, every
body perfectly understands thai
stocks of dry goods in Europe are
dis.ressingly low. This is all to say
that Europe can easily take and will
gladly take two or three million bales
more of our cotton this year than she
has taken during the closing year If
the shipping can be spared to trans
port it,
eff we can manufacture half mil
lion bales more in the United States
next year and if we can export
million to million and a-half bales
more next year, we will have provld-
ed ,or the greater part Of the maxi
mum prospective surplus of million
ports and if the estimate of 15,0O0,-
coo bales should fall short a million
bales by weather or weevil damage,
there would be no surplus at all. But
suppose that there is surplus OF )
to million bales. If every farmer
who raises 10 bales of cotton will put
two in the warehouse and sell the re-
naainder by installments from month
to month throughout the winter and
spring, instead Of forcing it all on the
market at one time, the difficulty IN
even it's worst aspects Of apprehen-
sion will disappear.
Cool Counscls Must Prevail.
"I am sure that whatever the War
Industries Board Or any other func-
ton Of government may be able TO 90,
will be done to avert a calamity to the
cotton growers. AS I see the situa-
tion, no calamity impends II we 90
not lose our heads. At the same time,
while the government may be depend
ed upon to exercise the utmost OF It's
war power to prevent loss, II must
be remembered that not even the
government of the United States. with
all it's powers, can make two bales OF
cotton fit into the place where there
is room for only one. If there IS a
surplus of cotton this year 1t must be
absorbed by reduced production next
year just as the surplus OF 1914 was
absorbed by reduced production IN
the succeeding three years. 1t is only
fair to say that the government dld
not ask for so large a crop. 1t was
produced because our people in the
South refused to heed the warning
of agricultural leaders and econo-
nlists. BY such aid as may be render
ed thr Ugh governmental agencies.
by judicious marketing, by withhold
ing for later development small
part of the crop, and by adjusting
next years acreage according to the
known facts and probabilities as they
appear at planting time, the South
can come out whole and with pro-
fit But the South can not continue
to produce more cotton than the
world can take at a given time and
have it validated by any fiat OF gov
ernment.
Problem of Gathering.
81 am more concerned about The
gathering or the crop than am about
disposing of it, for l have reason to
believe that our farmers are prepared
and are willing to act discrectly IN
marketing, but our farmers can moi
gather the crop. There are no.
enough men, women and children or
the farm. Much Of the crop Will De
lost if people Of the towns DO no.
help. The prosperity Of every town
in the cotton belt depends upon say
| ing and marketing this lmportan
money crop and it is imperative ina