The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-02

Reflections ON Pricc Fixing and The
s.s Pcsplcxities of Tile Farmer.

instant that Mr.. w. IL. Morrison ol
New Orleans has Something to say
relative to the government fixing the
price Of cotton. Every one who reads
should not fail to take in what he
has to say about the advance in the
price of other commodities, compar.
ed with that OF cotton. The farmer
seems to have been and is yet the
scape goat OF all the vocations oi
life. When cotton was selling a,
prices the farmer could hardly live on
nobody came to his rescue. He had
10 fight 1t out as best he could with
out relief or sympathy, while the
speculator and schemer stood aside
laughing in his sleeves, exploiting and
filling his Golfers with fruit Of his
labor. If Mr.. Morrison is right in
giving out his figures. which no doubt
he is, we can not see why cotton, com.
pared with the advance i'm other com
modities is too high
1t costs more to make cotton now,
than under normal conditions, which
anyone of average Intelligence can
readily perceive. Fertilizers have ad.
yanced in proportion to other things
Our lands are depreciating in produc-
ton OF cotton for the lack of potash,
one OF the essentials that we have no.,
been able to procure for these crops.
the scarcity OF labor is becoming
more and more acute and has not yet
reached it's climax owing to migra-
tion from the South to the Northern
States and the selective draft service
which is taking and will take many
laborers yet from the cotton fields.
and when we consider labor has to
live at the cost of other commodities
we recognize at once that we must
pay more for 1t, all Of which is evil
dence that cotton must rank with otl,
er commodities In price If the needs
of the world are to be supplied. Whom
standard cotton goods have advanced
800 per cent. in price and cotton (the
raw materially only 1876 per cent. W..
see at a glance. the difference is 200
great, and viewing the conditions un-
der which the raw material is now
produced, the preponderance of all in
telligent thought must be In syrnpath,
with higher prices.
In she humble opinion of tho
writer. the government would make
a mistake in fixing the price. Will,
the hnanciers and the money centers
are taking literally or Liberty Bonds
and are cheerfully paying their in
come tax. the cotton producer is' Just
az patriotic in proportion to his abil
lty. Let cotton stand on it's merit
and there are many farmers i'm th;
South, who will readily pay income
tax and will also buy governmen,
bonds to aid i'm the prosecution OF tn,
war: whereas. if the price is fixed and
and other products
keep soaring as they have been 70:
the three years past. they will be un
able not only to contribute a share L,
alleviate in the conflict in which w,
are involved, but will be reduced t.
another state of financial depression:
md his patriotism will not be so 10y.
al as 1t otherwise will he. We fully
recognize the fact that the govern
nent will have to pay very high price.
for all cotton goods consumed during
he war; but when we reflect as above
stated that the cotton farmer, If no,
interfered with in his efforts, will pa,
his income tax and also contribute t.
he purchasing Of Liberty Bonds, we
must admit that the high cost of army
supplies are offset to large extent
through his ability to come to the aie
of the government in the time O
need.
The cotton farmer is not asking
any special privileges or immunities;
all he wants is equality in busines
with all other yocatiOns of life. q
democratic consideration and fair
treatment and if he gets that, we may
be sure his country can rely on his pa-
triotism and devotion in her time o.
anxiety and trouble.
Previous to and during the Civil
Var the South was engaged in max.
'nS cotton and / dare say we ,nay
search the annals OF history and vii,
never find recorded the exploits O
any people, that manifested create,
patriotism or love for their country
than her sons.
That devotion is still among the
cotton people and nothing should he