The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-17
CALLS ON FARMERS
TO BUY, NOT PLANT

government estimate of the cotton
crop is right. or that the slump III
prices due TO the publication on
Thursday is natural sequence. He
sticks to his slogan. s.Sit steady in
the boat" and urges the farmers nor
to sell.
Why. on the first Of August they
told us the crop would be 11.000,9hO
bales" SAYS Commissioner Harris.
and I know and everybody else
knows that cotton has deteriofated
since that time. OF course it has. The
government was wrong once. When?
I believe it is wrong now. Now.
mark my words. the farmer who
holds his cotton until next June will
get nearer TO 60 cents than he will
10 The price offered today.
THE position of cotton is stronger
than il has ever been. In all statls-
tics in regard to cotton. the demand
is obviously bullish. and the demand
is growing every day. You will flnd
that there will be an upward turn in
spots markets by January. Those who
have sold short have got to hustle
lOl SDOtS 10 tONCI Stsl al tiiS .'Ne~,'''
Of 1920. and the man found short is
going to have a hard time filling his
contracts The difference today be-
tween spots cotton and futures is too
great and will not last Very long.
My advice to cotton farmers, and
especially those in the boil weevil Sec
tion. is 10 buy May and July con-
tracts ut present levels and don't
plant any cotton in 1920. Instead Of
being bothered by boil weevll and
weather conditions. YOU can then go
fishing and have a good time. Sow
YOUR land and rest it and YOU will be
in better condition than YOU will be
selling cotton At present prices.
Every little change that happens
affects cotton. II we read in the
papers that the coal strike is over
cotton goes down. when it has right
to go up If there is any labor trou-
bic anywhere in the world. it affects
cotton and nothing else. NO matter
whether conditions are favorable or
unfavorable. cotton catches it. The
very conditions that put cotton down
Thursday morning, even before the
governments guess was made public,
put stocks up. Isn't it remarkable?
..At this time last year middllns
cotton was bringing only % cents
per pound. We advocated to the peo-
pie that. according to the law OF sup
ply and demand. it was worth 30
cents. A great many people didn't
think il would ever reach 35 cents.
and so stated But those who had the.
backbone and the nerve to hold had
the pleasure of selling their cotton for
50 cents a pound. Now. what made
them pay you 35 cents a pound for
this cotton2 Because the law OF
supply and demand says I need 1t.
They couldn't buy it for less than
they gave You the price. The very
same conditions exist today. They re
irving to scare the spots holders 10
get them TO turn loose when cotton
really has the best position today that
it has ever had. and under the law OF
supply and demand 60 cents is cheap
for cotton. and if they can't buy II
For less than will pay you that for it.
But they will commence to throw
out bats after a little and Will o11er
YOU Al and then .42 cents: They
know that some weak brother Will
sell. They will buy all they can and
later will Offer. 10. Then some other
weak kneed brother will give way ana
;hcy will get more cotton at less than
il is worth.
Now. l want to say to the spots
holders. This situation is entirely in
vour hands and all you have to do Is
10 name your own price and sit steady
in the boat and let them get no bale
Tor less than 20 cents 4 pound. They
will give it, But they will not pay
more than they have to. and l don't
blame them. ! wouldn't if l were buy
ing.
Buy May and July contracts; don't
load up on fertilizers; plant no cot
ton in 1920 and YOU will be proud
man. When any man will sell your
crop for less than it costs You 10 make
make it. have the manhood TO buy IL
from him and make him deliver.