Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-04
THE REASONS FOR REDUCTION.
John L. MeLaurin Says Farmers
Should Go On Strike.

II
It is pretty generally understood
that Hon. John L. McLaurin is one OF
the best authorities on cotton in the
United States. He knows all about the
staple in all of its uses and ramifica-
tions. He knows how to raise cotton to
the best economic advantage, from
preparing the land to ginning the bale
He knows all about the labor question
He knows all about the manufacture
Then along with 1t, he knows all about
cotton finance from the lien on the
renters crop to international manipu-
lation by which the profits that should
belong to the cotton growers OF the
south are divided among the Philis-
tines Of the world. The part that the
money changers of Europe play with
the money changers Of the east and
the part that people Of the south play
in furthering the plans Of the money
changers of the east are to him an
open book. lie has done more than
any other one man probably to show
the cotton producer how to help him.
self and to help the cotton producer
help himself. He Is permeated through
and through with feeling that he
would rather do that than anything
else, and that is why the farmers OF
Chesterfield county, when they wanted
some straight information on the situ-
alton went to Mr.. McLaurin for 1t. And
Mr.. McLaurin gave it to them. Here
is a part Of his speech that is well
worth reading and thinking about:
The mills Of the United States have
made tremendous profits by the war
Most Of them have paid for their
plants, as we'll as Improvements. They
have made many Improvements so as
to escape the heavy income tax.
With their profits they have heaped
up large stocks Of goods, anticipating
an extraordinary demand from Europe
on account of the destruction Of man.
ufacturing plants in France and Bel
gium. Much Of the manufactured
goods on storage represent cotton
bought at from five to twelve cents
pound. Cotton goods have not declin-
ed. On the contrary in the New York
Commercial, page 8, first column, of
February oath, there is recorded an
advance in the goods Of from 1-4th to
1 cent a yard. An advance Of 18th
of a cent a yard in goods is equal to
1 IA cents a pound in cotton. Yet
spots were marked down rs points the
day after an advance in goods. The
average is about .0S cents yard, and
Of this class Of goods, one pound OF
cotton of midGliinga grade. will make
six yards Of cloth. One pound Of cot
ton costing 25 cents makes 4S cents
worth Of cloth, including the profit to
the mill. If tie mill buys the cotton
at rs cents and manufactures it at a
profit at .0S cents yard, then the diff
ference Of 23 cents gives them a bonus
Of 500 on each and every bale of cot
ton manufactured. There is no rub
bing this fact out. This profit Is en-
tirely at the expense Of the farmer,
and unless remedied is bound to bank
rupt him. AS g. matter Of fact, most OF
this cloth is manufactured of low
grade cotton bleached white. which Is
selling below Is cents a pound. The
farmer has no organization, his only
resource is strike, and say strike,
and strike right now. Cut your acre
age and live at home
Congress has a bill before it, which
will help cotton. 1t is proposed that
the government will assist export firms
who are unable to borrow money In
the ordinary banking channels. The
loans will be limited to the contract
price for the goods and the rate of in
terest only slightly more than the dis
counts on commercial paper.
With the embargo lifted and fnan-
cial accommodations the price of cot
ton will take care of itself. Germany
uses more low grade cotton in proper
ton than any other country, and
have some Marlboro blues" that
would make a splendid winding sheet
for the kaiser.