The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-09-13
COTTON SEED
MARKET GOOD
Mr.. McLaurin Sees Movement
Against Buyers

&C WILL N-cPNeN'NN
Claffy in his open letter expressing
dissatisfaction with the cotton seed
situation. I think, however, that the
real motive inspiring the mills is not
so much the price Of seed as the de-
termination to get rid of Independent
buyers and absolutely control the cot
ton seed market The conference IS
camouf1aged behind price fixing.
The object of the mills is to elinli-
they can parcel out territory and
control price of both seed and meal.
1t is the independent buyer who
injects life into the seed market. Cut
him out and you destroy ali compe-
tition, leaving the farmer at the
mercy of the mills who Will fix the
price of his seed and give him no
voice in fixing the price Of their meal.
It means an immediate return to the
conditions of last winter when there
was no market for car seed. The
mills will speed up their ginneries,
which. together with wagon seed, will
enable them to run at So less than
car lots We sell many seed TO mills
outside Of the State, these will be
forced to Withdraw or enter into this
"gentleman,s. agreement" The farm
er does not keep posted on the pro-
ducts Of seed the Independent buyer
does. and for that reason is thorn
in the flesh" If the price fixing COM
naittee does not remain in constant
session how, can it make accurate and
prompt changes in prices?
II the price on seed products ad
vances the mills can buy seed at pre-
vailing prices. If, however, the price
of products should decline, the mills
can withdraw from the seed market.
Does not this give the mills both
ends OF the rope and the middle, -oo?
If there is a, joker in the deck, who
put him there? What the farmer
needs is competitive market, not
bunch Of <self-constituted guardians.
know of one firm of independent
buyers who have already contracted
for seed and placed them with mill
at 1888 per ton. If this independent
mill can pay ,s1.25 per bushel, what
about the OF. mill trust? If this mill
has sold for future delivery its prod
ucts on the above basis is it not 'air
to presume that other mills have done
the same thing? The government fixed
the contract price last year at $1.02
per bushel for seed and s53.25 per
ton for meal. Now. is it not fact
that as soon as the government re-
stricticns were removed meal was ad-
vanced to $65 per ton while there was
no advance III the price Of seed?
Furthermore, why did this confer
ence fix the price Of seed and leave
the price of meal unfixed?
Pardon, a few postbellum refec-
tons There is now in progress con-
solidation of manufacturing indus
tries on scale never known before.
If unchecked this will pile up un-.
dreamed of wealth to the prejudice CT
the producer and the consumer. The
interest on tremendous war debts
must be paid by labor and the pro-
duction Of raw material. Labor is or
ganized and can protect itself. The
producer Of raw material. is morgan
ized and at the mercy Of both capita!
and labor. lost faith 20 years ago
in the effectiveness of voluntary or
CARNATIONS for farmers. 1t lacks the
cohesive force advocated the State
warehouse system in South Carolina
and L believe that the farmers in ev-
cry agricultural State should seize the
reins Of political power and protect
themselves through their State gov
ernment. What chance have the un-
organized and ignorant scattered
through rural districts against. cor
porate greed backed by unlimited
capital and expert financial strategy.
Look at the price Of cotton as an il
lustation. The principles upon which
the State warehouse system is found
ed is the solution of the problem.
They have sidetracked ii, but the
farmers will be taught oy distress.
they learn naughs from prosperity.
When they are educated to go TO the
ballot EoX ana establish for them
selves through their State govern
ment comprehensive system back
ed by law for the financing and mar
keting OF their crops. they will come
into their own and not until then.
John L. McLaurin.
Rennettsville.
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