Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-01
Cotton Growers va. Wheat Growers.

Cotton Growers vs. Wheat Growers
Such demagogues as Governor Allen
of Kansas, to the contrary notwith-
standing, there is no good ground for
antagonism between the cotton grower
of the south and the wheat grower of
the northwest.
On the contrary, the interests Of
these two classes Of producers are
identical, and instead Of falling out
with each other. they should make
common cause against the different
commercial and financial interests by
which they have long been exploited.
Instead Of quarreling with the wheat
grower of the northwest, for instance,
1t Is the more sensible thing for the
cotton grower Of the south to study
the means by which the wheat grower
has won temporary success and do
likewise.
Up until a very few years ago the
wheat growers Of the northwest were
as much slaves of the Republican par
ty as are the cotton growers OF the
south slaves to the Democratic party.
The northwestern Republicans were
fed up with partisan antagonism
against southern Democrats, and the
southern Democrats were fed up with
antagonism against the northwestern
Republicans, and while the two were
cultivating bitterness each against the
other, both were despoiled Of all the
surplus they were able to produce.
It was not. the. Democratic party
that fixed the price Of wheat. nor was
it the Republican party. 1t was the
Non Partisan league. The members OF
the Non-Partisan league are for the
most part farmers. large and small,
Just like we have in York county. The
average Non-Partisan Lacquer Is
man who has 160 acres Of land. a
couple of horses, a wife and several
children. few cows and pigs. and who
puts in from ten to twelve hours OF
good honest work every day for about
800 days a year. Under wise leader
ship this man was told that instead OF
being monopolized by individuals or
corporations, railroad and shipping ter
minals, elevators and other public util-
tiles Of that nature should belong to
the public just like schools and
churches, and the way to break up
monopolies of this nature was for the
voter to 60 at candidates for, public
office like this: "See here, don't care
whether you are a Republican or
Democrat, but I am against this mo-
nopoly, and unless you are against 1t
too, I'll not vote for you"
Representations to the contrary not
withstanding, when the war broke out
there was no profit to the northwest
ern farmer in growing wheat. He could
make wheat, it is true. and sell 1t for
something less than 81 bushel; but
he was in exactly the same position OF
the southern cotton farmer who made
his 1914 cotton crop at cost OF about
10 cents pound and was offered and z
cents for it. So when the war came on
the wheat grower did not say that he
would not grow wheat at the prevail
ing prices; he only made 1t clear that
he could not grow wheat at those
prices. Through his organization he
was able to put the matter up to the
powers that were In a way to make
them realize 1t. and that is why wheat
was stabilized at $2.20 bushel. And
1t is fair and just and right now to say
that except for what these Non-Par-
tisan leaguers did, there are many
readers of this editorial who would
have suffered more privations than
now have place in their memories.
The wheat growers have not gotten
any more than was really coming to
them and the cotton growers have not
gotten anything like what the wheat
growers got; but that Is the fault or
the cotton growers rather than Of the
wheat growers. The cotton growers
vote for Democrats because they are
Democrats, without a thought as to
whether those Democrats could do Tor
them if they would or would do for
them If they could.
These Democrats have had 1t In their
power to see that the cotton growers
got a fair profit on all cotton they pro-
duced; but knowing as they did that
cotton growers have few leaders who
know their rights and still fewer lead
ers who would seek to enforce those
rights, have done practically nothins
for the cotton growers.
It is still in the power of the cotton
grower, however. to come to his own.
The wheat growers have no monopoly
at least nothing more than tempo
rary artificial monopoly. All the world
can grow wheat, and as soon as the
present crop is taken at the present
guaranteed price. the wheat OF the
world will be available a. whatever
price the world is willing to pay. The
cotton growers have a sectional mo-
nopoly and as soon as they learn to