The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-22
lotion SHOWS
BETTER TONE
approved Feeling in Distributing and Manufacturing
Circles-LOw Grade Discounts Widened Further,
Complains of Delay to Farm Work More Frequent,

not only was strong at home, but sent
over considerable support TO the Amer
lean markets, while from various sec
lions in the belt came information to
the effect that exporters were feeling
more cheerful and were apparently
getting ready to do more business,
The rest Of the continent did not
offer much support. but as progress is
made toward resumption Of business
there will naturally be more need Of
raw cotton. Efforts were made toward
having the embargo lifted as o as
possible, but so far there has been no
visible progress and most observers
think such will be very colsely allied
with negotiations for peace signatures.
Although it is rather early under
normal conditions to give much weight
to the new crop and its prospects, one
of the important influences was the
continued delay in farm work. The
propaganda for cutting acreage met
no apparent backset, and, is believed
to have gained favor and strength,
while continued rains over a wide sec
ton of the belt gave rise to more com-
plants that a late start would be well
nigh inevitable. The labor scarcity
relief, due to indisposition of the re-
turning soldiers to go back to the
farms, and the lure of high wages at
industrial %centers, received special en-
phasis.
Will Cut Acreage.
Unless there is no reason for placing
confidence in the promises of the South
ern cotton grower n those who fl
nance him, the acreage will be reduced.
Just how much none car say, but the
plan calls for it to be from a quarter
to a third. 1t is waste of time and
space to repeat the arguments for such
fbaN nEn uya11 kyanNvn Tho VNFaGAnf mar
ket amply justifies such and it is con-
fidently felt, even allowing for the fact
that precedent tends to lessen faith IN
such moves, that some success will at
tend the effort. OF course, present
plans might be to some extent upset by
a large and rapid rise in quotations, bu
the most powerful argument in FAVOR OF
it is that there is so large a quantity
of cotton still in the hands of the plant
ers and the people who supply the IL
nances, whose interests vitality demand
that 1t be done, They are they VINO
are taking the lead in 1t, and one o,
the most powerful influences being used
against double dealing by those wht
might be tempted to take advantage o.
their fellows reduction is to dub sucf
people as "slackers," a term OF un'
usual ignominy and distatse since TN
war.
If there is not very soon a turn fol-
1 InB. DeIleT IN the WtdlHCIt CspNNi"AiJ -
the earlier sections, a propitious star
for the crop can hardly be possible
Winter work has been delayed, chief!
by so much rain, although tempera'
lures have not been severe. The yer!
fact that 1t has been so warm arouse
fear OF a late spring. The limited sup
ply Of labor and its high cost will otte
added incentive to growing other crop
than cotton, for they can resort more
to machinery than can the producer o
cotton. Advices from implement PEG
pie suggest that the South is going IL
for other crops more than ever before
as they are unable to fill orders prompt
ly because of the tremendous demand
The statistical showing CONTINUES
bearish, but the worst apparently !
past and the trade Is giving little az
tention to the figures. Exports are stu
within 5000, 900 bales, but will mex
week probably top that figure, with nv
months of the year left. Spinners ar
taking supplies gradually. but with thei
troubles passing or already discounte'
by the price levels information iron
that direction has perhaps had Its wors
effect. Improvement Is to be expecte,
during the remainder of the season al
though there will be no scarcity OF sup
plies, sven II the movement to torelg,
lands should soon assume the large Vol
ume predicted by some of the optlmlst'