The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-01-31
FARMERS VARIED TO
REDUCE COTTON ACREAGE
25 Der CENT. FOR 1919

Editor Constitution: / have been
approached by different people and
have received numerous letters from
people I have never seen (that read
my cotton letters last year,, asking
me to write again on the cotton situa-
tion, but I have refrained from doing
so because in my last letter I stated
the cotton acreage for 1913 would not
be increased, but it was increased so
much to- my disappointment that I
stated would not write any more let
ters forecasting what the farmers were
going to do. But the interview The
Journal carried in its paper OF jan
uary II with Daniel j. Sully on his
way to New Orleans to make a speech
at the Marketing Bureau meeting on
January 13 inspired me to write this
article as warning to the cotton
farmers.
Mr.. Sully was right when he said
the farmers must organize and hold
their spot cotton, but he was all wrong
when he stated the world would need
$4,000, 900 bales Of American cotton for
the next ten years. Now listen: If
you grow 100000 bales Of cotton
this year, make up your minds to take
IL to is cents per pound for it, and
s from 20 to Is cents per pound for what
you are now holding. Now. read care
fully: The European war killed Of the
worlds men over 100000, the "fu"
up to January /, according to statis-
tics taken, killed of the worlds popu-
iation 100000 men, women and chill
dren, probably more. Now, the world
has at>least 1S,50o,eoo less people to
use cotton goods, so in order to get
profitable prices for the cotton you
now have on hand. the cotton acreage
must be reduced this year at least %
per cent.
The southern and northern bears
have made up their minds that the
cotton now on hand will be bought by
them at price not over 80 cents basis
good middIing, in the interior, and at
a much less price when he learns that
{ the farmers have not reduced their
acreage. They are going farther than
that; they are figuring on the cotton
crop to be grown this season to be
sold for 20 cents, and probably less,
If more than 12,00o,000 bales are pro-
duced this season. The world will not
need over 100000 bales of American
cotton from this seasons growth, and
my opinion is, they will not need more
than that amount for the next five to
ten years, and If the farmers produce
1S,000,000 bales of cotton this season,
you may as well make up your mind
now to take 10 cents a pound for it,
and probably less. but if every cotton
farmer will plant only ten acres to the
plow this season they will be able to
sell the spot cotton they are now hold
ing for 40 to so cents per pound and
an equally as good price for the
crop they will grow this year
The mind of one cotton farmer is
the mind of every farmer who grows
cotton. If one thinks he will in
crease his acreage and thinks his
neighbor will reduce his, his neighbor
will think the same thing Of him, con-
sequently they will all increase their
acreage. If the southern Gotten farm
ers will hold their acreage around So,-
100000 acres for the next five years
they will all be wealthy, but if the
acreage is increased from year to year,
the farmer who plants all cotton and
buys his meat and corn. at the end of
five years he will be as broke as a
convict.
Now, in conclusion, want to say
that If you farmers expect IS cents
for the cotton you have on hand and
expect to plant the same amount of
acres of cotton this season that you
did last season, you have as much
chance to get IS cents as you would
to dam up the Mississippi river. with
one negro, mule and dump cart
This article will be carried by two
or more papers in every cotton grow.
ing State, and I would ask all the
smaller weekly papers to copy. and
would suggest that every farmer save
copy Of it and read it one yes"r
hence, but to win the battle you are
now fighting, you have got to decrease
your cotton acreage this year.
Charles A. Horne ip Atlanta consti
tuition.