The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-23
PUTTING UP GREAT
FIGHT FOR COTTON
Spectators Are Waging War or
Supply and Demand

Columbia, Aug. 18.-The American
Cotton Association has given out lie
following statement:
Has the law of supply and demand
been repealed? Has combination re-
placed competition? Is there no such
thing as free open market? Has the
competitive regime run its course and
have we now. entered upon an era of
arbitrary fixing of prices The para
sites, proffeers and naanipulat tors are
in the saddle and this is the result
today. There is no such law as supply
and demand especially for cotton un-
der these conditions. Although cotton
cost to produce it as shown by detail
ed statement. sworn to by experts
from the growing crop based on the
average yield for the last ten years is
from Al 1-2 cents basis middling to
so 1-2 basis middling, and although
the manufactured product from cot
ton is selling on basis of 65 cents to
IS cents per pound for the raw cotton
basis middling Still the .manipula-
tors and parasites have the price beat
down far below the cost Of produc-
ton and are disregarding the cost Of
production, supply and demand, and
the price for which the manufactur-
ed product is selling This condition
cannot continue. Behind this Hinden-
burg Line are entrenched far worse
than the damnable Huns and
they are entrenched for stronger than
the Huns. Still we have sworn to
make America safe for Democracy
and we will sweep them from our
shores and reestablish the Laws OF
kGod Supply and demand will oper-
ate Legitimate business will prosper
Many of these powerful parasites
today, however, millions will rejoice
when they have been removed from
the market place. Remove the para
sites who line the road between the
farmer and tneS consumer and who
take great fortunes without any return
except to bring misery to the produc-
er and the consumer. The farmers
and the manufacturers and the peo-
pie who buy cotton goods will all re-
ceive great benefit by refusing to long
err permit these gentlemen to ply
their robbers trade in the market
place.
Manipulators who sold cotton
around % cents for the October cot
ton. expecting to beat it down to price
as low as possible in desperate ef-
fort to save themselves. Bids are be-
ing made at 33 cents for middling
cotton Advertisements are being in
serted in the press and various sec
tions of the country today, offering
33 cents per pound, basis middling.
This indicates that they realize that
it will only be possible to reverse the
law of supply and demand for linn
tied time. This battle is for millions,
in fact billions It is a battle that will
effect not only every person living in
the South today, but will effect un-
born generations. Millions will be
used by the manipulators and para
sites to defeat us. The South will
stand solidly loyal. They realize that
we are fighting for a big side Of the
question. Men no longer will consent
to be stripped to the-socks and shirt
and meekly submit.
urge that cotton be held ungin-
0oO. II Will N1lpiOVc us COIlull1OH dIu
help to defeat these parasites. Do not
play into their hands by furnishing
middling cotton worth IS cents per
pound at the price they offer for the
purpose of beating down the price of
the growing crop. Every bale you
sell means not only a loss to you. but
means that you stab the South in this
er,..rt cop1p,ercja1 hatfla
If you gin your cotton as fast as
i is picked you simply furnish these
manipulators with information that
they will use to hurt you. The gin
ming records will be used to beat down
prices We are facing the most ex-
pensive crop ever grown. The short
est crop in the last twenty-five years
All we ask is that the law of supply
and demand be permitted to oper-
ate That the parasites be removed
Are we asking too much? If you will
flcld your spot cotton and complete
solid front the victory is certain.
1-,.-.,+e +bro,,ob tho ortiro ba1t are