The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-06-06
NORTH MISINFORMED
AS TO CONDITIONS
IN THE SOUTHLAND

COluHDla, June 4.-J. SkoItoWe
Wannamaker, president of the Am
erican Cotton Association, recently
sent a letter to the bankers of the
United States, North and South, CIV
ing them information on the cost of
production Of cotton urging that
they assist the farmers of the South
in their fight for better prices.
Letters from many prominent
Northern bankers received during
the past few days, indicate a marked
disposition on their part to assist our
farmers" says Mr.. Wannamaker in
statement issued yesterday. "These
bankers frankly admit that they were
entirely misinformed as to the true
conditions existing in the South.
They further state that they will CO.
operate with ne cotton association
because they feel that as a matter
of patriotism and justice, the cotton
grower should get profit on his
cotton. They say they were of the
opinion that the production of cotton
had been enormously profitable until
the information which we sent them
was received.
zone prominent banker says in
his letter to us: "After receiving
your letter, Enclosures and informa-
ton and giving them careful atten-
ton I have made a personal investl-
CATION, and to my great surprise,
find that you have not at all over
drawn conditions. I have been in
the banking business for the last 40
years. Thought I thoroughly under
stood the Southern conditions, but
am frank to admit that / have been
entirely misinformed. AS an Ameri-
can citizen who has the interest OF
every section at heart, I feel it my
duty to cooperate with every section
of America and will gladly cooper
ate with you in your campaign which,
! find is based on simple justice.
Your cotton crop, on account OF the
great uncertainty Of production, the
planting of cotton being to large
extent gamble, as you are forced
to contend with the weather, storms
and insects, should bring an ex-
tremely large profit to the grower,
especially as it is strictly a handmade
product, and I sincerely hope that
your campaign will bring complete
changes for the better to the cotton
producing section of the South
"a personal letter from another
prominent Northern banker, friend
of the president of the cotton associ-
alton, states: 4 congratulate you
upon the wonderful work being done.
Your campaign in this section is GER
tainly bringing about results. 1t is
a campaign of information and edu-
cation. I have been watching it with
deep interest, but did not realize the
enormous scope upon which you have
been conducting it, until your letters
were received. I will gladly coop
crate in any way possible. Knowing
your ability as a banker, I would
suggest and urge that you prepare a
strong paper along tire financial side
of the question. The imitation Of the
currency should be emphasized. You
have the ability to do this. .-.,..'
I note that you expect to conduct
a speaking campaign throughout the
South. 1t would probably result In
much good if you. could also arrange
at least a few of these schedules for
the great Northern .centers. The
truth never hurts. Information and
education is what we want. People
are thinking today as never before.
In every line of life, the social, COM
mercial and all others, want the
truth and you have it on your side.
From personal information and my
experience in travelling through the
South, it would require a vast sum
to rebuild the rural sections so that
they would draw and hold the white
men on the farm and improve gener-
al conditions in rural life.
"'The sum necessary to rehabili-
- II. Il