The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-22
Ten Cent Cotton
Liverpool Expects Farmers To
Act as Usual

ACt DIS Usual
Liverpool is expecting to buy the
1919 crop OF cotton at ten cents per
pound" said Commissioner Harris yes
! lcrday. Believing. that the. South
will plant a large crop Or at least nor
NAL one this year, Liverpool, which is
! one Of largest markets in the word
IS counting on a very low price. The
information is reported by Liverpool
dealer who has just come from Eng
land. And this is. Just exactly what
VIII happen it cotton planters o" -hc
South DO not heed the warnings of
those who know conditions.
Time. and again it has been proved
clearly that q 10,000.000 bale crop has
brought more money than 1905
900 bale. crop. Whr should the farm
er raise 100000 bales Of cotton for
nothing? Just look at the waste Of
time and energy and OF money. too.
I'm 1913 the government urged the
farmers, to plant a large acreage III
food crops. It was necessary in order
to win the war. In spite of this great
opportunity and disresarding the ap-
peal Of the governm ent, the farmers {
the South planted the largest acreage
in cotton that they ever had; au.l if
good Lord had not cut the bales thu,
South would have been ruined. 1t a:ts
been we'll said that He has a special
providence over children, drunliards
and fools.
Il hope the farmers vii! do right
thing this year Our farmers have
been warned of the disaster that will
bcfall them if they do not give heed
90 the advice Of those who have been
Watching the ebb and flow OF condi-
tions for many years. Now what is .hA
right thing TO do? Here Is the advice
Of the combined thought of the leaders
Of the South.
Hold your 1918 crop until the price
reaches 35 cents and even then sell
sparingly Cut your acreage. SO 1-3
per cent II this is done, We Will win
the fight and save the Su1h from bank
ruptcy and slavery.
Investigation shows plainly what
the South has been losing annually BY
the slipshod method it has had Tor
selling cotton The Sontl, has been
losing annually $50 coo. 600. / can
prove this ard may do SD at another
time when space permits. Can This
system OF selling be changed? II can,
How: By organiza ton and coonc:at-
ION OF the farmers. bankers and busi-
ness men Of all classes.
Have we ever had over production
Of cotton? / would answer. no. but
we have had under-consumpti0n. rs ]
viii prove There has been no ever
production SO long as cur people in
the South have not enough clothing
when the weather is cold and bad. II
was not over production Of cotton that
caused the price TO be low-but under
consumption OF cotton goods. 1t IS a
fact, strange as it may seem, that
the farmers who produce the
cotton and the labor that spins and
weavcs ii into cloth are the most poor
IS clad people in the country, as q
rule There has not been one family in
five hundred that could not have usaG
three times rs much cotton goods if
their real needs could have been rlet,
but the price Of cotton was so low. the
product selling at cost Of production.
that no money was left to purchase
clothes have known many a farm
er 70 have no. enough money left to
buy even one garment apiece for his
family after he had sold his last bale,
When is the system of cotton go
ing to be changed? It is starting III
aow. in 1919. and in 1920 the farmer
viii have the privilegeof saying to the
world. You Will give me my price
How IS this going TO, be brought about?
By the organization and cooperation
which l have pointed out, and by
sticking to it.
II will say to the farmers. when this
is done, you will break the Hindcnburs
line. The bear Spectator. or the Hun.
is about ready TO sign the armisticc. as
he must have cotton TO deliver 20 the
sp:nuet. who is calling for cotton as
the supply Of the mills IS very. very
tow and they cannot spin wind con-
tracts into .hread and cloth. Now
when ne puts cotton up q little bit.
dton't take tie halt Sit steady IN the
boat. Have patience and determi.,a-
tion and il will comr out ell right.