The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-10-23
In the Interest of the
Southern Cotton Man

The Banner has received for publ
cation Il circular reader which sets
forth that the Division Of the Ameri-
can Cotton Association has opened Off
ces ut No. St2 Perdido Streets, New
Orleans. and iS starting an Intensive
campaign for membership. Continu-
ing the reader says:
4 complete organization Is being
formed. aud State Chairman w. Il.
Thompson and State Campaign Mama
ger L. J. Appleyear. Jr.. feel confident
that when the principles of the Amer
ican Cotton Association are presented
to the people Of Louisiana during the
latter part of November there will he
no difficulty in securing very large
membership from the planters and
business men of the state.
The American Cotton Association
means that by real cooperation. the
cotton producers Of Louisiana will
know just what their market Is, and
will not be duped by any false cries.
1t means that cotton production in this
state will lie placed on Il higher sciell-
titic basis. with every facility provided
for the development of the new South.
This includes such advantages AZ
warehouses and data that will make
cotton growing the real business prop
oSition 1t should always have been.
Farmers who heretofore have sold
their cotton ut unfair prices have suf-
fered hut in some way have managed
to avoid ruin. That was before the
cost of living was trebled. officials Of
the American Cotton Association point
out.
Should IL large number of farmers
now sell their cotton at less than a
minimum of W cents they would In
all probability bring ruin upon the
| entire South. That is, after the high
cost Of living trebled. tile association
men further declare.
| Besides the high prices a person
now has to pay for fOodstuffs. there Is
another angle to the farmers prob
lem:
Labor during the old days was plen-
tiful. The expense incurred to this
end was heavy. but was not great.
Labor today cannot be obtained unless
fancy prices are offered. The farmer
must dig down in his pocket. That
money comes out Of the price he gets
for his cotton. While there are other
financial pulls made upon the cotton
farmer, this is probably the greatest.
They all 20 to decrease the cotton
farmers income.
Farmers have asked the question !:
"Shall we continue to sell our cotton
at the old price, Then they have
demonstrated that they cannot do So
and live.
The American Cotton Association
has answered this question in the fol
lowing statement from officials at
headquarters:
Hold your cotton until minimum
price, set at the New Orleans conven-
ton, Is offered.
In the meantime, work is progress.
ing rapidly for organizing all Of the
farmers i'm the cotton belt.
with the completion of OrganfZa'
ton. which will be at the November
goal membership drive, the farmer
will he in position to demand fail
price for his cotton. Then he vii
he able to live"
Also, in the meantime perfection ol
! plans for establishment of cottol
warehouses In every cotton-srowin;
county and parish is rapidly bein'
made. With the dotting of the cOttol
belt with the warehouses. and arrange
ments with bankers for money advan
ces wherever farmer feels he ha!
distress" cotton. the fight will b'
! half won, it is believer.
While all this is going on. the fol
lowing is the key note: Hold YOU
} cotton"