Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-02-28
REASON FOR REDUCTION.
Senator Smith Presents Logic Based
on Figures.

Requested by the South Carolina
state commission to send a message to
all cotton planters in the state telling
them why they must meet on Friday,
February 28, pledge Reduction Day.
and pledge themselves to reduce the
cotton acreage this year, Senator E. D.
Smith has issued strong statement
bearing on the situation. What he says
is not only applicable to South Caro-
lima but to all other cotton producing
sections, and is as follows:
I'm all the years that the south has
been fighting for fair deal for cotton
circumstances were never more favor
able for a final victory than now.
ditions that naturally in some degree
mitigate against the price of cotton.
There are and have been always pow
erful organized efforts to demoralize
the markets and to control the price
for interests hostile to the south, but In
spite of every obstacle, in spite of all
the organized efforts arrayed against
cotton the following facts should
hearten every man enlisted in the
south's behalf:
Government figures show that for
1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918 the con-
sumption Of American cotton by the
world far outstripped production SO
that the supply Of cotton now on hand
Is totally inadequate to meet the needs
of the world. In spite Of the fight that
is being made, now that peace has
come to demoralize and depress the
price Of cotton, If the organized south
will stand firm the reasonable price
for which they are standing must OBJ
tain. The enemy countries that con-
sumed practically 100000 bales Of
cotton previous to the war are now cut
off from our market. The remainder
Of the world consumed from 100000
to 100000 bales more cotton per year
since 1915 than America produced.
1T is inevitable therefore that with
in a comparatively short time these
countries must be opened up and this
will add from 100000 to 100000
bales more demand for cotton while
the supply now Is not sufficient to meet
the demands Of the other countries.
Everything Is seized upon by the
enemies Of cotton as an excuse to de-
press its price, while we Of the south
have every reason In the world to de-
mand that the price that we are ask
ing shall be given. The answer to
those who are opposed to us is to be in
deeds, not words, and those deeds
CODolSI Ill "hot SSSISi
we have and absolutely refusing to
plant more than two-thirds Of last
years acreage and not to use on the
reduced acreage fertilizer in excess Of
that used per acre last year.
1.-The prosperity of the south, her de-
velopment and progress, the success Of
each farmer and every business enter
prise depend upon the determination
with which we go into this fight. We
will never have again such an oppor-
tunity as the present to demonstrate
the approximate value Of pound Of
cotton. Since the War Between the
States, the south has been too poor
even to try to find out what is the real
intrinsic value Of a pound OF cotton.
Thank God we are in position now to
find out If we stand firm.
IT hope every farmer and every
southern man will enlist in this army
Of righteousness until we win for the
oppressed, overridden south the same
glorious victory that has been won for
the cause of Righteousness in Europe"