Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-03-12
THE COTTON SITUATION.
As Viewed by Farmcr-Thc Die
Must be Cast for Veal or Woe.
Editor Keowee Courier:

Editor Keowee Courier:
! read with interest your editorial
on the cotton situation, and was an
interested listener at the recent con-
ference at Walhalla. am sure
that you were correct when you
stated that the South was facing an.
other crisis and on the verge of &
perilous position. The general opin-
ion of the convention was along the
same lines. The cotton situation,
although complex and, to a degree,
2erilous, is by no means hopeless.
On the contrary, an intelligent
understanding Of the situation and
a concerted application of the
remedy at hand-viz., drastic re-
duction Of last years acreage-will
without a doubt save the situation
and insure remunerative prices for
the cotton being held and the crop
to be raised this year as we'll
We have had four short crops in
succession and the surplus carried
over from last year was not abnor-
NAL. Last September, when the
government condition report indi-
Gated crop Of eleven million bales,
the government appointed a distri-
brtlng board to parcel out the
llml amount of available cotton;
but when the Agricultural Depart
do hot,
<f eleven million seven hundred
thousand bales. excluding linters,
the board was abolished with the
statement that it's services we're not
needed, as there was enough cotton
10 supply all demands and some to
spare.
II seven hundred thousand bales
excess over their first estimate
started the drastic decline In prices.
"hat can we expect II we raise two
to three million bales more this wear
than we did last, which is both pos-
Sible and probable with last years
acreage duplicated Does it not look
as though we would be in the middle
or perilous situation sure enough?
| suspect that the spinning interests
or England. New England (and pos
Slbly some Southern mills) have
combined for the purpose OF reduc-
Eng the price below cost Of produc-
hon, realizing that they must, be-
Tore very long, have the cotton now
held by the farmers and merchants
OF the South, and if they succeed in
stampeding these holders into part
ing with their cotton at a price great
" below cost OF production and
"uinouS to them, then the manufac-
turing interests can increase their
already large profits. In their efforts
10 demoraliZe the spot holders and |
produce a cotton panic the trade in
tcrests are seemingly ably supported |
Iy very strong bunch Of bear spec
ulators, who care nothing for the |
rights Of the producers or the priva-
tions that their families have to en-
dure. In fact. all the interest that
the bunch above mentioned has i'm |
t'c ColIol pIOuuCef IL 10 lCaY0 nm |
jnst enough Of the proceeds Of his |
cotton crop to barely live on. so that |
he can continue to raise cotton at or |
below cost Of production.
notice where someone has said |
that 1T would be unpatriotic Hnd sin
ful TO reduce cotton production to any |
appreciable degree, as that would de- |
2rive the poor people Of Europe and
The world Of sufficient clothing. 1t |
might be sin to restrict the poor
mans supply or clothing. but would |
IL be a sin to restrict the spinners'
and spectators supply Of fine whis-
Eeys, dividends and diamonds (made