The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-06-04
A new EPOCH IN
THE COTTON WORLD
(By w. w. Morrison)

This year has been notable for the
number of conventions held by the
cotton producing interest. These con-
ventions are symptomatic. They de-
note the elimination, not the begin
ming, of an evolution through whose
processes cotton has finally passed to
the control of those who grow it.
4 It would be mistake not to make
this distinction. The records show
that failure TO make it has proven a
costly error to quite a number Of the
cotton trade in the past and the most
logical Interpretation of current
events indicates that if persisted in
such a mistake will prove still more
costly in the future. For it is plain
to anyone at all familiar with the de-
tailed history of the evolution that
these conventions did not mean that
the cotton producers were planning to
achieve their independence but rather
that they were planning to organize
their resources to make perpetual an
independence already achieved.
The correctness of this view has
been demonstrated in all the gath
erings of this year and was especial
iy brought out with great distinct
ness during the recent convention in
New Orleans. 1t is perhaps safe to
say that in all the meetings Of other
years, certainly all the writer had
knowledge of, the controlling pur-
pose has been to ofganize some plan
of giving financial aid to the pro-
ducer to protect him against the ag-
gressive attacks of the spinner. In
the New Orleans convention this posi-
tion was completely reversed. For it
is plain that the export corporation
one Of tie organizations created by
the convc ntion, meant IN the last
analysis that the producers proposed
TO organize their resources to lend
assistance to practically half of the
1spinners of the world.
That the spinners OF the old world
ineed financial assistance is evident
THAT this assistance can come only
Through private sources is also evil
ldent. That the rehabilitation of the
markets for raw cotton in Europe is
aof the first importance to the cot
ton producers is just as evident, too,
las the. need Of the spinncrs of the
world for financial aid. These mat
tiers were discussed in the frankest
smanner by the convention. The neces-
$sities and the remedies to be applied
a%ere clearly apprchended. The obvious
Willingness Of the producers to come
TO the rescue of the spinning industry
&n this crisis easily makes the New
Orleans convention one Of the cpochal
Events in the economic fife Of the cot
8on producers and an event far-reach-
{ng in it's consequences to the world.
4 Now the ability Of the producers
not only to carry their cotton but
10 give assistance to the spinners is
eontrary to the conventional opinion
Aeld by most people who live outside
Sbf the cotton producing section and
also by quite number of those who
Give within in. Particularly is the lat
5sGf true Of The La ger centcrs in the
SBouth. The records however clearly
Support the view that their resources
Are ample and fully justify the or
Plantations launched at New Orleans
booking to that end. 1t will perhaps
be well to recitc some Of the more
Important features Of these records