The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-31
Cotton Damaged
aims.
gondi itiorl in Stat e and in the
Belt Very Poor. orced
to- r Rep1ant

Colanab May 27 The cotton crop
4 has been pracIeally lly ruined not only
In South Carolina but II over the en-
!. .tlr E cotton belt by theSexcessive rains
+ Of the past two weeks, according to
statements given; out here yesterday.
The South Carolina Cotton Associa-
/ ton issued a statement declaring that
ttheS condition of the crop in this State
twas the worst in history. The Amer
ican Cotton Association. through its
president, J SkottcWe Wannamaker,
issued statement saying that the
EexcessiVe rains had covered the entire
belt and that thousands Of acres would
have to- be replanted while hundreds
lot, acres had been abanoned for the
year by the planters.
3. Harris, commissioner Of agricul-
| ture for South Carolina, declared yes
terday morning that he had never
/ known the condition of cotton to be
sassbad in this State at this time Of
| the year as it is now. And I under
stand that the condition of cotton in
! this State is better than in any other
State. he added. Mr.. Harris declar-
ed the situation critical.
Information received by the Amer
iican Cotton Association from over the
belt. said President Wannamaker,
..indicates that cotton is rotting very
rapidly because of the excessive rain
fall Of the past two weeks. Hundreds
OF acres have been abandoned while
thousands of acres will have to be re-
planted. If the weather should be ia
vorable every day from this on the
crop would be the shortest in the his
lttory of the South any way. If the
unfayorable weather continues, even
for only a few days. it is hard to es-
innate just how short the crop would
be-certainly it would be the shortest
in the history of the world. We had
reports today from Texas saying that
weather conditions in that State We're
very unfavorabIe. There has been an
excess of rainfall in that State as in
practically every other State OF the
Union.
| ct wish to urge the farmers of the
South not to sell their cotton at the
prevailing prices. There has been
some sharp advances during the past
two weeks but the market has not
, anything like reached its summit.
.Information from most reliable
representatives throughout the cotton
belt shows that the abandonment OF
cotton acreage on account Of shortage
in labor and adverse seasons viii be
the greatest on record. In addition TO
this abandonment Of acreage ana
shortage of labor, the crop is from
three to four weeks late, immature
and diseased Information gathered in
detail from leading dry goods and
manufacturing centers Of the world
reveal a. startling condition. Europe
is in desperate need OF cotton goods.
The balance Of the world is ciamoring
for dry goods. The tremendous infia--
ton in the dollar will also play an
important part in advancing the price
of cotton, fer more than the world
realizes.
Il predict that raw cotton will bring
the highest price paid for it since cot
ton was first planted in America. If
| the farmers will hold their spot cot
ton they will reap the reward for
which they have been so desperately
scramb!ing. I DO not intend to ad-
wise any one 20 speculate in cotton
but with the information now in my
possession and with the facts that are
staring US in the face. it seems to me
| that much higher prices for cotton are
an inevitable certainty
Not only Russia but practically all
countries cnp-
sumo cotton are in communication
and have been in communication for
some time. with the promoters OF the
cotton export corporation. 1t has
! leaked out that these manufacturers
are now quietly buying cotton on the
| exchanges. They have had an under
standing with the export corporation
| that credit will be arranged for and
they are now securing actual spot
cotton. They have wisely decided not
to delay buying. They realize that the
Stupendous demand for cotton will
force higher prices and make it eX-
tremely hard to secure anything like
sufficient spot cotton to fill their de-
mand AS they lack funds for buying
enough spot cotton they can buy fu-
ture cotton and carry it with much
smaller money than the credit can be
arranged. They are wisely buying cot
ton on the exchanges Of America. The
export demand for cotton will far
eXcee eel any record Of any previous
year since cotton was first planted N
America.
The foreign and domestic demand
for cotton will wipe out every bale
OF surplus and will so unsatisfied be-
fore next fa:l in my opinion. This pro
diction is based. on facts in possession
of the American Cotton Association.
Europe is clanlorins for the export
corporation recently organized TO ar
range credits so that she can purchase
cotton to furnish work for her peop!"
and clothes for her suffering citizens y
Against Luxury Taxes