Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-07-07
Gamblers Have Depressed
Price and Labor Supply
Short.

Association yesterday committee
was appointed to issue an address of
the situation in respect to cotton.
This committee consists of j. S.
Wannamaker, D. M. Crosson, T. H.
Tuten, G. L. Toole and w. o. Tatum.
It issued the following address last
night:
"At a meeting of the board of the
directors of the South Carolina Divi-
sion of the American Cotton Associa-
tion on July 1, request was read
from the great commercial paper of
England, the Manchester Guardian,
that detailed statement be sent
covering the production of cotton in
America and the various matters
bearing thereon, and the ability of
America to furnish sufficient in
crease of cotton to fill the wants Of
the world war, it being plainly stated
that the world will need an enormous
increased supply of American cotton;
and that legitimate line of the cotton
industry is intensely uneasy, follow
ing five consecutive crops with the
certainty of a short crop this year.
The statement issued by the census
bureau of the agricultural depart
ment shows during the present year
there has been an enormous decrease
in the available supply of cotton, the
demands for raw cotton exceeding
the supply to a greater extent than
at any time in the last so years, plain
ly pointing out the certainty of a
cotton famine.
"We believe that the time is at
hand for the farmer to take stock
and find where he is as to his present
holdings of cotton and the crop that
is soon to be gathered. With five sue
cessive short crops and with the GER
tainty of another short crop in 1920,
it is unthinkable to the average man
that manipulators and gamblers in
cotton can depress the price two and
three cents a pound per week, but
such are the facts.
"The enormous increased cost in
production of cotton received serious
consideration of the board, it being
clearly shown that the present crop
will be by far the most costly crop
produced and that cotton for future
delivery is being sold on the New
York exchange far below the cost Of
production, which will result in fore
ing higher prices when the mills de-
mand this cotton.
sThe matter of agricultural labor
is most serious concern to the en-
tire agricultural and commercial life
of America. Two million negroes
have moved from the cotton prodnc-]
.ing IL s. sections alone since 1s1 q. statis--
itics show the certainty hereaft rgof
al an even far greater increase in the
expense of producing cotton, the fer
tilizer for 1921 being sold out at
record breaking prices.
"The enormous earnings being
made by the manufacturers both at
home and abroad and the fact that
the cotton producer is unable to pro-
duce cotton at prices being paid and
compete with other lines of industry
impressed upon the board of direc-
cor the necessity of issuing state
ment of depressing cotton prices that
has ever existed. 1t was also shown
that the European countries, such as
Germany, Austria and the Czecho-
Slovaks, who were large users of low
grade cotton were in distressing need
of some and steps were being taken
to get this cotton into these countries
Through our representatives abroad
and open up market for every bale
sof same. There can be no question
but that these efforts will succeed.
'"Our committee was appointed to
prepare statement through the
press pointing out to the farmers,
merchants and bankers the necessity
of holding cotton, the erection of
warehouses, and arranging for the Sc
curing of competent graders and the
enlargement of the organization of
THE American Cotton association, and
impress upon the farmers, bankers
and other financial interests of the
South the vital necessity of joining
with the American Cotton association
for fba ,,rrnasa of nrotection of our