davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
Why Pick On The Cotton
Farmer!

But regardless ~ t.tr correctness or
iHcorrectness Vi the SAID statements
and impIic4t ons, the question arises as
10 why the Reserve Board sees tit to
publish these eX parte statements and
injurious .,U..nlses a all. can well
understand that the board from both
patriotic and p0nt-al motives desires
to reduce the nlgG cost q. clothing aud
cotton goods, but why put the burden
upun the proGuctI OF raw cotton? 1t
is a matter of common knowledge that
the spianerS profits daring the past
two years have been prodlglous. where
as it is matter oi serious coubt as to
whether the cotton farmer has during
the same period m4de More than the
cost of production. Why then should
this great public bossd Join the cohorts
of weaith-swoiien manufacture and
greed -obsessed bear spectators in an
assault upon the cotton farmer and his
product? Of course tie spinnecs will
say that they are not in the least un-
easy about any scarcity of supply be-
cause the crop will be big, and besides
they have already enoug!. cotton to
run them into tie next year. OF
course, the bear specuIator will say
that the supply OF cotton is and will
continue to be greatly in excess of de-
mand and that prices are going to pot.
They want to stampede the producer
into selling at a sacrifice We are
familiar with this Kind of propaganda.
But why should .he Federal Reserve
Board-the greatest power in the
United States today Join with these
propagandists and circulate this propa-
garda with every implication OF con-
cur.ence, knowing as it must know.
that its prOrOuIccmeHts viii he used
with telling effec. against the cotton
producer in his fight tor decent living
and a fair profit? There are better
and wiser ways of reducing tho COS: :;
cotton goods TO the UslnC p,,Dl.s: than
by sand. bagging the cattoH producer
1t would seem that the Reserve Board
could, with higher purpose and sounder
Judgment, address its efforts toward
curbing the excessive profits of the
dry goods manufacturers and mer-
chants instead Of supporting cam
paign which means ruin to the cotton
producing industry.
1t is quite true that ...e nfgn cost of
cotton goods might be reduced without
any objection from the manufacturer
and without affecting his margin Of
profit, by forcing the farmer through
financial restrictions and the propa-
ganda Of despair into selling his crop
at a sacrifice, but such consummation,
although it might win temuorarI Az
plause, would inevitably react II terms
Of disaster uTon - manufacturing
i1ayst,y, Ii,on ali the users of cotton
goods and upon the country at large.
If the cotton producers are forced to
sell the coming crop at the cost or
less than the cost .. production, they
will not only be unwilling to plant an
other crop sufficient for the worlds
need:, but they win be unable to do so.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
The Plan

AS soon as cotton opens pick it as
rapidly and carefully as possible; have
It ginned gradually; when ginned store
in "a warehouse if thesame is available;
if warehouse is not available take the
cotton home, build a shelter for it, put
it on skids and from time to time turn
the bale over in order that all sides
may be exposed to the air; sell when
demand calls for it at satisfactory
prices. Now:
DO net pick any rain or weather
damaged cotton. When the weather
gets bad turn the cattle into the fields.
Do not let the damaged cotton stay to
be picked later and sold at rulnous dis
counts, and III the meantime 20 be used
by your adverSarles in beating down
the price Of your good grades. Destroy
the low grade cotton and through such
destruction fatten your cattle and your
own pocketboOk.
If this plan is carried out-and it will
be carried out by every sensible farmer
who considers the same-the coming
crop will be reduced by several million
bales in quantity, will be increased by
many million dollars in value, and at
the same time the producer will save
the loss incurred in the production Of
an unmerchantauie cCmmJ1lty and viii
route his would &c despJ..ela morse,
foot and dragoOn.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12

Federal Reserve Boards AC-
tivitieS

| refer to the Federal Reserve Beard.
In all fairness it must be agreed that
in It's participation in the solution Of
the dehaticn and readiustment problem
this board is involved il q most com
p! X, difficult and Stupendous task. 1t
WIS entirely proper that the Federal
r serve Board should assure the lead
in he movement to restrict credits IN
so far as speculative ventures, nOn-
es ential industries and promotion
schemes are concerned, but in so doing
it vas rot necessary and it was most
u wise 20 strike al the foundation Of
al industry and all productive enter
pi sa by shooting the virus o. fear INTO
trc financial and econonli- body of the
III tion.
The announced purpose OF the board
5 t. turtail speculation in commodl-
tbs a9l to reduce the cost of living.
lie re- 1T Of it effort so far has been
to paraiyZe c .Istructive speculation
aIc destructive speculation runs ram
pant CT! unopposed, They have chic
r. formed the bulls and gavaniZeG the
b. ars Although by throttling produc-
ton so:ne declines in certain, items of
i ,ing cost have been brought about,
vet b. The same act the predicate has
been laid fer famine in necessary
supplies, for the highest prices ever
7owl and for widespread industrial
c; stur bance. The board is proposing
to restore al intoxicated nation to
normal oy weakening the action of its
heart
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
The Cotton Problem
And The Solution

Once more the Cotton South is called
upon to arise and fight its battles
against disaster.
The crop now growing has been
brought to it, present stage OF develop
ment under the most untavorable and
difficult conditions and at a cost much
greater than that Of any crop ever
produced. Yet October cotton sold to-
day at 80 cents, and predictions are
freely made that when the movement
OF the new crop becomes liberal the
price will be p cents per pound or less.
Cotton on the spot is quoted at some
5 "a cents per pound above the prce
Of October contracts.
It is wholly unreccessa : II say to
those who are ta~ii.iar win t1e rr)t-
lem Of cotton production hat the prlce'
Row prevailing IL. Oc,uaar cotton
would be ruinoua, ~. ONT to the cot
ton produc. but t. cotton producing
industry 1t is. ther lore, imperative
that the producers ana their allies, the
merch nts and bankers, shall unite to
prevent the personal and general DIS
aster impending With roper CO.
operation Oh the part Of the interests
in question, there l.; 10 doubt but that
the cotton farmer can bIln" confusion
upor. the head of their enemies and
rosprritv w Il their own.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12

the August period wherein it is always
most destructive. The spinning indus
try and The contract short would like
to believe that cause for anxiety had
been removed, bit | doubt seriously
tnat they can feel secure until the
critical period has been passed and the
forecasted crop made and picked, or
unless they shall be able in the mean
time to stampede the producer into
panic and ruin. If the Reserve Board
sees fit to enter into a discussion of the
market situation il would seem only
fair that the producers side of the
argument should bC given hearing in
his present struggle for economic ex-
istenc".
The beard in the said statement is
quoted a. saying IT,. many New Eng
land :alls have reported Supplies of
raw cotton sufficient to .a,t until next
year The ubyioIs purpose and newt
able effect Of such 4 statement Is to
create the ilnpreesl3a-Wlth0ut actually
making tha assertion that the mills
generally We're already supplied with
enough .'aW material 10 iun them until
next wear. This implication Is not only
exceedingly injurious 10 the cotton
producer il the present emergency,
but It is, if the statements of another
Department Of the Federal Government
are 10 be believed, absolutely incorrect.
The Federal Census Bureau, IN its
report to the end If June. published
July II, states that the total amount of
cotton on hand in ali consuming estab
! :.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
The Crop Outlook

There is no chance of anything wrong
with Louisiana crops this year, if
Lionel James, of The bureau of crop
estimates, has the prospect appraised
correctly. His July estimate predicts
a substantial increase IN production in
each of the states principal crops,
showing that while some of US have
been worrying over the farmers dis
coIragements, the farmer himself has
been strictly on the job.
Some of the gains predicted by the
crop estimator are: Cotton $4,000
bales as against 296, ,S5S bales last year;
rice 25.1l6,O 900 bushels as compared
with l9, 7l2, 900 in 1919: sugar IFS, 00)
tons as against 12l, 900 ton in 1919:
corn 80, Ss2. 600 bushels, a gain Of
6, 500, 200 bushels over last year. Bet
ter crops of sweet potatoes and perique
tobacco are also indicated with slightly
smaller crops Of peanuts, Irish pota-
toes, oats and. hay.
Of course thus early in the season,
crop estimates are liable to change
without notice, but the weather so far
has justified the highest expectations.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12

members. Congress is composed MAIN
" of some Of the strongest and ablest
representative men Of the country, and
one entering it without reputation Of
possessing ability on par with the
accorded the unrestrained recognition
and consideration necessary to enable
him to adequately represent his con-
stituents. This in itself very cogently
emphasizes the supreme Importance
and advisabiiity of always selecting
the very best available man for the
place in order to secure legislation for
the best interest Of the District. II
the people of the south could have long
ago realized that length of service IN
Congress counts for so much as it does
30 not believe they would have been
50 ready to give new man chance.
and they would have Jared great deal
better than they have in the way Of
securing beneficial and constructive
legislation by Congress.
In my opinion, based on what | know
Of Mr. Aswell, his achievements in
Congress and his recognized sterling
ability, and the fact also that he has
always consistently supported the i'm
portant measures of the Democratic
party make it certain that if reelected
the Eighth District will be aiding it.
own cause and fostering its own inter
e5,s by continuing in Office one who has
become influential in Congress. And
in consequence Of his recognized
craftsmanship and prcemincnt qualitica-
tions he viii! continue to shed lustre
and honor in the House and WELD an
influence that will be infinitely profit
able to the District and a credit to the
judgment of those responsible for his
election.
With very best personal regards fer
YOU and my friends in Louisiana.
N. G. WATTS.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
THE Sure Remedy

But there is no need for the producer
to take any chance on the elements.
insects or any other contingency.
There is a way by which ,hey can,
without loss hut With a handsome
profit red~ee the size of the coming
crop to a point which will force prices
to figures as high as any that have
heretofore prevailed. BY one course of
action the producers may rid them
selves of burdensome liability and at
the same time place themselves in a
position to name their price for theis
crop. This plan involves no Individual
sacrifice for the com,aoA good and
offers no inducemens for prohteerlng
by the inaividual ct the expense of the
co.nmop cause. This is not like the
ordinary movement for crop curtail-
ment. 1t is an infallibly profitable
plan to the individual planter whether
he produces five bales or five thousand,
or whether two million planters prac-
tice il. or one alone.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
Panic Propaganda

However, it is not to the general
policy cf the Federal Reserve Board,
no matter how injurious that policy
may be, that | desire to direct special
attention. | want to point out as
strikinSiy as may definite, direct
and del. yerate blow aimed bv the seiG
board 1. the r.,cc o. raw cotton and
against he welfare of the cotton pro-
producer.
In the newspapers of Friday, July
80, 1920, appeared what was stated to
be reassuring report Of the general
situation made public by the Federal
Reserve Board. 1t was reassuring to
the spinners and the bear spectators
in cotton but not SO to the cotton pro-
ducers. In the said article the follow
ing statements appeared;
Improvement. il tbe eo.,on crop
prospects during the month were de-
clal ed by the board to have reduced
any anxiety that had been felt in the
cotton goods trade concerning pros
pective scarcity.
"A reduction IN activity in cotton
goods was noted during the month,
many New England mills reporting
supplies Of raw cotton sufficient to last
until next year.
Under the existing conditions, when
the cotton market was almost III a
state Of panic. these partisan state
ments might have been expected from
tie dope works of a bear raider, or
from the propaganda department Of
the united spinning industry, but GER
taInIv not from the Federal Reserve
Board Of the United States. In the
first place beth of these statements
are misleading if not absolutely in
correct. 1t is true that the crop has
shown material improvement over the
desperately low condition of two
months ago, but the fact remains that
this some crop had the worst start on
record, that it IS late, that it has yet
TO pass through the most critical period
Of its life and that the boil weeyil is
more or less plentiful throughout prac-
tjcally the entire cotton belt awaiting
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12

dehorned and the bear speculatOr is
running amuck. They have sold future
deliveries to discount of from 5 to
ii cents per pound under spot prices.
They are in consequence of this selling
orgy short up to the neck. and the
FARMER HAS THE COTTON NECESSARY
FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THESE CON
TRACTS.
This is not all. The entire cotton
goods merchandising and manufacture
ing trade is specializing on the short
side of the market. As items of the
price depression propaganda we are
told that the retail merchants are not
buying goods. that the jobbers are
cancelling contracts with the mills and
that the mills are shutting down or
curtailing production and are not buy
ing new supplies.
Although these reports are to an
extent true, yet the reason for this
holding off, and the consequences there
of are significant. Nobody buys on a
declining market. These interests are
holding off purchases not because they
do not expect to need new supplies but
because they expect by postponement
to buy them cheaper. They are all
gambling upon the inability Of the
market to withstand the new crop
pressure and upon the incapacity Of
the farmer to survive the boycott
which has been declared against him
and his product.
The whole world is therefore specu-
lating on the short side of cotton and
cotton goods. o. course, If In the new
order of things the world expects to go
naked and discontinue using cotton
goods, then these spectators are
reasonably safe. This, however, is
an unlikely contingency. This is sure,
that when the future contracts
mature, when the shelves of the re-
tail n are empty, when the whole sale
merchant is without contracts with the
mills and when the mills are bare OF
supplies, SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO BUY
With the retail and wholesale mer
chants clammcring for goods. and with
the contract shorts and the short spin
ners competing in the spot market for
the raw material the cotton situation
will take on an entirely different as
pect. This demand must come and
the longer it is delayed the more avid
will it be. Then the cotton farmer. by
handling his business with Judgment,
will be HI d position to force prices to
level which will give him his rlghtful
profit. The only chance for a contrary
conclusion is that the producer Of the
cotton shall sit supinely by ;.;.d permit
these contract, cotton and cottoI. goods
shorts to take his product away from
him at prices fixed by themselves.
This the Southern cotton farmer will
notdo. He has demonstrated his cour-
age and his ability to Withstand these
raids and he will do 1t again
But we are told that the load of low
unsaieable cotton which the banks are
carrying will make it impossible for
these institutions to finance any hold
ing or gradual marketing movement
for tue new crop. l answer that the
banks of the South are strong and that
the bankers will not permit the great
est Asset Of the South to be slaughtered
for lack Of the necessary finances.
say, furthermore, that tie new crop
can, without any financial strain, be
held and marketed at remuneratiy-
prices by following the entirely feasible
and economic plan to be hereinafter
outlined.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
To Avoid Second Primarie.

Under recent act Of the Legislature.
amending the primary election laws
the state. second primaries for t..
nomination of candidates for office /; &
done away with. The law as amenG ]
provides that, in all cases WEtic
there Is to be nominated only one 60
dldate for particular office, the eIvcl
shall indicate his first choice, and WI.
out being required to do SO, may ll.,-
cate second choice. and ballots 81 Il
be printed accordingly. If a candle;
receives majority Of the votes OF H..
first choice, he Shall receive the us. -
nation. In case no candidate sl..I
receive majority Of the first ch, .,
votes, then the nomination for su 81
office shall lay between the two Ca.
dates receiving the highest number go
hrst choice votes and the detcrmlna}i. i...f
as between SAID two highest candiddt.-
receiving nrSt choice vote shall b. j..
adding to Their first vote the sec,..i
cholce votes they respcctH ely TcCeN ..
and the candidate as between tn ,..
two, VINO received the greatest mum
OF first and second choice votes So It
be nominated.
Under an Interpretation of the at....-
ney general office. the new law Il
apply and govern the primary elect! -
to be held on September II.
AS the law Is new and untrled, :
impossible t. say whether it will wt.n
cat as Systematically Il It's author .3:-
Glcts,
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
Acute Deterioration Probable

Let it be remembered that the new
crop is by no means made at this time.
as confident short sellers seem to be-
lieve. The change from the desperate
crop situation OF two months ago to
the comparative promise of the present
day has caused an exaggerated reaction
in the minds of those wishing and hop
ing for lower prices. But let thea rot
lose sight of the fact that has crop had
the worst start in aistoIl, that it IS
two to four weeks late a-,a that the
most c3;,tixal period Of ", ather condl-
,;p,Is aud boil weevil destru, ton is yet
10 come. 1t is entirely possible, there
fore, and exceedingly probable, that
acute deterioration may set in at any
time. If such contingency should oc-
cur the farmers need give themselves
no concern in the premises the short
speculator would awal:ca f:tm his pipe
dream and seq +, Il Ei1aself that the
price & tptton went Up to where it
eelasgs,
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12

when they can be sold at all they are
sold at an enormous loss. Worse than
that; the presence of an accumulation
of understandable stock in the market
is a depressing factor in so far as the
merchantable grades are concerned
IHE CONCLUSION is THAT THE COTTON
FARMER SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD LO
PRODUCE AND MARKET THE LOWER
GRADES These grades not only repre-
sent an unbearable difference between
the production cost and the sale price
but they constitute a weapon with
which the producers antagonists may
assault him. Low grade cotton under
present conditions is not an asset but
an infectious liability.
Therefore the plan proposed is sim
ply this:
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
To Bankers, Merchants and
Farmers
10 the Bankers and Merchants of the
South:

10 the Bankers and Merchants of the
South:
If you will assist the tanners in car
rying out the foregoing plan and use
your influence with your constituents
to induce them to practice it faithfully,
you will not only go far towards avert
ing calamity to your own business and
to your sectlGn. and fac towards invit-
ing general prosperity, but you will
tighten the load upon yourselves; be-
cause if the course in question is pur-
sued the demand for the new crop will
be sufficient to supply all the money
needed.
To the Cotton Farmers:
You are entitled to a decent living
and fair profit. Nobody Is going to
give you either. On the contrary,
powerful interests. organizations and
agencies are trying to deprive you Of
both. You must fight for yourselves
and for your own. You have in your
hands the weapons fo. both defens e
and reprisal. Use tnem;
W. &. THOMSON.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
Short

The recent Improvement IN the cot
ton crop from a condition of disaster
into one of comparative promise con-
joined with the price defiation propa-
ganda and the consequent epidemic of
pessimlsm which for the time is sweer
ing the country, has hypaotiaed the
majority into the by.ief that the price
of cotton this fall must inevitably go
much lower than the price of spots.
Acting upon this belief spectators in
both specific grade deliveries and future
contracts have sold, with the utmost
abandon and in complete disregard of
the cost of prodGct,o! or Of any other
economic phase. cotton which they
have not III possession, which is not
vet made and which they will have
to buy. The bull specuIator has been
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
The LOW-Grade Incubus
Attention:

Attention:
During the past three years low
grade cotton has been grievous bur
den upon the cotton industry. During
this period the supply of these damaged
grades has been abnormally large and
the demand therefor abnormalIy small
The over-supply condition was caused
by bad weather after the cotton had
opened, and the lack Of demand has
been due to the fact that the normal
low-grade markets have been closed
and to the additional fact that during
the war the United State Government
in formulating its contracts rankly dis
criminated against the lower grades.
As the result of these conditions the
grades below niiddling have declined
to preposterous discounts. Low mid
ding is quoted at 10 ga cents per
pound leSs than middling, the next
grade ahoYe; and good ordinary at loN
cents per pound less than middling, and
even at these discounts all the grades
in question have been and are still
practically unsaleatle.
1t costs more to produce these low
grades than the higher grades. Even
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12

They do things very much bet
ter in France than in this country.
A Paris protiteer who attempted
to control the petit pois crop and
boost prices, got what was coming
TO him from the hands of justice.
In addition to a fine of 81 600 and
three months in Jail, he was re
quired 10 pay the costs of adver
tisiny in the Paris papers setting
forth the terms of the sentence.
and afiix a similar notice to the
door Of his business premises for
a period of one year. If an
American protiteer had cornercd
the pea market he would have
been hailed as prince Of bust
ness, and instead of being punish
ed. would have been offered a
dictatorship in 4 large corporation
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
The True Situation

But, thank Co. although Our adver-
sar:o- are strong. The situation is by
70 rneahs hopeless. Oh the contrary,
It is rot only possible but it is not even
difficult fer the cotton producer and his
allies to turn the apparent rout into
victory.
Let US, for the moment, close our
ears to the Reserve Boards song of
sorrow and the accompanying chorus
of profit seeking calamity howlers.
Let US, with vision clear and unafraid,
take stock Of the situation, find the
remedy and apply the same.
The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-08-12
Do Not Harvest Any Grades
Lower Than MiddlinH

But 1t will be objected that the
weather makes the grades and the
farmer cannot control the weather
This is true, but the farmer can regu-
late grades he picks and puts upon the
market.