The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-11-21
AT LAST A PRACTICAL METHOD FOR
CONTROL OF THE COTTON CROP

We reproduce herewith recent editorial from the Bmng
ham News which very Illuminating article on the American
Cotton Association movement It is worth reading for gives
ceancut idea of the purpose of the association Read it.
Every from the time when the memory man
runneh not to the contrary there crisis the South
relative to the low price OF cotton good in the matter Of
price usually stimulates planting and year follows because
OF the heavy crop and the whole train Of evils with which this
region 50 lama then passes IN review again. The discouraged
farmer compelled to sell his cotton about the cost Of produ
tom the furnishing merchant Obliged to carry and
start many farmers OF IN debt again. the banks loaded up with
from merchants and other forms of business which ted
along absorbing much of the each bank
cuang the of money credit which normally should
be available for development And thus we have soshed along
There have been offered from time time usually
the form of organization of the farmers themselves These
ambitious plans with their warehousng features looked we'll
and sounded webut almost invariably the farmers
CARNATIONS fell into the hands of smabore potcanarme
whose interest appeared largely the mounting office
the backs of the farmers than in eectng any fundamental
change in conditions There have been conventions these
organizations at which the delegates would se pledge them
selves and their districts to reduction of cotton Then
nine out of ten would figure that if all the others reduced
and he had increased acreage he would be the
hcay of the high prices Unfortunately there unanimy
of mental process along this line which generally resulted in
largely increased, instead of reduced acreage!
I'm these organizations there has also been much hope
held out to the farmers and nebuou patiently
possible on its face-of government assistance
The whole matter has been tragedymany because there
has been no authority and because the farmers would them
selves keep faith.
THE American Cotton Association being organized
throughout the South appears to be the method
dealing with the matter If farmer signs up with he has
made contract to put Just much cotton There an or
gazaon extending down to the beats of the various
ties and if farmer is found not keeping faith with his obligation
diversity and to reduce his cotton acreage he has given a
hor to the Association to enter upon his lands pillow up the
excess.
The Association is promoting Federal bonded warehouse
system through which larger loans be had cotton for the
reason that grades and weights guaranteed 1t will sf
GENTLY powerful factor to market cotton gaduao the
shock of the millions of bales of distress cotton of the early
gathering and absorb keep enough Of off the market
prevent its saggg the price, always the case stabilize
the price of cotton throughout the year.
Not only the farmers are interested in this natter but
in line of business in the South for unfortunate as the
situation may be- cotton still largely the barometer of our
prosperity in this section of the United States The farmer him
self pays fee of rs per ba and men in other lines nom
na amount for membership There politics in it. and the
movement too safely in business hands allow the little
politicians to enter And thereby its success seems assured