The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-07-14
ASK AID
OF. BANKERS
American Cotton Association
Launches State Wide Cam
paign
WAREHOUSES; AND
GRADERS
parfv Will TOur The Entire
Party Will Tour the Entire
State to Present Appeal

Columbia, July 10.--An appeal to
the bankers of the state to assist the
South Carolina division of the Ameri-
can Cotton association in the cam
paign which it launches on July Is
for the construction of warehouses and
the securing of cotton graders in the
various counties of, the State is con-
tanned in letter which has been sent
to them signed by Governor Cooper.
/ j. Skottowe' 'Wannamaker president of
the American Cotton association; r.
c. Hamer, president of the South Car
| 0lina division Of the American Cotton
associations; b Harris, commissioner Of
agriculture; j. G. Rivers, warehouse
commissioner, and w. W. Long di-
rector of extension service of Clemson
Collenge.
ITO maintain profitable market
for the South's principal crop, cotton,
is the most important problem now re-
quiring the careful study and energet-
ic efforts Of Southern people," says
| the letter ''The main essentials in
solving this problem are as follows:
First. to secure sufficient ware
house space In the hands of farmers,
or of interests friendly to them to
satisfy our warehouse needs. The u.
s. department of agriculture esti-
mates the country damage to cotton
as causing a loss Of $60.000.0OO annu-
ally to the growers. In addition cot
ton not stored in bonded warehouse
| cannot be used as collateral for loans.
The n-warehousing of the crop in
4 xrrnV nh kl.-
causes of distress cotton which an
nually brings an enormous loss also
| to the South. qt ~
second, cotton growers must be urg
ed and assisted to market the crop
over period Of L. months, instead of
dumping 20 per cent. of the crop on
the market during the fall months as
at present. If this be done the large
loans now made to cotton mills to car
ry their cotton purchases for the year
would probably split into many srnali
loans to the producers who hold cot
ton. If cotton We're marketed over a
long period instead of a short one
many of the speculative features of the
cotton business that are frequently so
disastrous to the grower would be re-
moved. To put the marketing of cot
ton states on a sounder basis. In
other words, every line of business
now being conducted in the South is
working for it's own best interest in
Joining hands with those organiza-
tions now cooperating to bring about
the much needed reforms mentioned
in this letter. Urge your patrons to
warehouse their cotton as soon as GIN
ned and to market it gradually
Third, the official grading of cot
ton while it is still in the hands Of the
producer. and the direct marketing of
cotton in quantity from producer to
spinner. must be brought about. These
Things are coming and 1t is only fair to
the producer to aid him In every way
possible to bring them about especially
since these changes would be reflected
in greater prosperity of all the people.
Grading and direct marketing have al
ready been demonstrated in this state
to the great satisfaction of every hon
est interest. 1t remains to extend this
work until ii covers the entire belt.
III you are not already a member
you are. urged TO join the South Caro-
lima Branch OF the American Cotton
Association and lend your personal in-
fluence toward helping to put across
this work. A blank form for your use
I'm making application for membership
is enclosed. In this connection South
Carolina now has on a campaign to
secure a larger percentage of bankers
as members OF the Association than
any other state. Let us not fail to
stand at the head Of the list on this
as we have stood in so many other
lines"