Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-26
STATEMENT ON
COTTON ISSUED
BY ]. ]. BROWN

The farmers Of thu south are not
broke and nobody has said they were
broke. said J. J. Brown. commissioner
of agriculture, in commenting Sat-
urday on some of the "soft pedal
editorials" as he characterized
them which have appeared in GER
tain newspapers in the south and
elsewhere, urging the cotton leaders
to "stop talking calamity and go to
talking prosperity"
Commissioner Brown said these
editorials reminded him of white
man at a camp meeting who severe
ly rebuked negro for striking his
(the white man's) bull dog before
it bit him instead of after it bit him.
eff we folded our hands and said
nothing, while the growers sold
their cotton below the cost Of pro-
ducton," said Commissioner Brown,
ut wouldn't be necessary to make
an agitation after the cotton was
gone and the farmers were broke.
We have not said the farmers were
broke. We have made our fight to
keep them from going broke. If
they can get out of their cotton the
money they put into it, plus rea-
sonable profit, they will be in good
shape. If they are forced to dump
it on the market at this juncture.
the market will Immediately under
go a second slump. and then the
growers will not be able to pay their
debts. 1t seems to me that the en-
tire business mmunity-whether
commercial industrial or banking
ought to realize that the fight we
are making is calculated to benefit
them as much as it benefits the
farmers, for their prosperity is de-
pendent upon the prosperity OF the
In this statement Commissioner
Brown said:
great Improvement in our prospects,
and there is no doubt in my mind
that better prices will soon begin to
come.
1--WE earnestly suggest, however,
that every producer of cotton con-
tinue to hold using warehouse re-
ceipts as collateral to protect his
creditors and tide over the crisis. We
further suggest and urge county
meetings in every county In Georgia
to organize holding movements, at
which a pledge should be taken not
to plant next year over so per cent
Of the 1920 cotton acreage. under
any circumstances. This pledge
should go SO far as to refuse 20 plant
a single stalk of cotton If the mar
ket has not reached the cost Of pro-
duction by the planting season.
1.-THE federal department OF asri-
cultures estimated cost Of producing
1cl 10 27 cents
pound. The Montgomery convention
(of the American Cotton associa-
tion) said 1t cost 3S cents. Late boil
weevil ravages probably made the
difference of one cent.
1T must be apparent to every fair
tie as the farmer can take and con-
tinue operations. 1t is manifestly
absurd to ask the farmer to plant a
full crop in 1921. when the markets
that control future prices are sell
ing the future crop far below the
ers can sell cotton on the exchanges
cheaper than the south can produce
it, then 1t would be good business for
us to purchase our supply from
those wise guys, and let them de-
liver or pay the margin of difference.
eff I were to advise a banker.
merchant or manufacturer to lend
money or sell goods at prices below
their legitimate cost Of doing bust
ness, I would be looked upon as a
communist, If not an anarchist.
Therefore, when advise the farmer
to refuse to grow cotton at loss,
and only ask for. him suare deal,
I feel that I should have the moral
and financial support. for the farm
er, in his greatest struggle, Of those
who are dependent upon agriculture.
1.-THE farmer has the opportunity
now. and should establish for all
time. the principle that he will not
grow anything whatever to sell at
less than the cost of production plus
a reasonable profit on his investment
and the service he renders"