The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-11
Must Help Ourselves
Cotton Producers Cannot Ex.
pect Others to Shoulder Their
Burden
Editor Item.


The time is at hand when Hne cot
ton producer must get busy be-
gin To do something himself IN his
own interest and not depend on those
who are engaged in other lines to take
care Of him. We have had an abund-
ance OF hot air in this cotton business,
nut, the time is now at hand for con-
crete action, if we would save the
south from great financial losses. The
TACT that central Europe is not in q
position to buy our cotton for cash
and manufacture it, is really no ex-
cuse for the cotton planter to sur
render his manhood and let the Amer
lcan and English cotton merchant take
over what he has. There are some
business men among the cotton grow
ers and if the rank and file of those
who are engaged in the business will
cooperate with them in trying to do
something to save the situation much
can be done. The ideas advanced in
the association are good and prac-
tlcal and if our people will ONLY
analyze them, they will find them so.
The proposition to contribute 500, 900
bales to organize a foreign corpora
tion to handle the crop is Il good
thing and would take only per cent
of d crop of II, 100000 bales, whereas.
without the corporation, the chances
are, we will lose several times that
much. Five hundred thousand bales
at soc will bring $75,00O,C0O, 12,5O0,-
W0 bales, which is an estimate by
some reports at csc is worth 81 ,562,-
100000. If by contributing the amount
asked for, we could keep the price at
thirty cents, the crop would be worth
$l,S75, ,00O,0 900 which gives us $312,-
ooO,OOO more, Substract the $75,-
100000 that the 100000 bales is
worth at soc from $312,50O, 900 and
we have a saving of 237,500,000. The
question now arises, is that amount
worth anything to the south? If so,
let's go to work for it. II not, why,
let us surrender and give it to the
celebrities OF the financial circles. The
south should be in a position finan-
clally to give the 100000 bales and
not regret it, as we have, had two or
three pretty good years to save up
something that we might use in de-
tending our cause when necessary and
in giving the amount towards organ
izing the corporation the value Of
this crop will be so much enhanced.
Some Of our friends seem to think
we can not get honest men to handle
cur cotton but everybody are not
thieves and sharks and we must not
consider them as such. There are men
in the south, >who are competent 10
handle the expectation of the cotton
crop and will do it. but of course they
must be paid for thetr services We
can not obtain the services of good
men for nothing and we just as well
recognize that fact. Those who would
compose the corporation should be
under sufficient bond to indemnity the
growers should anything go wrong in
the working OF the institution; and
surely would be-. We must spend
money to- make money and the man
who does not do that never has very
much; so the thing for the cotton
producers to do, is to Investigate this
scheme and see if there is not some
thing in it for them. We must not be
too narrow to see the business prin-
ciples in this proposition and decide
not to contribute anything to it, as it
lis the greatest investment the cotton
belt has ever had the privilege of TAX
ing stock in. Now, should we with
hold our contribution and let this
great scheme die for the lack of sup
port, we make a cowardly. surrender
OF our manhood and business princi-
pies and will never again deserve the
sympathy and respect Of those in 9TH
er lines OF business. . N
j G.. DUNBAR.