The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-03-04
ADVISES FARMERS
NOT TO ROCK BOAT.
Sit St ady and Hold Cotton, Says b.
Harris, Commissioner of
Agriculture.

Sit st ady and HOlu SOUton, oays d.
Harris, Commissioner of
Agriculture.
The growers of cotton" says Com
missioner Harris, long since have
solved the problem of production.
This has been proved by the fact that
ample supplies of the staple have
been harvested each year to meet the
requirements of the active spindles OF
the world consuming American cot
ton. This has been done under condi-
tions of privation, poverty and ILL
teracy.
THE conditions fully emphasize the
fact that during the past half century
the growers have failed utterly to
give proper attention to the market
ing of spot cotton. 1t is Of more vital
importance to solve the problem OF
profitable marketing than it is to win
out in the field of staple production
The farmer who devotes his capi-
tai and brain and worYs his wife and
children to make a great staple crop
to clothe the world and through bad
marketing sees his crop sold at cost
of production, and even below. He
would have been better off if he had
never planted and cultivated such a
crop. Every man who produces a
valued commodity is entitled TO fair
and reasonable profit for his labor
and his capital, in producing it. And
right here l am proud to say that
the American Cotton association Of
fers the REMEDY that will make the
producer master Of the cotton market
ing situation.
''If some of these wise editors of
the metropolitan newspapers wefe to
get into the fields and stay long
enough to watch the process of grow
ing and gathering cotton, they could
write more intelligently as to why the
farmers are seeking to get better
price for the staple. Some Of those
wise ones who never saw cotton
! field except from car window seem
| to be outraged because the Southern
farmers are planning to withhold the
cotton "a suffering world needs in
order to profiteer! These writer's have
about as much idea of the justice Of
giving fair price to the producer
as a jay bird has of how to observe
the Sabbath.
Il see by the newspaper reports
that staple cotton has been selling in
the last few days for 81 per pound.
told some of my good friends last
November when they were selling for
| So cents that staple cotton would sell
for 81 before another crop was gath
cred in 1920, So now that it has come
wish to say that there was a cause
for it. The world needed it. Staple
cotton was kept off the market until
the demand forced it out.
Now, that is just what has to be
done with the short staple the farm
ers have on hand today WITHHOLD it
from the market until the bear spec
ulators have to have it to supply their
contracts that they have sold to the
mills. The brokers are going to be
called to fill their contracts and
nothing but spot cotton can fill them
and they will be glad to give our
price.
Now, let's see. At this time last
year cotton was selling for from 3S
to 40 cents and they said there was
no demand for it. Just what the
spectators are saying now about
short cotton. All that you have to
do farmers is to sit steady in the boa:
and the demand will come just as it
I has come in long staple. Don't sell a
bale below SO cents pound and then
sell sparingly. If long staple is SELL
ing for 81 a pound. short staple is
cheap at rs cents. There has never
up to now been more than Is cents
margin between the two.
There is no use to sell what spot
cotton you have below cost of pro-
duction just TO make another crop to
sell at cost or below. Just sit steady
in the OLD boat. She will carry the
farmers to victory if they don't jump
out too soon.
81 want to urge every farmer in
South Carolina to be sure this year
TO plant all the food and feed crops
| that will make your farm sclf-Sus-
| tanning with a little TO sell. for the
world needs it at GOOD price. | can
not sec any prospects for food crops
to get cheaper. The farmer has tn"
/ situation in his own hands. II" must
not profiteer or be eXtOrtionate be
cause he has been treated that way
in the past-but he must demand the
right to live and to make Il profit on
! his labor and his capital"
Mr.. L. Kornblut has returned from