The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-12-03

that is to absolutely stop selling"
says Harvie Jordan, secretary of the
American Cotton association, in a
statement issued last night. The
statement continues:
So Iong as even a small ration of
cotton is daily fed to the local mar
kets, whether in the nature of dis
tress cotton or by weak holders. who
haven't got the backbone to solidly
line up in this fight for the protec-
ton of the staple, just so long will
the needs of present limited demands
be met, and bearish speculation be
enabled to keap their throttle hold
ON prices. Anybody can sell cotton
when the market is daily advancing,
but it takes q man to hold cotton in
tho face Of this unrighteous artificial
deaation of values.
If every bale of cotton now in the
South were locked up in warehouse
or ON the farm for even a period of
10 days, the short sellers would run
to cover and prices would begin to
advance. No power on earth can
chock the present decline in cotton
prices 50 long as farmers are con-
.santly feeding the staple into the
local markets. What is needed right
now above all> things is southwide
moratorium in selling cotton that
will reach out to every hamlet; and
farm in the cotton belt. 49,. -
Sellers Running South. r.
The man who has no faith in the
manhood and ability of the South to
overcome the present cotton crisis
and ultimately put prices back where
they belong; admits he has no faith
IN his individual manhood and ought
10 70 out of the cotton producing
Anxnsss,- The sellers Of cotton at
these prices are not only breaking
themselves financially, but they are
esnhibuting to the suffering, wreck
and ruin Of the entire South.
SseR, selling. Refuse to market a
single Sale.; u. Use the warehouse re-
esipt rs q medium Of exchange in the
Hqsidatisn Of credits, extension Of
loaas and to secure necessary funds
10 purchase imperatively needed sup
plies oa the farm and the gathering
Of tho crop. Every bale of. cotton
ssld Is q gift Offering to the rapacious
nav Of the speulator and a weapon
which can be used to break more
hearts around the firesides of South
ezn homes. No leader in any great
hattie can whip the enemy unless
every man does his full duty and
makes every sacrifice required.
There must be unity of action and
cooperative effort in this fight unless
the South wants the feet Of foreign
ers planted firmly upon their necks.
The sale Of cotton at these prices
win enrich the already bloated for
eign spinners while impoverishing
the cotton growers, merchants and
bankers of the South.
The American Cotton association
can and will lead this movement to
success If these for whom its hard
est efforts are being made will rally
to the battle cry to hold their cotton
and stand firm against every pres
sure from without. There is abso-
lately ne question that cotton values
will reach higher levels a little later
en- No matter how severe a storm
nay be, it is always short lived, the
sunsisine will return and redouble In
inteasty.
a" Whole Nation Aroused.
The whole nation is becoming
aroused over the unholy artificial de-
hation in the values of farm COM
moities. Plans are being rapidly
whipped into shape that will tend to
clarity the situation, open the mar
kets Of the world and through the
channels of increase demand push
Prices back to a normal basis. But
these factors can not check declines
If the owners of cotton persist in
feeding the STABLE to the market.