The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-11-04
THE REAL LINES OF
THE COTTON BATTLE.

For a long time farming has been
we'll defined business. AS q matter
of fact, it reaches back into remote
antiquity. The production of raw ma
terials is the business OF the farmer.
1t Is his business to know what 1t
costs to produce these materials.
Since it is the only way he can make
sure of a price that justifies their pro-
duction it is an important part OF his
business to control the movement OF
these products into consumption.
The principles involved in this
statement are fundamental. Their ap-
plication is universal. They definitely
determine the success or failure, OF
every kind of business. In the vast
majority of instances, whether crisis
has, or has not, overtaken business
undertaking is directly traceable to
whether these principles have or
have not, been observed. In fact, they
can be said to be practically inexor-
able In their nature, for they have
governed just as certainly during
eras of world disturbances as they
have during eras when extra normal
conditions prevailed.
The cotton farmer enjoys no i'm
munity from this immutable law. II
he violates it he must pay the penal
ty just as every other business man
must pay it. 1t is esq ra' Il that he
should have a dependable knowledge
of what it cost him to grow his cot
ton. 1t is also essential that he should
have some some sort Of selling or
ganization, more or less local in char
acter, through which he can definite
ly control the movement Of his cot
ton into consumption. Otherwise, he
will be at the mercy Of every kind OF
of change in world affairs, however,
whimsical they may be, and however,
remotely they may concern the value
of his cotton. In fact, this knowledge
and this control, orl ack Of 1t, almost
invariably decided whether these
changes shall, or shall not, bring on
a crisis in his affairs.
The records unquestionably sup
port this view. For instance, the pres
ent crisis is clearly due to number
of producers, confined mostly to
Texas and Oklahoma, not knowing tn
real value OF their cotton and to its
movement. If they had possessed this
knowledge and retained this control,
it is eviden that there would have
been no crisis. The magnitude OF the
evils that result from this lack OF
knowledge, and this lack Of control is
brought out conspicuously when we
reflect that it not only threatens to
cripple the great cotton producing in
dustry, but, by ultimately reducing
the supply, it threatens to cripple the
great spinning industry as well. To
impair either would be calamity in
view of the urgent need of both in
restoring the world to normal condi-
tionS.
1t stands out, therefore, that the
only hope of minimizing the effect OF
the present crisis, or Of minimizing,
or avoiding, the effect of such crisis
in the future, is through means that
come strictly within the purvleW o.
farming as a business, and not
through means that belong inherent
ly to some other kind of business. In
other words, + the only dependable
hope of relief must come from the
cotton farmer knowing the value OF
his cotton and controlling its move
ment, or functioninG, so as to speak,
strictly as farmer, and not, for in
stance, as an international cotton
merchant, or as an international
banker.
1t seems well to give emphasis to
this view at the present juncture,
for the major remedies proposed for
! the relief of the producer have di-
rect tendency TO minimize the impor-
tance of his seeking relief through
the methods that belong distinctly TO
his own business, and at the same
time, magnlfying the Importance OF
his seeking relief through methods
that belong distinctly to some other
kind of business. The various plans
proposed Tor an export corporation
are notable examples OF this.lt takes
time and long time to develop such
an organization, especially OF sufti-
cient magnitude to be OF any real
value.
An export corporation OF some
I kind is justified undoubtedly. That
the needs of the peoples Of Europe
for cotton is really greater than the
American supply makes it evident. II
! the economic life OF these people has
J broken down and they cannot finance
the cotton they need, it is the buSl-
ness of statesmen to see that they get
such aid as is necessary TO rebuild
their economic life. The instrumental
tiles through which this must be
! accomplished is the business of inter-
| national cotton merchants and the
business of international bankers. l.,
. is well TO observe here that the needs
i of these people will be supplied soon
! er or later. Civilization is not going
to break down. We can rest assured
of that.
/ Pending the final solution of the
Droblem of moving the needed supply