The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-11-26
WILL THE A. C. A. GET
DOWN TO BUSINESS ?

i ARE heduy TO sign cooperative Con-
tracts, represents, we believe, the
real feeling of most thoughtful men
among our Southern cotton farmers.
The American Cotton Association
in each state will miss an unparalleled
opportunity if it does not utilize the
present determined spirit of our far
mers.
Our leaders who have appealed to
Congressman, Senators, Governors,
Secretary Houston and Governor
Harding, have done the best they
knew. But we might as we'll realize
that absolutely nothing has come of
such efforts.
| 1t is time to take to heart, once for
all, the teaching of the ancient fable
of 'The Lark and Her Young Ones. I"
So long as the farmer reported that
he was going to get help from his
neighbors to cut the wheat where her
nest was, the mother lark made no
plans for moving that nest. But when
! the farmers announced to his sons,
"We have depended long enough on
other people; get out your whet-
stones and we will ourselves cut that
| wheat" -then the lark got busy.
We might as well realize it, now as
later, that this is precisely the situa-
| ton that confronts the Southern cot
ton growers.
Somehow we seem to be politically
minded people, while the Northern
and Western farmers are more bust
ness-minded. When trouble happens
to cur markets, we get down on our
knees and wall and below and la
ment, calling for help from some idol
of Congressman or Senator or Gov
ernor or legislature. And all our
lamentations get us nowhere. On the
other hand, when trouble hit the
orange growers, raisin growers,
prune growers, almond growers, and
honey producers of California, the
orange growers of Florida, and the
truckers of Virginia-what did they
do? They organized businesslike
marketing associations. Now they
have relief, while we cotton growers
and tobacco growers are still aiming
at nothing better than the temporary
expedient of acreage reduction,-all
the time wondering whether even the
man who signs the pledge will keep
it, and whether the man who hasn't
signed will not seize the opportunity
to increase his own crop.
The writer raises cotton and is
perfectly willing to sign a contract
on the California plan. That is to
say, we are willing to agree to mar
ket all our cotton for the next seven
years through thoroughly system
attic, scientific cotton marketing or
ganization controlled by cotton grow
ers only and managed by the best
business talent to be had in the mar
keting world. Furthermore we are
willing to do as our peanut growers
are doing,-ray an initial fee Of $40,
or even $25, to help pay the expenses
of getting up such an organization.
Even if we could only get in each
state an organization controlling 200
900 bales, as is proposed in Oklaho-
ma, we should have quantity of cot
ton tfat would get the attention of
the worlds foremost buying agencies
and insure each grower all the ad-
vantages of selling in quantities and
save to him the enormous losses now
visited On the farmers through UNI
der grading.
We might lose our $40 or $25, and
it might even be possible that the
agencies now Fleeing the farmer
might makesuccess difficult. But we
rad rather lose money trying to do
something for ourselves than live on
forever in cowardice and inaction,
the laughing stock even of those poll
teal gods we have long and ignor-
antly worshipped.
MIR. Farmer, if you believe as we do,
don't just say "Amen" at your own
Preside.
| Do something.
Tell your county cotton associa-
| ton and your state cotton associa-
ton leaders to do something. Tell
your county agent. Tell your coun-
ty paper. And let The Progressive
Farmer know how you feel. Give
US your encouragement.
'Who would be free, themselves
must strike the blow"
The Progressive Farmer.
Under the re-apportionment bill
r II n