The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-06-09
A Frightening Outlook for Cotton

News and Courier.
For the first time in nearly year
the outlook for cotton has begun to
show signs OF definite and perman-
ent improvement. The slump in cot
ton began at the end OF June, 1920.
IL proceeded steadily and progress
lively until by the time last years
crop was coming on the market il had
reached fer this section disastrous
proportions. The cotton growers were
wholly unprepared for what happen
ed. 1t had cost them heavily TO make
the crop and when they finally real
lied the situation they were helpless
in the face of it as were the banks
and business houses which were be-
hind them.
The relief which is now in sight
cannot repair the losses which the
South has suffered in the past elev-
en- months. All that can now be done
Is to put the industry as a whole
once more upon it's feet. Two things
make the prospect that this is going
to be done a cheerful one. One is the
fact that beyond all question the
cotton acreage has been cut substan-
TALLY and the likelihood is that the
cotton yield will be cut even more
substantially. Nothing could have
been done to reestablish a fair price
for cotton if bumper crop had been
produced this year. A reduced crop
having been assured, we now have in
the second place the definite promise
of President Harding and Secretary
Hoover that the Administration at
Washington is prepared to lend such
assistance as may be in it's power to-
ward improving conditions.
Former Senator John L. McLaurin,
of South Carolina. to whom Mr. Hoo
ver's statement was addressed, be-
lieves that it should have the effect
of putting up the price of cotton i'm
mediately. Surely it should put fresh
heart in the cotton growers and busi-
ness men of the South President
Harding has confined himself to a
general pledge of interest in and con-
Germ for the welfare of the cotton
growers and the business interests
allied with them. Mr.. Hoover makes
specific recommendations which in
clude recommendations for more lib
eral credits in the Southern States
on more liberal terms; organized ex-
port credit machinery to assist in
marketing American cotton in Eu-
rope: and an improved warehouse
system the certificates of which
would become the basis of mobile
credit and would pass as actual de-
livery OF the cotton. thus implying
not only guaranteed warehouse in
tergrity. but a complete determina-
ton of grade, quality and quantity"
These measures are definite and prac-
tieal and as they are put into opera
tion the benefits flowing from them
should become increasingly appar-
ent.
The way is opening for the agricul-
tural interests of the South to get
back on profitable basis. Washing
ton cannot put us On such a basis but
Washington can help and President
Harding and Mr.. Hoover have shown
their readiness to lend such help as
lies in their power. 1t is for the South
to make use Of the remedies which
are thus rendered available. We have
passed through a grueling experience
and IL is not easy to bring about a
revival of the spirit of effort and en-
terprise which is urgently required
put such a revival must be had.
There is tremendous encoura cement
In the developments which have tax
ell place this week. They are signifi-
cant OF q changing attitude toward
the South and the cotton industry on
the part of the country as whole.
Until now we have had scant sympa-
thy from the public and the business
interests Of other sections They are
seeing at last. and the stand taken by
President Harding and Mr. Hoover
will impress upon them that the
prosperity of the South cannot be
destroyed without grave injury to the
whole nation.