The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-06

PLANS TO HELP
.,. .. COTTON FARMERS

help the south move it's surplus of
cotton are being formulated by the
President, the secretary of the treas
ury, and the war finance board. The
matter was discussed at the cabinet
meeting with a view of reaching an
! agreement on the most practical and
workable scheme to get prompt re-
suits. g..
It has been ascertained that there
is an actual demand for American
grown cotton in 1Germny, France,
Italy, and the smaller nations but
the question of credit must be solved
before it can be satisfied.
President Harding and his official
family went over the whole situa-
ton. =
It was agreed at the cabinet ses-
sion that aid can be given the cotton
producers by the putting into effect
Of some plan for long time credit for
foreign buyers to enable them to
take the cotton now. Under the d.
rection of Angus Wilton. Mclean,
who is producer, and a heavy loser
by the slump in cotton, the war f.
nance corporation is working out a
program that should help the farmer
sell his stock on hand and encourage
him to put in Il crop this year, Some
definite proposition is expected
within the next few days.
Cotton farmers are badly depress-
ed. They have no heart to 60 ahead
with a new crop while it is almost
impossible to get rid Of =, what they
already have.
Reports received by the depart
ment of agriculture from many
states show that the farmers are off
cred all the labor they can use at
greatly reduced wages. The contrast
with the conditions that prevailed
this time last year is very marked.
New York, New Jersey and the New
England. states report that farm
hands are much easier to get and the
wages required are reduced. A SINH.
lar state of affairs exists throughout
the nation. 49,, ... ..
Agents Of the department have in.
vestigated in every state of the
Union and made reports to Wash
ington within the last 80 days. The
south, where cotton is king, and to.
bacco large crop, the number of
laborers offering is far In excess of
the demand and wages have dropped
! to the pre-war levels in some com
! munIties. ~ -"
Here are some Of the reports as
they came in: ."- 49,. ~.-
Alabama-"Labor supply is more
/ plentiful, and less expensive" Della.
ware, Arkansas and Arizona make
similar reports. North Carolina
| South Carolina, Georgia and Florida
plentiful and. at greatly reduced
wages"
Illinois-"Farm labor is plentiful
but is still asking more than the far
mers are willing to pay"
Maryland-"The supply is equa
to the demand, and the wage asked
is 80 per cent less than year ago.
From Indiana, Kansas and Louis
ianna, the reports are: Supply
ample, and wages reduced"
Michigan-"Wages higher thar
farmers feel able to pay, but supply
is plentifully large" Montana, sup
py ample, demand light, and wages
reduced"
New England, reports reduction
wages 20 per cent and more.
The south is finding labor abun.
dant. Many farmers would like to
drop out of the game altogether this
year, hire no labor, buy no fertilizer
and plant no seed"
Reports from all parts of the cot
ton belt indicate an inclination to
"rest a year." However, if Mr.. Nc
Lean and his associates r. devise a
plan by which cotton hungry coun-
tries can get supply, and pay for it
when they have more money, then
the price of the king will rise and
the planter. 60 forward with his