The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-30
HIGHER PRICE COTTON

HIGHER PRICE COTTON
The Oklahoma legislature has under con-
sideration the farmers warehouse bill which,
as originally introduced, carried an appro-
priation of two million dollars
The primary object Of the measure, as al
legged by those who originated the idea, is to
better the condition of the cotton raiser
through enabling him to hold his cotton for
higher prices. The ultimate fate of the bill
will depend, we fear, upon the amount of
politics which the Legislators may find them
selves in position to play
Already, according to reports received
from the capital, the senate has pruned the
original bill and revamped it and changed
its phraseology and altered its general phys
cal appearance until the man who created it
would not recognize it were he TO meet it
in the road, with its hat off.
Alteration Number /. and the one Of
paramount Importance, as applied to the bill
by the senate bereft ii of the two millions
which it carried with it as an appropriation
from the states funds. At first glance this
would seem to be fatal wound to the pro-
posed law, but the amendment which cuts off
the appropriation provides that counties in
which the warehouse measure may become
effective, should it become a law. will have
the right to vote bonds so that each county,
as a unit, may finance its own farmers.
Should the measure with this proposed
amendment, be enacted into law, there is a
possibility that some good may result, that
some relief for the farmers may be found.
For, as amended, it is possible that the men
who live in other sections of the state sec
H..
grown, could be helped by their counties
along the lines of agriculture which they pur-
sue, without being called upon to help bear
the burdens of the southern. or cotton-grow-
! ing part of Oklahoma.
Specifically viewed it might be consd-
cred worthy matter for the legislature to
appropriate funds for the purposes proposed
in the warehouse bill, but viewed from a dis
passionate standpoint, and the matter of delv-
ing into the funds in the state treasury for the
relief of any producing enterprise will prove
not only a bad but a. dangerous precedent,
and unless the warehouse bill, or any kim
dred measure carrying an appropriation from
the state funds, be drafted in such a way that
those funds will be protected and turned over
to the farmer intact, we greatly fear that the
man for whose uses the law was originally
intended will draw down the smaller per-
centage Of the benefit derived.
We may be wrong, but according to our
diagnosis, to borrow a term from the medical
profession, the principal avenue open for sta
biizng the prices of cotton, wheat and corn
will be found through national legislative
enactment, similar to the measure proposed
by Senator Capper, of Kansas-the enactment
and enforcement of laws regulating stock
markets and prohibiting gambling in futures.
We do not believe that any system of storage
or holding farm products of any class or kind
can be devised which will result in a perma-
nent stablization of the markets, but we do
believe that the United States government can
help materially by legislation which will put
the bars up against the speculator and render
impossible the cornering of any commodity
I Understand. this is not an argument
against the organization of cotton growers
associations. For we do believe that such as.
: sociations will prove of material help in
bringing about the desired end, the elimna.
tion of the stock-market gambler and the
/ resultant bringing Of the price of cotton
grain and livestock to a level which will
, admit Of the grower producing at a profit.
And we further believe that the ware
housebill with the proposed amendment
which will permit each country to vote bonds
to finance the proposition as il will be found
I locally. will be more practical and freer from
2 political tommyrot and bombast than can pos
1 Sibly be any measure carrying with it pro
: vision which will permit a general delyinl