The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-08-02
COTTON GROWERS
OF FOUR STATES
NOW ORGANIZED
ORGANIZATION OF THESE FOUR
STATES ONLY A STARTING
POINT OF GREAT NATION.
WIDE MOVEMENT

New York, Aug. within the last
six months $4,000 cotton growers in
Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Missis-
sippi, producing nearly l,5O0 900 bales
OF cotton annually, have organized the
worlds largest farmers cooperative
marketing association. Organization OF
these four States is, however only the
starting po41t Of L great l.ation-widu
movement which is in process OF de-
velcpment in eight southern states
producing Sc per cent of the American
supply Of cotton. Representative grow
ers in the remaining four states OF the
union producing cotton have already
met with the states now organizing
and have unanimously endorsed the
plans of the cotton men.
The idea has spread like wildflre
through every cotton growing state In
the union. BY the leaders in agricul.
ture and business alike II is univer-
sally admitted that the cooperative
plan now reing adopted by the cotton
growers should eventually raise the
standard OF living in the South. take
the women and children out Of the
cotton fields and vitality affect the
prosperity not only OF the cotton
growers but bankers and merchants as
we'll
There Is an old adage among those
whose business brings them in close
contact with the farmer, that cooper
ative marketing is born OF adversely"
The cotton growers OF the south In
general have always been held up as
an example OF standard Of living
lower than the general average
throughout the United States. The
farmers firmly believe that under the
cysiem OF marketing cotton which has
always prevailed they have never re.
celved their fair share OF the consum.
er's dollar: that the market price OF
cotton on the New York Cotton EX-
change has never been the basis upon
which the local cotton buyer bought
from the farmers.
The individual purchasing power Of
the farmers OF the south has always
been less than the purchasing power
OF farmers OF other localities. When a
farmer sells a product az very haz-
ardous margin cf profit he impairs his
purchasing power. When he sells at q
loss he must take his losses out OF his
standard OF living The south has al
ways been behind.
Deflation Brought Awakening
when the price Of cotton was at Us
hlrh.water mark OF last year most Of
the money received by the cotton
rrowcrs was used 10 pay of Ions.
standing debts which prices Of other
years had not been able 20 cover. Then
came the unexamplcd deflation in the
price OF all agricultural products last
fall. Tho price OF cotton fell to ap-
proximately e5 per cent OF its pre-was
buying power. wipinf out all OF the
profits which high prices had given
/ the grower and leaving him In a
worse sltuation than ever. Dcflation.
however. proved the psychological In,
eentlye for the immediate adoption Of
suggested remedies for a situation
which had existed ever since cotton
became the southern crop.
Early last year Aaron Saplro. OF
California. recognized authority on CO
operative marketing. had made sus-
res,ions for improving the system Of
selling cotton. The desire for a better
system FIRST found expression In Okla
homa. In Oklahoma City Carl VIII
iiams. editor Of the Oklahoma Farmer
s,ockman and enc OF the south's most
prominent agricultural leaders, called
on Aaron saplro 60 present his plan TO
Oklahoma farmers. bankers and busi-
ress men. The soundness Of the plan
was al once evident. and Under the
leadership II williams organization OF
the cotton growers was commenced.
within six months $4,000 growers.
producing 400. 900 bales OF cotton an
rualiy. worth under normal conditions.
i7s .ooo. goo had organized the oklaho-
ma Cotton Growers Association as the
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