The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-03-25
CALLS ON BANKS
TO HELP CURTAIL
MANNING URGES COTTON PRO.
DUCERS TO FACE FACTS

! MANNING URGES COTTON PRO
DUCERs TO FACE FACTS
Says Poor Business Sense 10 Raise
Low Grade Cotton. Small Crop
Means Money
The State, %.
! An urgent appeal to the farmers
! of South Carolina to plant less cotton
i and more foodstuffs is made by for
mer Governor Richard l. Manning IN
statement issued yesterday. he
declares that to plant another normal
crop of cotton means hard times for
every farmer and every business in
terest in the South. He urges that
, the banks lead the South to prosper
ity in the present crisis by ins.s:lng
upon a radical reduction in cotton
acreage.
The statement issued by Mr.. Man
ming follows:
"The cotton South faces a crisis.
She is impoverished by the wealth
in quantity Of her chief staple cot
: ton.
"Let us face the truth and face the
facts.
"The government estimates cotton
carryover on July 81, 1921, at 1885,
2O8 bales. The Memphis committee
estimates that if the cotton crop OF
1921 shall be the same as the crop
of 1920, we will have a carryover on
july 81, 1922 of 16,517,909 bales
enough cotton to last nearly two
years.
| "Get it out of your head that any
thing but the supply and the world s
ability to buy, fixes the price of cot
tom says DR.. Bradford Knapp.
"In 1920 South Carolina imported
in corn, SIS, 100000; hay $l2,0OO,-
600; oats s1O,Ooo,00o; meat s2O,oo0,-
600; flour $4,000, 900; eggs sS,ooo'-
600 and so on, and other foodstutfs,
all of which we can raise cheaper than
we can buy them with money from
cotton.
"The cotton crop Of 1920 was the
most expensive crop ever raised. we
made more than we could harvest,
and have more low grade cotton than
ever before. The price has fallen
from over 40 cents to 10 cents basis
middluing. But, the cotton on hand
will not average middling and the aV-
ersge price is much below 10 cents
Is there any business sense IN raising
anv more low grade cotton? Cotton
is below prewar prices. Fertilizers
labor. hardware, foodstuffs, and ev-
ervthing that is needed in making a
crop are far above pre-war prices
| Therefore, there is not a gambler
chance for profit in raising a norman
crop this year. 1t is certain, unes-
capable loss. Land owners, share
cropers and tenant farmers Will all
he subject to loss, as we'll as every
other business interest in the So1tn.
The South should and must continue
TO raise cotton, but, it can not 40 50
| unless it returns a living wage and
| a fair profit to the producer.
"The remedy is self-ev;den1.
| "The Memphis plan provides 1ha'
two-thirds Of the cultivated area
should be in food and feed crops ana
one-third of the area in cotton. Ihls
nlan will increase food production
and decrease production OF eotten'
"When manufacturers find that
there is over-production they curtail
production. There is an excess sup,
nlv of cotton, more than the worlo
can buy. 1t is, therefore, good 0uSl-
ness for us to reduce cotton proauc-
ton by reducing cotton acreage
Every agency that will convince the
cotton producer of the necessity u
,aduction should be actively engaged
"Cnr hanks must be looked to as
leaders in this proposition. 10 Uaem'
farmers turn for advice, for help ana
for credit. The banks have saved tne
South from bankruptcy by holalns
cotton from a market in which there
= little demand. In this acute Crisis
! they IL .ys, can lead the South to prosperity :
bv insisting on a radical reduction l"
cotton acreage. o,
"To plant another normal crop
means hard times for every FARMER
/ l,,;,occ interest IN lne