The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-12-18
COTTON FAMINE
INDICATED NOW
RECORD FOR YEARS-CROP
PRODUCED IN 1922 WILL BE
SMALLEST SINCE 1908, AC-
CORDING TO THE FORE
CAST.

Washington, Dec. IT, Harvie
Jordon of st. Matthews, S. c., ma
tional secretary and treasurer OF
the American Cotton association,
= said today, relative to the present
and future cotton situation:
"The recent forecast of the fed.
eral crop reporting baresu indi-
Gates the smallest cotton crop
grown in the United States since
1908, with the exception Of the dis
. astrously short crop of 1921. The
heaviest reduction in production
this year is in the old cotton grow
ing states east of the Mississippi
river. If better success is not had
in 1928 world famine in raw cot
/ ton supplies is definitely assured.
The most serious factor develop
ing in connection with the cotton
boil weevil menace is found in the
steady and increasing exodus of
thousands Of negro and small white
tenant farmers from the South At
lantic and Middle Gulf cotton
states. The white farmers, with
their families, are moving to cotton
mill centers in the Carlinas and
Georgia, while the negro farmers
are migrating to large industrial
centers in the Middle, Eastern and
Western states. Due to the extreme
hazards of growing cotton under
heavy weeHl infestation and in
the absence of usual credits from
landlords, supply merchants or local
banks, these people are becoming
discouraged and. forced to secure
other employment to obtain liv-
ing wage for themselves and fami-
lies.
Numbers of cotton plantations
are being depopulated and this con-
dltion presents most serious agri-
cultural economic situation in the
sectins affected. The negro farm
laborers who have gone and who
are leaving are not likely ever to
return, There have been no young
mules shipped into the old cotton
states for farm purposes since the
spring Of 1920, and this shortage
in mule power, together with hum
dreds of abandoned farms, gives a
gloomy outlook for cotton produc-
tion in 1923.
"The American Cotton Associa-
ton is making every effort through
the establishments of county dem
onstration farms and boil weevil
meaures, to overcome the disasters
of the weev1 in 1928.
Il came here to attend the con-
veation Of the National Coopera-
tive Marketing Associations, as a
representative of the American
Cotton association, which has ac-
lively aided in the organization of I
cooperative. marketing associations
throughout the cotton belt.
'FOr the last three years the
American Cotton association has
waged persistent fight for federal
Legislation for comprehensive
System Of intermediate agriculture
banking credits. Officials Of the as
sociation' have spent time in Wash
Fngton and in appearing before the
senate agricultural committee in
advocacy Of this imperatively need
ed legislation. Conditions now ap-
pear satisfactory, and American
Farmers, I feel,, can be assured of. q
pollution of this matter in the near
future, as both the present admin
tration and the congress ere def
pitely committed to the speedy en-
letment of an agricultural banking
Pin that will give necessary credits
% farmers. The advocacy of this
legislation is among the principal
easons of my presence in Washing
on, together with other officials,
Z the American Cotton associa-
on" Il