Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-20
Raising Standards of Living IN
the Cotton-Gro,Oing South

UST what is the basic purpose OF the
1 Georgia Cotton Growers Cooperative
y Association and it's seven kindred bod
les in the Southern States? 1t is not merely to
procure more money, answers Mr.. Carl Will
liams. president of the American Cotton
Growers Exchange. "That is a means to an
end. The end itself is the Improvement OF the
standard of living of the cotton South" So he
writes in the Manufacturers Record, ana
adds: more money to the grower OF cot
ton means glass windows in the houses, con-
yenienees in the home, more and Detter tools
for cotton culture, better clothes Ior the
family, better schools for the chlldren,
larger buying power for the South, and
greater realization of citizenship on the part
of Southern farmers and their families All
these things follow in the wake of prosperity,
and it is for these things that the OKLA
homa' plan of cotton marketing came 70 Pc
This broad, true Interpretation should pc
horne in mind both by the business ana
banking leaders and by the rank and file
of farmers who are carrying forward the CO.
Operative system. Let them remember tnat
as they succeed in naterial1zlng TINS goou
plan they are enriching the total life OF thelr
commonwealth. They are clearing the way
not only to new prosperity but also 10
new freedom. They are achieving through
economic progress larger measure OF human
well-being With such ends to be gained, the
.promotion of the cooperative marketing loea
becomes doubly worth the support Oh every
thinking citizen. For it is in the advance
ment of the general standard of living that
every business and every community, urban
or rural must look for its own lasting
betterment
Because the Georgia Cotton Growers Co
operative Association and others like 1t DID
fair to set that standard greatly forward,
they are of fundamental Importance That
they will solve all the problems or cure all
the ills of Southern farming no one lmaglnes
But they will eliminate wastes and losses ana
inefficiencies which cost the farmer and
the South many millions of dollars and much
human happiness Truly has it been said
that while cotton has contributed immensely
to the nations wealth, nevertheless the sys-
tenn under which it has been produced and
sold "has kept the grower himself in q
position where his own best efforts resulted
merely in the exchange OF years WORK
for a cancelled crop mortgage" Ii that
state of affairs can be reformed or consider
ably alleviated every province OF southern
interests, commercial as well as agricultural,
social as we'll as economic, will be heartened
and enriched This is the great objective OF
the cooperative cotton marketing associa-
tions in Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas,
Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona.
Already they are accomplishing substan-
tial results, not by methods at all strange or
spectacular but simply through the applica-
I
have brought to the service of their farmer
members the knowledge and skill of experts
in grading, classifying and selling cotton.
They have provided a system of prompt
warehousing that prevents a great deal of
loss heretofore incurred through damage and
exposure, and also system of insurance that
protects against fire and other hazards. They
have demonstrated that the gradual and
orderly marketing of cotton is as feasible
as it is profitable, and to the advantage of
the spinner as well as the producer. They
have enlisted, in the eight states where now
organized, a membership of approximately one
hundred and thirty thousand farmers; and
have secured the confidence of conservative
bankers, as well as United States government
officials, to the extent of millions of dollars
in loans.
With so good beginning and a prospect
so fair, this movement may be expected to
make splendid history. It's elimination OF
wastes and its bringing forth of opportunities
will add largely, no doubt, to the south's
net income from cotton-and that will be
business history of prime importance. But
vastly more significant will be the reflection
of this in home and school and community
spirit-for that will be human history Of
eternal value.