The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-10-09
CHEAPER COTTON

thus states the argument of Mr.. Ran
dali N. Durfee, Chairman of the
Cotton Buyers Committee of the
New England Cotton Manufacturers
Association:
''His lengthy contention for
cheap cotton was based primari-
ly upon the worldwide use of
cotton fabrics as a material for
clothing, and with the raw sta
pie cheap it meant the shutting
out of competitive fabrics. Fur
thermore, that cheap cotton
would keep the mills of the
world busy and appeal to the
purchasing power of the masses.
His admonition to the cotton
farmers was to economize more
in the cultivation and growth of
cotton so as to produce the sta
pie at lower average cost per
pound"
We think that New England and
other places as well have an incor-
rect idea of the real situation with
regard to cotton and the future
price of cotton. 1t is true, as stated
by others, that the question of MAX
ing sufficient cotton crop is be-
coming question affecting the peo-
pie of the whole nation. Undoubted-
ly greater efforts will be made by
the federal and state authorities to
find a remedy for the boil weevii
damage which is causing the short
crops of cotton. We believe that
sooner or later, and we hope before
very. long, a means of fighting the
weevil will be discovered which will
to large extent eliminate the dam
age caused by this insect. However,
there will always be sufficient dam
age done to keep US from making a
large crop of cotton. There will be
no more bumper crops. l.
= But in order to make a crop of
eleven or twelve millions of bales,
the people of the South will work
h,rder, work more consistently, and
go to much greater expense than
they have heretofore gone to in or
der tQ produce crop. This expense
is going TO enter into the cost of the
crop and must be reflected in the
price. Five years from today so
large a part of the cotton crop will
be sold through cooperative associ-
ations that proper return for the
crop will be demanded and received.
That proper return will be the
cost of each pound of cotton and
reasonable profit for the producer.
Henry 7. Ford builds his motor cars,
calculates the cost, adds his profit,
and thus makes the price of his prod
uct. The farmer is going to do the
same. When he finally does that, cot
ton will bring what it is worth on
the markets of the world. The price
will no longer be fixed by spectators
and gamblers.
When the farmers come to fix the
price of growing a pound of cotton,
it not going to be fixed on pauper
labor either. The time has come
when the laborers on the farm can
find other employment. There will
be nobody left to produce cotton un-
less the price received is such as to
justify the man who makes it in
remaining on the farm for the pur.
pose of making it. Then again, the
thriftless class of farmers who have
planted in the spring, worked a little
when there was no fishing and hunt
ing to do, and gathered in the fall
can no longer grow cotton. 1t take:
intelligence now as we'll as labor
And intelligence demands its price
1t will be paid for when applied te
farming as we'll as when applied II
other callings.
For these reasons we believe th'
day of cheap cotton is over. The price
may not soar at once, nor the: next
may not soar at once, nor next year
nor the next, but there will be