The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-12-17
COTTON GROWERS WANT TO BE
CONTROLLED"

the l4th when southern cotton farmers
voted on the retention or rejection o.
Bankhead cotton control for another year,
and that is that big majority of the cot
ton growers are willing to have their bust
ness run for another twelve months by the
United States Agricultural Department.
If that suits the cotton growers there Is
very little to be said for the present by
other classes of the country's citizenry.
Ours is only to stand by and put up the
cash to pay processing taxes, bonuses and
the numerous other costs of controlled
production"
Of course nobody in the South-wheth-
cr they live in or outside the cotton grow
ing section of the South-is opposed to
fair and profitable prices for cotton. The
business of the cotton country is based III
a large, measure on the growing and mar
keting of cotton; and this business affects
in a measurable degree general business
conditions in adjoining areas where no
cotton is produced. The cotton business
played large part in hosting the sum
total of the business of the United States
for many years and cotton at one time sup
piled the larger part of this country's ex-
ports Certainly, the people of the entire
South are anxious to see the cotton grow
ers sell their crops each season for salts
factory profits.
But in spite of this desire to promote
the prosperity of our cotton growing fei-
low citizens, there are some of us who
cannot Stultify our conSciences to the e.
tent of Joining in the Bankhead bill bally-
hoo. We believe the cotton growers are
trading their birthright and their inheri-
tance in their goodly land for what will
turn out to be very soggy and unpalat;-
bic mess of pottage. We believe the sys-
tenn of Senator Bankhead and the United
States Agricultural Department is rotten
at the core. We believe the foundations
of control are constructed, not of sub
Stantial foundation material, but of wood,
and are already far gone from the attacks
of the termiteS of Socialism.
For example-the price of twelve to
thirteen cents is not high price for cot
ton-and it is certain that all the devices
and articles Of controlled production"
would not have maintained the prices at
present levels, if the government had not,
in addition, 'pegged" the market at twelve
cents. We are assured that all these de-
vices are emergency measures, that pro-
duction is to be held down until the sur
plus has been wiped out, and then restric-
lions will be removed and former condi-
tons in cotton production and the cotton
business will be restored. The fallacy OF
this line of reasoning should be patent t.
anyone who will give the problem a mo.
ment's thought.
If the cotton growers have produced toc
much cotton in the past, they will do Sc
again in the future unless control is con
tinued indefinitely; and if that course i
continued indefinitely, then the consumers
of cotton products must continue inde6
nitely to pay cotton growers a bonus t.
grow cotton and the crops Of the futur,
will be restricted to domestic needs. be
cause control" will absolutely destroy tn
export market.
All the cotton belt needs to produce
so-called surplus IS one season. This mean