Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

TWO What the South is Doing to Save Its Cotton Crop; Holding Movement Spreading Fast Through Dixie MEMPHIS BUYS 1,000 BALES—WILL TAKE CARE OF MEMPHIS’ TERRITORY. Over a thousand hale* of cotton were taken off Uxe market yester day at the "huy-a-hiUe" meeting. If every man in th« South were able to put up and would do no, and hold the cotton a winy from the mar ket until the price ia 10 centn, our difficulties would be solved. The "huy-n-ahnle" movement may not result In the transfer of a great number of bales, but it ls one of tho thing* that will impress upon the grower of cotton who 1» able to hold It for a price, the necessity of doing so. This cotton siiuation lias brought some tremendous lessons home to us whh-h later on w* should use to our great profit. Hut the tiling that concerns the South most now. and which concerns ttie Memphis territory probably more than any other in the South, Is how to geg a price some thing near the cost of production of cotton or how to get money or credit to carry cotton along until 11. reacting a better figure. It the people of the United States and the world were Impressed with the fact that the South did not Intend to grow a big crop next year, this would he a great factor toward stimulating the present prices. The American mills intend to run full time nnd If they can get. cot ton around rt cents or 7 ceirts some will buy enough cotton this year to run tlieSn through next year. If they are successful In this, then next year the American market for cotton would be filled. The manufacturer* are not. In business for their health. They would take every legitimate business advantage of the situation. If they can hammer cotton down to f> cel its they will do so. They know that if they can get cotton cheap and are; able themselves to carry the cloth any length of time, they will get good Prices for It. If they can Impress upon the confused rrilnd of the cotton trails tho fact that the acreage next year would he reduced, the present crop would go at a good prlco. In order to get the northern and eastern hankers to make comfort able advances on cotton, If we desire to hold It, they must, be sure that Ule market ii«<t year will not he glutted. The plan to warehouse 2,000,000 bales of cptton In Memphis ts credit able to the energy of some of our people, but if Memphis cati take care of Its old customers snd do tts part toward caring for ttie cotton grown tn the ordinary Memphis territory, then Indeed will Memphis have done a gTeat work. If a man <0 miles from Memphis ships cotton tiers and another ships It from n point which ordinarily does not send cotton to Memphis, surely the care should be for the man close to home. If Memphis takes care of ttie cotton It can, and Clarkedale, Green wood, Ilyershurg, Covington, Jackson, Forrest City and Helena, will take care of all the cotton they can, and the merchant In the small towns take care of all he can, the planter who Is able to keep upon his farm part of his crop, and If this were done In all the Houthern territory; then would the solution of the difficulty be secured. The committee appointed to confer with eastern and northern bankers can do a great work. Th# gentlemen who organized the “huy-a-ahale” movement yesterday are doing their part. If all of us work with a determination to do the very beat we ran for ourselves nnd for our neighbors during the extraordinary condition that now exists, within a short time we will begin to enjoy the result of our •ffort. Journal Puthaa Movement Buy-a-Bale of Cotton. Hata off to the patriotic newnpa pern of Oeorglfi. i.nd the Houth, the newepHpet a wirh a mind for wide thoughts snd a hen rt for public serv ice, They have sr*Mprd the mean in* end the opportunity of the ftuy-a- Bale-of-Cotton movement; they ere support In* It, urging It forward, ex- P’HinhiK It. nroiisln* snd organizing; public sentiment In Its behalf They hfivu constituted themetslvos the n<l - guard of the grout campaign to anvc and upbuild the Interests of the Smith In this cruotui hour. From Texas to ths (arollnss, newNpnper* that sre close to the peo ple ami loyal to thalr cmnoninitlea arc Mpreadlng the Huy-a-Bale alogsn. They realbie th* ; iW*l of public m llmaiaiim rightly directed. They know that SOnieiiiln* must he (ton* forthwith to rsllsvs the cotton att ention. Thev nee tlmt thin move ment ha* definite and Immediate |„,n*lhilltlcs for good; nnd eo they are cm miratylng It with all tha energy and ratonrert at their cotn m. 'u ni. There I* no spirit of small jrst *nsy among those faithful workers (if the press. It Is happening In many esses that competing newspa pei ntn the mime town nre striving side by side to develop the liuy-n- R*le campulgn. They nre serving tho People, serving the highest economic Internets of thetr community. No newspaper that Is true to Its nrtsston In society c«n afford to bang back from this great enter prise. No newspaper wiwtliy of public Confidence will do less titan Its tit - final when public welfare In at stake. Let the work of Southern news papers ao splendidly begun be press ed forward with unanimous *n (leanror. MANUFACTURERS RECORD EDITOR iMoonaet "euy-a balk’ move Rome, Qa. — Unqualified Indorsement of the "buya-hsia-or-cotton ‘ movement Is given by Richard 11 Kdmonds. editor of Iha Manufacturera' Record, ami tut au thority on ttia Kouth's economic and fi nancial problems. In a teloaram to the Items Tribune-Herald Mr. Edmonds aays "Tit* Manufacturers' Record heartily cotigrattilstre Secretary AVheellng. of the Rome , luunlier of commerce, on the aug geetloti contained In Ills proposition fir the solution of ths ootton problem, unit to* effort to arouse sufficient Interest throughout the Houth to suable tide sec tion, ihrough tndtvuius! purchases of u hail, of eo4ton, to large > fin.tee Ilia rrnp If the South would only display Its faith in lit own host product, a seapls that Is as field ten yesr* from now s* It Is on th* dev It 1* picked, and will carry out Mr Wheeling - suggestion, «*• some other plan of Ilk* nstur*. a gyeni good will lie short') art'ompUahad. "Th* South’* prims staple can lie kept Indefinitely. Wheat, corn and other pro duct* rapidly deteriorate In vslue. If kept for many months, but cotton l*e - tieelly never deteriorates lit the face of the** facts, the South Invariably loses talth In Its own product In an emergency like this, amt her lormers rush their cot ton to market Each seems to be anx ious to see how quickly he can unload. Never was there a time when the equa tion wood nno-o Justify th* South In having falih tn the future of its cotton, and anowlrtE by Its works the reality of Its faith and Its own Invincible strength of chsmrter Public sentiment 1 <Mikt change th* whole situation almost overnight. If counts* Instead of fear as to th* tnereaaed UiLu. value of cotton would take possession of the people of ttie South Mr Wheeling's plait. If car r!#d Into effect, would undoubtedly help to create this spTtt of faith and cour age " NEW YORK COMMERCIAL EDITOR WRITES THE HERALD ON THE COTTON SITUATION. Mr Thomas J Hamilton. Managing Editor, Ths Augusta tlersld. Augusts. Ua Dear Sir; Your courteous favor of ths 14th Inst received A* you know th* relationship of ttie New Turk Commer cial to ootton has b**n a very Intimate .41* throughout a long pi—"tod of year* AVe have sought st all times tu present tarts and statistics In a maimer that 4Wu ld be fair to all concerned, and as veil perhaps further know we have not hesitated to condemn some of the prac tises in vogue on ih# New York Cotton ESchang* during tits past. The advent of the European war has been a particularly unfortunate thing at the moment f<w the Southern tanner and our sympathy goes out strongly to him AYe have written and publlahed a go>ut deal tn the way of oui own views re specting the beet method for him to pursue In order tu occur* the best price for his present snd future ,*ops. and tn addition hare published oplnons pro and ,on ftp** others more or less quali fied 10 disc life this Important subjx-t. Hint,dins out of It all eppeera to 1* the fact that tt I* t lesrl) op to the farmer and the banker* of the country to sc ordH- thetr affairs as not to dump on to u limited market an amount of cotton that will break the price to 11 ruinous tinals. If the South will consider that rotten has an actual value of any 10 cents nnd will stand strongly for that price, xectirlng such financial nsHlstnnre ns will erinhle them to hold their cotton, and provided conditions are In a badly wrought up stale when our next planting s*nnon arrive*, If the farmer will cur tail his cotton acreage anil devote n part of his effort to raising other things than cotton we believe that there will he no serious catastrophe result. We shall lie very glad Indeed to receive your views or to serve you In any manner possible at any time. A'eTy truly your* WM. MOSELEY, Publisher. TOWN AFTER TOWN IN THE SOUTH ENDORSES "BUY A BALE” MOVEMENT. West Point, Ga. —The largest meet ing of the business men of AVest Point of recent yeßrs was the one held Mon day afternoon to consider llie cotton situation h* It Is today. Phil llage dom was made chairman of tho moot ing and AV. Trox Bankston, secretary. A motion to appoint n committee of five to draft resolution* allowing the attitude of tha business men of AVeat Point on the cotton proposition re sulted In ttie clmlr naming B. li. Hill. \V. U. I.enter, J L?. McKcinle, VA’. Trox Bnnkston end J. T. Johnson. The following resolution submitted by l)r. C. K., Pntlllo, on motion of AV. Trox Hnnketon, seconded by AV. O. La nier, was unnnlmously adopted by the meeting; To have all dealer* and consumers demand that all articles possible be packed in eaoke and bags of cotton. JACKSON BUSINESS MEN ARE PLANNING TO BUY. Jaokton, Ga.—The buy a hale of cotton" movement will he taken up tn Jackson aertoiialy by the business men this week and It ta thought that many bales will he bought from the farmers at ll> cent* a pound. Cotton is com ing Into tho local market* at a rapid rate and well-informed bualnca* lead erg realize that the situation must he met and handled at once. There la ample warehouse room tn Jackson t > ator* several thousand hale* of the k pie nnd those who help out by pur chiiHlug a hale will find no trouble In storing It. One business firm he* advertised that It will give 10 cents a pound for cotton to Its customers on account and this luis had the effect of stimulating the market considerably. The plnn of having every huslneas man possible buy a bale of cotton from farmers bus been widely discussed and indorsed throughout Butts county. DeKALB COUNTY FARMERS TO PLANT MORE FOODSTUFFS Dacatur, Ga. —A large crowd of mer chants, farmer* uud bankers mot Tuesday tn th* DeKalb county court house to discuss the cotton situation A\’. K AYitham was the principal speaker. Sentiment t* faat eryatallrtng upon the fact that the 1915 crop must be re duced If the present situation 1* to he r 'medlcd. Th* farmer* of DeKalb are planning to reduce their acreage In cotton ami raise more food crope Mr. AA'lthnm stated Hint every bank In which he vvaa interested or had In fluence would refuse 10 land money hereafter to any farmer who iltd not raise hi* rat tuns ut home. CU"HBFRT WOMEN BUY COTTON WITH LIBRARY LOT FUNDS. Cuthbert, Ga.—The Uuthbert Wom an* flub Tuesday called a special meeting to dlscuga way* and means of helping th* farmers to sell thetr cot ton at a fair figure These seventy* five women took of their fund* rnt»e 1 to buy a lot tor a public library the sum of $2Mi with which th*y will bu> five hales of cotton nt 10 cents per pound. They mean thla aa a begin ning for they have organised them selves Into a committee of the whole club * » induce as many others in town to do the same thing. 400 BALES SUBSCRIBED FOR AT BUCHANAN MEETING Buchanan. Ga— At a mass meeting here Tunsdsx the "hux -a-bale-of-cot ton" plan wa* Indorsed and a commit-' lee of slxly-ftv* appointed to canvaag the lountx. Four hundred bale* were sub*, rlbed for. OCTOBER 10 WILL BE COTTON DAY IN WAYCROSO. Waycross, Ga. —ln organization for an active "buy-a-bale-of-eotton” cam paign, Wayeross people today have started a movement that Is expected to aid materially farmers of this sec tion. Hlxty-one bales of cotton were kold today within two hours, jiroducers agreeing to deliver all cotton October 10, which will he made a cotton day for Wayeross. No one Is asked to tako more than one bale, but several have ordered more. Ten cents a pound Is the stipulated price. THOMABVILLE BUYING TO HOLD FOR 12 CENTS. Thomasville, Ga. —The merchant* and business men of Thomasville havq decided to adopt the plan of buying several hales of cotton apiece and holding It at their places of business until It sells for 12 cents. The merchants are anxious to do all that Is possible to help out the farm ers and will give the best market prices for the cotton. They will he given the most liberal terms and everything done to assist them In holding on until brighter days cotne. ROME WOMEN TO WEAR GOODS MADE OF COTTON. Rome, Gjc- Tho Woman’s Club of Rome, has come to the assistance of the Home chamber of commerce and business men in the present crisis In financial affairs. The organization has obligated Its members to wear, so far as they can, only cotton goods. Other resolutions pledged the members to take care of all small obligations promptly, nnd to buy Roods at home whenever poslble. The club has al ready purchased a hale of cotton. WOODLAND CITIZENS PLEDGE TO BUY 250 BALES AT 10 CENTS. Woodland, Ga. —The “huv-a-bale-of eotton movement tvns started hero Monday and up to now tho business people here have pledged thomealves to buy hales Rt 10 rents per pound. It Is confidently expected that mere than 500 hales will be bought nnd held hers before the movement is over. "BUY-A-BALE” CAMPAIGN TAKEN UP IN GREENWOOD, S. C. Greenwood, H C. -The “buy-a-bale of cotton” movement which started recently har reached Greenwood, The agricultural committee, which met in the chamber of commerce office Mon dny afternoon, mapped out a campaign by which It Is hoped to get. not less tlisn 500 bales, and as many more as possible, for 10 cents a pound. The hales will he stored either at the ware house or at the home of the purchaser. GREENE COUNTY FARMERS HOLDING THEIR COTTON. Grssnsboro, Ga.— There Is not the slightest tendency among the farm ers of tlreene county to sell their cot ion nt ttie prevailing prices, which throughout the past week has not scone over 7 1-4 cents, in many Instances tho farmers are not even ginning thetr cotton, but after picking are storing It tn their barns. Others are using their first cotton to pay rent, while others are storing It In the local ware houses. EATONTON FALLS IN LINEt WOMAN IS FIRST BUYER. Eatonton, Ga. —The "buy-a-bale-of cotton" movement has reached Katon ton with enthusiasm, and one of Put nam's most loyal and patriotic women, Mrs. Kmnm L. Champion, Is the pur rhaser of the first hale at 10 cents per pound. Her example will undoubtedly tune a fine effect In Inspiring many cdhers tn old Putnam to enter enthu siastically Into this plan. STORAGE PRICE REDUCED BY DUBLIN WAREHOUSEMEN Dublin, Ga. —Warehouses hero have reduced the storage on cotton to far mers. From tire fourth month on the charge will he only SOo per hale to far mers holding their cotton. CONDITIONS BETTER FOR SPOT COTTON General Tone Improves and Panicky Peeling In South Give* Way t* Confidence. (New A'ork Herald). A further Improvement was report ed in the general tone of the spot cot ton situation yesterday. "Buy-a-Bale" clubs are springing up all over the Houth Hud while scat tering purchase* of single bales may seem a trifling proposition when com pared with the millions of hales In th* crop, they are being organized nt the very time when they will he most effective tn taking distressed cotton off th* market and tn the aggregate may prove a considerable factor tn eustatnlng prices during the period of greatest stress. Meanwhile the more important measures for financing and holding cotton are making rapid headway. Th* construction of warehouses 1* everywhere being pushed forward rapidly in the South tn order to real ize the greatest loan value of cotton and to obtain the full advantage of emergency currency. In some sec tions holding companion nre being formed with a view to buying up con siderable blocks of cotton aa un in x estment. These activities are evidently mak ing an tinpreaelon on the minds of growers, ami offer* now coming in from llie Southwest show a consider able recovery from recent low prices, while the spot market at Augusta as officially quoted yesterday showed a further advance of 1-l Sc. with wiles of 4U5 bales reported at 75*0 for mid dling. Canadian mills are reported to t>* buying considerable cotton, and there have been moderate purchases for ex* l»ort. hut local dealers state that New Knglnnxl mitts are still holding off in th* expectation of lower prices as picking become* more general, and as a matter of fact many traders will not consider the s|>ot eltuation to have undergone a satisfactory teat until available supplies reach their maxi mum • COTTON AS AN INVESTMENT. Thai American cotton at present prices wttt be recognised aa a won derful Investment cannot he doubted tn view of the record* of the past ten jeart. and th* requirement# of the THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA. world for its increasing and various uses. Estimates of the demand from countries not at war amount to dou ble their annual capacity, while it may be stated American spinners will make their purchases on a largely in creased scale whenever It becomes possible to do so, through the usual channels of the American exchanges. The demand for American cotton, which will follow the cessation of hostilities In Europe can only he es timated, but that it will exceed all previous records appears obvious, when the destruction of fabrics now going on without replenishment Is considered. That the South will plant a small acreage, relatively. In cotton and a greater area In foodstuffs should the war continue, is a foregone conclusion.—New York “American." A CARGO OF COTTON. A cargo of cotton left Galveston a few days ago for Barcelona, Spain, stowed away in the hold of the Span ish steamship Miguel M. Phillos. It was of generous size, consisting of r.,352 bales. This was the first cot ton cargo from the United States since Kaiser Wilhelm drew the sword. All credit to tho Dons for being the first to lift the embargo. Spain has a glorious chance to profit through the folly of her neighbors and the more Cotton her spindles consume the more Joy we wish her. PLANNING FOR STORING THE COTTON CROP. (Wall Street Jouranl). Voluntary associations ihroughout the South, such as farmers’ unions and the Southern Colton Association have begun organizing counties and districts to meet this war crisis in cot ton. The state presidents of the cot ton association have called meetings for September 22nd, following the county meetings In each of the states on September 19th, after which the central meeting will he held nt New Orleans on September 29th. Farmers' Institutes, bunkers, merchants, Job bers, railroads, insurance companies, and all business interests Involved In Ihe welfare of cotton are urged to In sure the protection of cotton white in the hands of the producer. The warehouse committee advised that cotton withheld from market should he distributed In small quanti ties rather than congested at ports and other centers, as a means of avoiding any abnormal fire losses. Otherwise, any large fire at a con centrating center would work serious curtailment of Insurance facilities. Farmers were advised to establish bonded warehouses tn various local!- i ties under such conditions that Insur ance companies could co-operate In currying the surplus crop. Fertilizer and implement Interests were ssked to support the withholding of distress ed cotton until fairer values could be obtained. That the plan of the Vlrginia-Car ollns Chemical Company for the warehousing of cotton. In order to aid Southern farmers, Is rapidly rounding Into shape. Is attested by H. T. Mor gan, president of the corporation. The reports of the proposed arrange ments, however, have not been quite correct. "Strictly speaking," said Mr. Mor gan, “we are not going to build any warehouses at all. To erect regula tion brick buildings in time to take cure of the present crop would be an utter impossibility. Furthermore they would cose several millions of dollars. Our plan ls a simple one. AVe pro pose to fenee off eertaln areas of our properties In the cotton belt and to stack the cotton in the open, raising It from 6 to 10 inches from the ground to protect It from dampness. It then will ba covered with tarpaulin. "AV* win stack from 100 to 600 bales In one storage unit and surround It with a ten-foot barbed wire fence. It will be insured nnd protected against fire. We have arranged for Insurance at a rate only slightly higher than for rotton stored In the ordinary way. AVe believe the plan to he feasible nnd hope eventually to me# tt extend nil over the Houth, although at first the system will be put Into erfect only in towns where we have plants or branches." Mr. Morgan went on to say that the farmers, on delivering their cotton, would receive warehouse receipts which could he used In th# usual way as security for loans. The borrowing value, of course, will he n matter for adjustment between the borrower and the lender. PROMINENT BARNWELL CITIZEN DIED FRIDAY Mr. Edward H. Richardson Passed Away After An Illness of Nearly Three Months. Barnwell, S. C—After an Hines* of eleven weeks. Mr. Kdward H, Rich ardson. one of the most substantial citizens of Barnwell county, died at midnight last night at his home In Barnwell. Mr. Richardson, who was about 50 years of age was until a year ago one of the leading merchants and supply dealers of this section, and has dealt extensively in the sale of stock, lie was stricken with typhoid fever MnftJ three month* ago. and after a severe illness, was recuperating when complications set in. which resulted in death. Besides hi* widow, Mr Richardson is survived by a son, Mr. Terry Rich ardson. and a daughter, Mrs, F. H« Huggins. funeral service* will be held Sun day morning at 10 o'clock at the late residence, the Interment to take place at the family burying ground, a few miles from Barnwell A LONG VIEW. Ted Brown, an American, was tour ing Scotland and one afternoon mounted a high hill In company with a Scot who begun bragging of the extensive \ lew. •'! suppose you can «ee America from here on a fine day," said the American, Jocosely “Oh, ay, farther than that," replied the other. "Farther than that”" ' Ay! on a fine nieht we cun see the [ a une." While Holding Cotton Southern Farmer Is Given World Opportunity to Realize Twice As Much As Cotton Would Have Paid Under Normal Conditions . While War Continues in Europe, United States Must Peed the World and the West Cannot Do it Alone. President of the Southern Cotton Congress Tells of What is Being Done to Bring Relief and Urges Southern Fanners to Plant Wheat and Oats As Soon as Their Cotton Crop is Gathered, and to Grow No More Cotton Until World is Again at Peace WALTER E. DUNCAN Staff Correspondent, The Auguzta Herald. Columbia, S. C. —"lf we can some how, anyhow, tide over and hold out until December or January, the South ern farmer has before him to grasp If he will the most magnificent op portunity—the opportunity of the cen tury, as unusual as the European war because it grows out of conditions caused by the war.” So. Hon. E. J. Watson, commissioner of agriculture of South Carolina, pres ident of the Southern Cotton Congress, and a national figure, expressed him self to me Thursday, Right now the Southern farmer Is feeling the pinch of the war-depressed conditions, Mr. Watson pointed out, because he has been blind to his own Interests and has kept doggedly on raising cotton, cotton, cotton to the exclusion of almost everything else. AVliat the world is going to need now is not so much something to wear as something to eat. Consequently, the wheat grower of the AVest, where con ditions are diametrically opposed to those existing In the South, Is rolling In money. There ls an Insistent world demand for lilb wheat which will grow the more and more Insistent as long as the European nations contest for supremacy and soldiers called to the colors trample under foot the fields they were cultivating when the toscin of war was ounded. But the Western farmer cannot produce another wheat crop until next fall. In the meantime, this year's crop completely exhausted, the world will be clamoring for bread. War has paralysed farm ing in western Europe. The wheat fields of Russia, of Germany, of Austria, of France, those that are not to be turned into battlefields must go untended. The orient may be able to feed Itself, but the rest of the civilized world will look to th# United States for food. With only the Argentine to help, the wheat growing belt is abso lutely Inadequate, both an account of restriction In acreage for so world-wide a demand and because of climatic conditions which make it impossible for the Northwest to raise more than one crop a year. BUT THE SOUTH HAS NO SUCH RESTRICTIONS OF CLI MATE, AND CAN PRODUCE, FROM VIRGINIA TO TEXAS, A WHEAT AND OATS CROP BY NEXT SPRING. BY THAT TIME, IN MR. AVATSON’S OPINION, THE GRAIN MARKETS WILL HAVE REACHED THE HIGH EST LEVELS IN HISTORY, AND UNLESS THE SOUTH HELPS NOW TO FEED THE WORLD, AND IF THE EUROPEAN AVAR CONTINUES, A BREAD FAMINE IS A PROBABILITY. Look Ahead Now. "Tell the farmer to get ready right now to plant wheat and oats,” said Mr. Watson. "Never mind about fer tilizer. There's enough fertilizer in ttie ground to raise a magnificent wheat crop. It will be the farmer* salvation. What if he must suffer in convenience, even privation, while holding his cotton? The world must have itz grain crop, the world must have bread, and If the Southern farm er will get out his cotton, plow up his fields and sow wheat and oats, har vest these crops next spring und then plant corn, by this time next year he will have realized more than doubla what he would have gotten for his cot ton had there been no war, AND STILL HAVE HIS COTTON.” Plant no Cotton in 1915. "I do not urge merely cutting the acreage next year," Mr. Wat son continued. “The time for that haa passed. The South is facing the oriels, and with all our other troubles we are burdened by over production. AVlth the European nations at war, eight and a half millions of our present 15,000,000 bale cotton crop must be thrown back upon the farmer. It is folly, it ls ulcidal, even to consider planting ‘any cotton at all next year. AVhy should wo attempt to raise another crop when we do not know yet what we are going to do with that which we already have? Even a third of a crop next year will aimply prolong our troubles. THE SOUTH MUST BEGIN NOW TO FEED THE AVORLD, EVEN THOPGH IT HAS NOT YET LEARNED HOW TO FEED ITSELF." Should Be Restricted by Law. Mr. Watson believes that the proper j appeal to the Intelligence and the pa triotism of the farmers will, in view i of existing world conditions, keep them I from raising another cotton crop In 1915. Crippled financial conditions will help retard those who are dls | posed to perpetuate thetr tribulations, I lor the banks will not be in position to make advances on which to raise , cotton next yesr. To restrain the ne gro and the white tenant farmer who, ! listening to no reason, would fly In i the face of providence and stick to his ready money" crop, Mr. Watson fa vors the enactment of state laws which will hold him In check. "Never before In our history have we faced such a crisis," declared Mr Watson. "It is one that calla for the best that is in every man, for courage and for co-operation. We are not out j of the woods yet, and we won't be un j til we>ral*e a grain crop while we hold over « half or two-thirds of this I year's cotton crop. A Ray of Hop*. ' But I cannot see it any other way than that this la a Godsend, a bleas- I ing—a divine visitation upon the | South, out of which tremendous good will result,” continued Mr. Watson. "As a matter of fact, in my opinion, the last monster cotton crop has been grown The farm er la tn for a lesson now that will 1 teach this generation and the chil dren of the next never again to depend uiwn cotton. Conditions which arose almost overnight as it were accelerated all the teaching o fthe past ten years of the doc trine of diversified farming, proved everything, drove home these truths. "And another thing,” continued Mr. AVatson, "next year we are going to save most of the $28,000,000 we spend annually for commercial fertilizers.” Grain Elevators to Go Up. One reason, Mr. Watson pointed out, why the Southern farmers have hesi tated to grow wheat is because there are no grain elevators. He told me that at present he Is working on a proposition which he has hopes will develop, as a result of which there will be before next spring three gram elevators in South Carolina—one at Anderson, one at Columbia and one tit Charleston. Endorses Buy-a-Bale Movement. The rapidly spreading “Buy-a-Bale” movement has Mr. Watson’s hearty endorsement. “There will be between 8,000,000 and 9,000,000 bales to be taken care of in the South, either by the farmer or somebody else, "said Mr. AVatßon, "and the 'Buy-a-Bale' plan will help won derfully. Besides what it actually takes and holds off the market, the moral effect of a widespread movement of the kind will be productive of un told good. I SHOULD, AS PRESI DENT OF THE SOUTHERN COT TON CONGRESS. LIKE TO SEE A 'BUY-A-BALE' CLUB IN EVERY TOWN AND CITY IN THE SOUTH.” What Man Can Do. Going back to the subject of grain crops, Mr. Watson told me about a small farmer living within twelve miles of Columbia, whom he induced to this year plant his 15 acres in corn and oats instead of cotton. The next result is that he got SSO an acre for his oats and $45 an acre for his corn— and got it in cash without any trou ble. His crop was raised at a total cost of $10.60 an acre. The Southern Cotton Congress. Mr. Watson told me of the work of the Southern Cotton Congress. It has encountered tremendous difficul ties, in Washington the men who are working for government relief are be set by the special interests of every particular section of the country. “At first it was disheartening even to talk about the government recog nizing cotton warehouse receipts as security on which national banks might isue emergency currency,” said Mr. AVatson. “It was necessary for us first to educate men to the fact that cotton Is not simply a commod ity, but a security, a basis of credit — the one staple grown that does not de teriorate with time. My pockets were full of cotton grown up in the north ern part of South Carolina 52 years ago, and that helped prove a convinc ing argument. “AVlth the secretary of the treasury convinced and agreed that emergency currency could be issued to 75 per cent of the value of receipts for cotton stored in bonded warehouses, our bat tles were only begun. The banking conditions In the South are such that even though we had the bqnded ware houses, through emergency currency we could get only, at present, what would be a drop in the bucket, and tills emergency currency Is, under tho law, only a four months’ proposition. The emergency currency must then he retired after four months. “It Is meant to move crops; not as a means of holding crops for better prices. Where Money is Plentiful. "So then we realize that we of the South must turn to tho AA'est for money—to the AVest whose food crops make money plentiful. Heavy ship ments of gold to Europe and the or ganization of the Federnl Reserve Banks, soon to come, preclude the possibility of the South getting money from New York. Even the $212,000,000 that Southern banks now have in New A'nrk ls soon to be diverted into the Federal Reserve Banks. New York Is still fighting against the federal bank ing because she knowa she is going to be drained. But Chicago ls the money market of the wheat belt, and Chicago banka are rolling In money. AYheat prices are up and climbing higher. “And Chicago banks, with pienty of money and tn splendid shape, can get all the emergency currency they ask for. The Southern Commercial Con gress ls therefore at work on a plan to get relief for the cotton farmer from the great Western money center Here is An Investment It’s Your Chance!! Cotton for Sale at Six Cents per Pound ! I t We have it in first class condition. One hundred bales old crop Cotton which we will sell at 6c per pound. Can you raise cotton at Six Cents? This price is FOUR cents under average cost of production. First come, first ser\-ed. Telephone us your or ders. B. T. LOWE & CO. Telephone No. 2501. 737 Reynolds Street. (We can store the cotton for prospective buyers at 25c per bale per month.) f SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. and at the present time the great money market of this country. "We propose, in a word, to ask the Chicago banks to issue their full quota of emergency currency and loan the Southern farmer their surplus on his cotton as collateral. This arrange ment, if successful, will bring us relief* and at the same time make it possible for the Southern farmer to hold his cotton off the market until the war ends in Europe and normal conditions are restored. A Necessary Adjunct. "Of course the money would have to be loaned through the banks of the South, and even though cotton would constitute security, the farmer cannot take his cotton to the bank in towns a»d cities where there are no bonded warehouses, get his money on It, and leave the cotton In the bank. So, therefore, tho national warehouse sys tem was proposed. This is simply that the farmer warehouse his own cotton, bond himself and his own barn —ls he cares to store his cotton then and insure it—then Issue his own 19* celpt, take It to the bank and get the money on it. The farmer then, in S way, becomes the United States. With national standardization of cotton, the plan is entirely feasible and perfectly safe.” The national warehouse system bill has passed the senate, has been fa vorably reported by the agricultural committee of the house and is now up to that body. Mr. Watson is doing everything In his power to push it through and get the bill signed by President AVilson. "It's a long corridor that has no ul timate termination,” remarked the absent-minded professor, as he pad died patiently around in a revolving door. /' BLANCHARD & CO, UNDERTAKERS & EMBALMERS 1368 Broad Street. Phone SISB. Efficient Service Guaranteed SPEED is the purpose of the type writer. ACCURACY is a requirement ot speed. • STABILITY insures continued efflci- • ency. THE Underwood Has them all (See the Records). "The Machine You Will Eventually Buy.” J. KNOX FELKER, Manager Augusta Branch, 826 Broad Street. PHONE 708. Plant Now ! (Get Willet’s Fall Cata logue.) Onion Sets (Bermuda, Crystal, Wax, Pearl,) Tur nips, Carrots, etc. Grains Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, (our grains are machined cleaned and are worth double farmers’ stocks.) Legume Bur Clover, Vetch, Crimson Clover, etc. N. L Willit Seed Ce." AUGUSTA.