To The Cotton Planters:
I have received so many letters
endorsing*my efforts for a reduc
tion in acreage from nearly every
section of the Sotith that I have
decided to continue the work and
by request write another article on
similar lines that will be carried by
the Southern weekly papers all
duriug this month so that every
planter will have a chance to read
k it. Cotton for/ October delivery
sold this week at eight cents per
pound. Can you produce it at a
profit at this price? No. Then in
order to get a profit on what >H>u
raise this season you must plant
less than you intended planting at
first. Reports on the acreage is
sued so far show that the acreage
will be about 4 per cent, larger
than last year. This is probably
due to the new farmers that have
settled in Oklahoma and West
Texas putting in so much new
land. We must more than offset
this increase by reducing in the
rest of the belt.
' I again state that the main cause
for the declines in prices is lack \>f
confidence caused by the fear of a
large acreage which means, with
good weather conditions, a large
crop and even lower prices than at
present. Do you want to grow a
crop at an actual loss? If not re
duce your acreage; then if your
neighbor persists 'in planting ~a~
large acreage and you have to sell
your crop at a loss you lose less
than he> If by reducing you add
'5300,000,000 to the wealth of the
South you will not only receive a
part of this but you can feel that
you did your part to add to the
prosperity of the country.
Is it good business to plant a
crop where there is no profit in it?
No. Then let everv reader at once
plant part of h'ts present acreage in
tended for cotton in sqme feed ctfop,
or let the land lie idle one seasw
as you can get more money for the
crop grown on the' part you do
cultivate. If you have it already
planted do not .work it out as it
will be labor thrown away.
Which do you prefer? To plant
your present acreage and get from
7 to 8 cents per pound or reduce it
and get 11 to 12 cents and possibly
higher. The present contemplat
ed acreage and good weather means
a return to the old days of cheap
cotton of ten years ago while a re
duced acreage means a coutiuuance
of the prosperty of the past few
years.
Let every planter that reads this
at once make up his uiind * that he
will not be the cause of Wall Street
Bears fixing the price for your
crop as they will do with a large
1 crop. Go to work at oncefe to re
duce your own acreage and see as
many of your neighbors as possible
at once and get a united action in
this matter as this is the only way
we can be independent and pros
perous.
I urge every merchant and bank
er throughout the South to advise
their customets to reduce their
acreage as it means a loss to you as
well as to the planter to return to
the old days of low prices again.
If will pay you to write a circular
v Tfetter and send it to every planter
you have dealings with urging a
reduction in acreage. Don't delay
but get busy as there is no time to
lose. We must have a reduction
in acreage to save the South. It
is as much your duty as mine to
help in this work. 1 get nothing
for it.
t I again urge the members of the
Farmers Union and Southern Cot
ton Association to work together
for a redaction in acreage which
means much higher prices for the
balance of this crop and all of the
next one, as well as an influence
on future corps. I want to hear
from every section of the belt as to
what you are doing in the matter.
Write me and I will give you all
V the assistance I can. Don't delay
I but get busy now.
J. A. TAYLOR, President,
National atiou.
Memphis, Tenn , May Ist 1908.
_
Here comes the Soring Winds to thap,
tan and freckle. Use Piuesalve Carbo-
Sylized, (Acts like poultice) for cuts,
burns, chapped skin. Sold by
\ Tease's Drug Store.
HONORABLE
Locke Craig
OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY
... t f
' , V •' •' { J
Candidate for Governor
* 4
Will Speak at the
COURT HOUSE
Monday, May 18
2:30 O'clock p. m.
Mr. Craig will discuss the Political Issues[of tjie day
He is one of the State's^most
0 r
gifted speakers
' i • • '
Every Man and Woman is Invited to
Hear His First' Speech atl[the
County Seat of Martin
Music By Williamston Band
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