From Days Gone By Nov. 5,1914

November 5, 1914.    Mr. J. H. Rowland gives his views on the present state of affairs concerning the cotton problems.

    "As I am asked many times, almost every day, what the farmers are going to do. It has caused me to do a great deal of thinking and figuring. We are all aware of the fact that this is a time when we should stop and think.

    During the past 90 days all kinds of provisions have advanced from ten to 25 per cent, and cotton has declined over 100 per cent. Cotton seed 40 per cent lower, the lumber and shingle business have gone bad. So we can readily see that what we have to buy is high and getting higher, and what we have to sell is getting lower. We should ask ourselves is how can we remedy it?

    We know that our cotton has cost us 8 to 10 cents per pound to raise it. Why should we sell it for 5, 6 or 7 cents, and then put right out to make another crop that will cost us just as much and even more, and take chances? There would be just as much reason in selling the mule for which we paid $200 for $100, and going out and buying another for $200 as there is in selling cotton or other produce for half its cost and trying to make more at the same cost and possibly more.

    When we have corn to sell and can't get its worth we store it away until there is a market to warrant selling it. Then why not do the same with our cotton? Almost every farmer has a safe place to store it. But you say you can't hold it, I owe it, and I will be sued. This is good spirit but there are exceptions in all rules and all good businessmen are willing to do all they can for their customers. They know that we can't pay if we are forced to sell our cotton at the present prices. When we will get into trouble is when we sell it, sham it around and have nothing to show for it except the debts that we made in making it.

    They say we have too much cotton. Then lets lay it aside and make something to eat. Then we won't owe so much. Meat is high, lard is high, beef is high, sugar is high, flour, seed wheat, rye, oats, peas, sweet potatoes, irish potatoes and corn are all high. We can raise all of these articles and save buying them. Then why not do it? Why not start now? This is the time.

    Let's all plant enough wheat to run our farms, plant rye, oats and raise hogs and beef cattle then next year cut out three fourths of our cotton crop and fertilizer bills and make few other debts. Then in 1915 cotton does not reach over 5 million bales, they will realize there ain't too much cotton . The price will rapidly advance.

    This is the way I see it. However, everyone has a right to his own opinion and should possess enough self confidence to exercise it. But it is high time that the southern farmer should look deep into the things that so materially effect our financial, as well as our social welfare."