CHAPTER VII. 



THE ORGANIZATION OF COTTON GROWERS AND WHAT 

 IT MAY ACCOMPLISH 



"The great secret of success," said Lord Beacons- 

 field, "is to be ready when your opportunity comes." 

 One might go far and not find a better illustra- 

 tion of the truth of Disraeli's assertion than is af- 

 forded by the career of Hon. Harvie Jordan, 

 President of the Southern Cotton Association. His 

 opportunity came in December, 1904, when the 

 Government ginners' report, indicating a crop of 

 12,000,000 bales, startled the country electrified 

 the bears, and hopelessly dazed the bulls. Cotton 

 prices went toppling, dropping two cents a pound 

 almost immediately. 



WHEN HARVIE JORDAN'S OPPORTUNITY CAME 



For several years Jordan had been fitting himself 

 for a time like this. At the head of the nominal 

 Cotton Growers' Protection Association which he 

 had organized and which his personality had largely 

 kept together, his voice had been as that of one cry- 

 ing in the wilderness; and always, Raven-like, his 

 song had borne one burden the need of a farmers' 

 organization for the purposes of self protection. 

 When the crash came, and turned everything in 

 the Southern States topsy-turvy, serene Harvie 



(58) 



