Cooperation 189 



"We must learn to market the crop slowly, regulating 

 the supply to meet the legitimate demand ; break up the 

 power of the speculator, and take care of the people our- 

 selves. 



"The bankers of the South must stand behind the pro- 

 ducers in this fight, and let the whole world understand 

 that the South can and will control the sale of her products 

 in the face of all the combinations that may be brought 

 against her. We must, and will, reduce the present cot- 

 ton acreage from 25 to 40 per cent on every cotton farm 

 in the South for 1905. 



"We must, and will, curtail the use of commercial fer- 

 tilizers under cotton correspondingly with the percentage 

 of reduction in acreage. 



"Instead of planting 32,000,000 acres, as in 1904, plant 

 not more than 24,000,000 acres, and make this year not 

 more than 8,500,000 or 9,000,000 bales. This course, 

 if pursued, would enable the present unsold crop to sell 

 for a reasonable price, and assure the crop of 1905 to be 

 profitable. 



"The farmer who, under existing conditions and in the 

 face of the great financial peril which confronts the South, 

 deliberately refuses to materially reduce his cotton acreage 

 and increase his food-supply crops is an enemy to himself 

 and a traitor to his country. 



"The merchant or banker who will deliberately furnish 

 supplies or money to any man to plant an extended acre- 

 age in cotton this year deserves the deepest condemnation 

 and literal ostracism of the entire community in which 

 they do business." 



The sentiments expressed by Mr. Jordan were adopted 



