The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-27
WHY TEXAS DID NOT HOLD HER COTTON
The President of the Alliance i'm that
State Makes Short Work of His
ExplnnatiOn-Read it for Your
self. and Then Make up Your own
Mind.

CDttOn Plant.
Hon. NJ, l.. Donaldson, Greenville, S. c.:
DEAR SIR: Having read an article headed
Gan Unjust Charge" IN the last number ol
the Cotton Plant, which was reply to certain
Structures upon Col. Ben. Terrell, by the Che
ra,V Reporter. and fully agreeing with said re-
ply, and not wishing To reflect upon Col. Ter;
rell or the National Cotton Committee, l
think it timely to throw Il little more light
upon the whole matter. and let the ccnsure
rest where 1t belongs.
Early in October seeing the receipts in the
Gulf States, and in Texas, especially, were as
large as usual, and that too, In the !ace OF inc
instructions from the National Cotton Com
mittee with the fact that TIE Nas alone alone
produced nearly one fourth the cotton crop,
and by virtue Of her age, experience ana lor'
mer leadership in the Alliance movement
beretting our confidence, many OF our far.
Iners became dissatisfied, feeling they were
unfairly dealt WITH because we IN our county
and from all we could see over our state, felt
bound TO obey the instructions OF the order
rather than hold cotton while other States
sold. To satisfy myself and brethren OF the
facts OF the case, | at once wrote you IN Soul
official capacity the facts, and asked Tor IN
forrnatior.. You replied you cmmtd not thihK INK
part of our Gulf States brethren, Tor purpose
Of gaining undue advantage OF more loyal
brelhren.1 and stated you had forwarded my
letter to Col. X. j. Sledgc for reply. IN
few days received the following letter:
MANOR, TRAVIS Co., TEXAS.
October 2Sth, 1889.
Mr.. Charles Crosland:
DEAR SIR AND BGoTnEE: Your letter to Brother
NJ. l., Donaldson was referred by him to Col. X. j.
Sledse, and by him to me for an answer. The request
came to my people too late for them to accept 1t this
year. as they had already made their arrangements
and could not alter them. So did not act on tho
request Of The Cotton Committee
Yours iIatrrnnlly.
JonS d. F-ELps,
Prnsihpnt State Alliance.
Now, sir, this letter needs but little com,
menl Any intelligent farmer can see ano
read between the lines. While Brother Fields
may have been pOwereSS TO control MS peo
pie, we feel we have been oYcrrcachcd by the
Texas brethren. <,-,.
FirSt-IS the action OF the Cotton COMMIT
tee Il request simply. or is il instruction from
un organization sworn TO fidelity TO eacl
other, add bound by the action OF It's owr
State delegates in creating Such committees
Socond-I know not what arrangements the
brother referred 10. except II be those To make
the crOp. Those we all made, ana no honeS
man wished them violated. The Cotton Com
mittpe strictly charged that all maturing OD
| did this preclude n whole State and orgnnlZa
ton from coming into line where they could
| trow not. Better late than never. Wen
| Brother Donaldson, ] only deemed IL ialr u
give these facts to the state.
| While we feel hurt, We are not cast DOWN
We will pick out tlnts and try again; but w
saw now q do not assume TO speak Tor TN
Statcl we in this county intend to see to /
another year that when the request come
again from the Cotton Committee that TeNa
| toes the mark before we hold our cotlol
uuuin. In spite of these facts, many are still
holding cotton, and we believe eventual.
will be well paid for ii, though withon
| thanks from Texas. Had il not been for IN
strong statistical position of cotton, the cot
! tion of Texas might have done us muci
harm, and now ns VIC have the credit or hoid
jnr large blocks Of cotton aS an organization
| now think il in order and only justice 10 u
| TO diSpcl this Illusion from the minds or III
commercial world. and call attention To IN
official declaration Of Texas, where so Inuc
cotton is made.
Yours fratcrnally,
| .'IAS. tROSLAND.
Bcnncttsyille, s. G., Get. Sth, lSS9.