The Russellville Democrat., 1892-02-11
The Memphis Convention, It's
 Object and Work.


 three weeks ago the commissioner oi agriculture of Arkansas, received communication from Dr. D. c. Good win, commissioner of Tennessee, asking his views and co operation with the commissioners of the sey eral cotton states to the very i'm portant object of reducing the cotton acreage of the south, to which he at once replied, that as something should be done, and convention for that purpose seemed the most plausible plan that had been present ed, he should heartily co operate with hlm and others to bring to- gether a representative body and hoped that then all the cotton states, working in harmony, something ben eficial and permanent might result.
 As several points of agreement were to be settled with reference to this convention before it could meet, and the territory to hear from WAS large, and ten different states in terests were to be subserved or con ciliated, 1t took until about the 2d day of January to procure concert of action by all until the time and place of meeting was agreed upon, In this way the earliest time com patlble with the ability of delegates to reach the point of meeting, and that the work of said convention 
 should prove beneficial in the pro duction and sale of the crop for the present year, the 8th Of January was fixed on, and at the suggestion of the commissioner of Arkansas, the city of Memphis was selected as the place of meeting. This was settled on the 4th of January, and all that could be accomplished to notify those interested in this subject was done in the very short time between the 4th and Sth. An address was sent to all the county Judges, know ing that by law they were required to be at the county seats that week. and they were requested to appoint not less than two delegates, and this was done through the columns of the Gazette, as we'll as by private letter.
 Now, if the question be asked, why the date wastnot set further of. SO as to give more time, the answer is. We had 10 set the time in pro portion to the other states, and it was supposed they all would be heard from by Christmas, at the lat est, but the first satisfactory infor nation of agreement was received by Commissioner Locke in dis patch from Commissioner Goodwin, Saturday, the 2d day ofJanuary, late in the day, and although many let ters were sent on that day, Monday the 4th, being the first working day following, the work of notifying all within compass that could be reached by mali was not accomplish ed until noon that day.
 Notwithstanding the shortness of the time, however, the convention met, with large delegation present, and the following resolutions em- body the substance of what was done on that occasion and were adopted unanimously:
 First-We recommend that this convention do proceed to organize a permanent organlzation to be known as the "Cotton Growers and Mer chants Association"
 Second-We recomend that sad organlzation shall consist of one president and secretary and treas urer, and one vice president from each of the cotton growing states.
 Thlrd-We recommend that there be local organIzations of the said Cotton Growers and Merchants As sociation organized in every state, county and town in the cotton grow ing region, and that the said local organizations shall, where possible and practicable, cooperate with any farmers organization now In exist. ence.
 Fourth-We recommend that reduction in the acreage planted Tn cotton for the year 1892 be 20 per cent. less than that planted Tn 1891.
 Fiith-We further recommend that each and every planter or farm CT within the said cotton growing states do plant more diversified crops, and especially take extraor- dlnary precaution, to the end that he shall produce an abundance of corn, meat, hay, peas, oats, and such other necessarles for his own family | use. And we here appeal personal ly and individually that each and every person fayoring this movement do lend his aid and influence to further this end,
 Sixth--In view of the fact thai | the mercantile interest of the south | is largely held responsible, whether rightiully or not for the planting of cotton, verging upon the exclusion of other products, 1t is therefore sug gested and hopefully urged upon them to contribute by their advice and in other substantial ways to the bringing about of this coveted re form. It is further deemed of great that as the banking insrtu tions of the cities and towns of the south are equally interested in that which alone can come