The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-11-28
PLANT LESS COTTON.
Some Data Upon Which to Base Judgment
Given.

Given.
MONTGOMERY. ALA. Nov. 21.-Com-
missioner Lane of Alabama ha: issued
his address to the cotton growers of
the South, which was authorized by
the late meeting of cotton growers
held in Montgomery He says: This
convention was called by myself for
the purpose of considering and devils
ing means through which Southern
cotton growers might protect them
selves from the many unfair devices
used to depress the values of our
CHIEF staple. The most prominent one
being ficticious reports fabricated in
the main cotton markets sent out by
cotton exchanges and emanating from
the minds of men who make preca-
rious living as the bears on the cotton
market"
He then quotes largely from printed
estimates sent out by interested par
ties as to the size of the present crop
and shows by figures that it will not
amount to anything like what is
claimed. He shows by the following
statement the benefits to be derived
from the producers coming together
and'acting in harmony. Consequent
upon the enormous crop produced in
the season of 1892 a cotton conven-
ton was held in Memphis, under the
auspices of the Mississippi Valley Cot
ton Growers Association, and its re-
suits as was the result of the recent
convention at Montgomery, We're en-
inently satisfactory to au~engaged in
it. The express purpose Of this meet
ing was to take action towards the re-
dnction of the cotton acreage. How
well it succeeded in it's effort the his
tory of cotton crops will show. A de-
crease in acreage followed the ensuing
season of 1S92-93 3,456, 439 acres, an
acreage that is larger than is planted
in any one State with the exception of
Texas. Pursuant to the Memphis cot
ton convention, cotton advanced sew
enteen points in three days. Pursuant
to the Montgomery meeting, cotton
values advanced twenty-seven points.
Whether these two occurrences were
coincidertal or whether they were
caused directly or indirectly by these
farmers in convention assembled is
for the country to judge-but to my
mind, it is a practical demonstration
of fact that the vibrations of the cot
ton market are as sensitive and re-
sponsive to the touch of a convention
of practical farmers as they are to the
manipulation of metropolitan fakirs.
The dominating questions confronting
the farmers is, first to refute the lnl-
quitous reports being sent out by un-
scrupulous persons, and bearing down
present prices, and secondly to coop
crate in an endeavor to again decrease
the acreage by planting the same and
producing more 'home consumption"
crops. Over-production encourages
and fosters manipulation-and it
should be the effort Of every intelll-
gent and patriotic citizen of the South
to enlist all the instrumentalitles
available to resist this current that Is
insiduously day by day drifting us
into the vortex of poverty and destl-
tuition, and respectfully solicit the
help of the press and the kind coop
Grafton of all those interested in the
material welfare of the South for
their assistance in the accomplishment
of this ''consummation so devoutly to
be wished"
That the present low prices of cot
tor are abnormal is plain to all think
ing men, and certainly so if the well
accepted rule of political economists
apply ''the cost of production OF an
article is fair standard of its value: >
The total visible supply in the world
is 222, 205 bales less than in 1898 and
COS. Ala less than in 1892.
The currency and tariff questions
are virtually settled and all the indi-
cations at present point to speedy re-
turn of the general prosperity and
cotton prices must naturally rule
higher. -,
We are Of the opinion that after all
this matter can only be. accomplished
bv independent individual action,
stimulated by intelligent argument,
and l shall undertake to prove that to
q great extent, it is the over-production
of cotton in excess Of its consumption
that is causing the fallingotf in values
until it has reached that point which
makes it less than can possibly be pro
duced by the Southern planters.
He concluded his address by saying
The convention at Montgomery ad-
| iourned to meet at Jackson, Miss, on
the second Wednesday il January,
1895. when and where we will endeav-
or to 90 into a permanent organlza-
ton under the name Of the Southern
Cotton Growers Protective Assocla-
ton.
IT. various governors of the South
ern States will be requested to appoint
four delegates from each Congression-
al District and three from the State at
large. The Commissioners of Agri-
culture were elected vice presidents
for their respective States. l urge
upon all farmers and others interest
ed in this movement to attend the
meeting at Jackson as it is a question
of the gravest importance to the com
mon country "