The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-28
PLANT LESS COTTON.

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PLANT LESS COTTON.
Some Data Upon Which to Base Judgment
MONTGOMERY, ALA, Nov. Gloom
missioner Lane of Alabama has issued
bis 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 a 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 1S91-92, 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, were en-
inently satisfactory to all engaged in
it. The express purpose of this meet
ing was to take action towards the re-
duction of the cotton acreage. How
well it succeeded in its effort the his
tory of cotton crops will show. A de-
crease in acreage followed the ensuing
season of 1S92-93 8, ,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
coincidental 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 q 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 1t
should be.the effort of every intelh-
gent and patriotic citizen of the South
to enlist all the instrumentalltles
available to resist this current that is
insiduously day by day drifting us
| into the vortex of poverty and desti-
tuition, and I 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
ton are abnormal is plain to all think.
! ing men. and certainly so if the well
accepted rule of political economists
apply-"th cost of production OF an
article is a fair standard of its value. "
The total visible supply in the world
| is 222, POS bales less than In 1893 and
COS, ,414 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
by independent individual action,
stimulated by intelligent argument,
and shall undertake to prove that to
great extent, it is the over-production
of cotton in excess of its consumption
that is causing the falling off 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 in 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.
1.-THE 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. I urge
upon all farmers and others interest
ed in this movement to attend the
meeting at Jackson as it is question
of the gravest Importance to the com
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