The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-08-15
A WARNING SOUNDED.
The President of the American Cotton
Growers Association Says it is
Time TO Act.


Time to Act.
Hon. Hector D. Lane, of Alabama,
president of the American Cotton
Growers Association issues the follow
ing address to the cotton growers of
the South:
GAS President OF the American Cotton
Growers Protective Association, coSniZant
of the great wrong that has been perpetrated
upon the masses of my fellow farmers, the
cotton growers of the South, it becomes my
duty as far as my limited ability extends to
warn you Of the dangers that environ you
and the devices and plans that are being laid
by cunning and unScruDulou9 men to rob
you of our honest toll: TO further impOrerish
you and to enhance the discord and disSatis-
faction that is now dominant in the heart Of
agricultural classes IN q knowledge Of the
fnct that there is something radically wrong
in our systems. No longer is the product Of
honest toll adequate to our subsistence and
no longer is the cost Of the production OF an
article any standard of its valuations; and
the law of supply and demand has been dis
placed and in its stead, ;ntcrvencs the results
attained by the commercial mOuntcbank'
the most insidious and mcrcilcss Of which is
be that with tongue OF an AnaniaS and tho
prosperity Of our country and making pau
pers Of our people. l refer to that man who
wears deseryedly the name cf bear lle
that OF false prophecy aud wilful misrcprc-
scntation, roDS us Of our subsistence. im-
perils our prosperity and leaves us nothing
but poverty in our homes and Hatred in our
hearts
''The warning note has been sounded. let
Torewarned be forearmed.
s'That there is a powerful and systemHtiZcd
movement to again lepress the value OF oar
staple this season Is patent to all Intelligent
men, and it rests with the planter Of tho
South, individually us to whether he will
submit 10 thus be sheared again like sheep
as he was last season: The time has arrived
fof heroic action. The alternative is to
either renounce growing OF cotton entirely
as = profitable crop or to take up arms
against a sea Of troubles and by opposing
end them" From these, rumOrs of the in
mensity Of the coming crop have already
been widely and re.klcsSly circulated to in
timidate the farmers into rushing their
crops upon the market hoping TO receive
better prices before Il decline. This action
upon the part ofthe farmers will accomplish
the intention of the manipulators OF the
market and is to be deprecated asSuicidal to
their interest The crop ought to bring fair
the selling season without allowing tn: dc
liveries to be too great 1T any time. And |
advise that all farmers that can DO SO. with
out violating 4 contract. should market their
crop as slowly as they can. Or at rilt;0 OF
one-thIrd less :han Inst season; the "IuiIi-
brium Of prices will &c thus falrv retained,
and we will come much nearer receiving tho
commercial value Of orr prodact.
1T will be remembered by many that pre-
riouS to our civil war. on account OF the lack
of transportation facilities. i required from
seven to nine months to market the common
cotton crop. We now sell the bulk Of it,
which is three or four times the size, III about
three months, thus conSestinS the market,
making competitors Of ourselves ii the mad
rush to get rid OF our product. while upon
the other hand Il judicious gradual diStribu-
ton OF the same over Il greater period OF
months would DG conducive TO competition
between the manufacturers who are obliged
to have our material and their running after
Us to buy our product instead of our having
to run after them 10 sell it 20 them,
And I desire to inn ress upon the cotton
growers the imperative necessity of orSani-
Zation for the accomplishment Of this pur-
pose, and all jnstrumentaliticS should be en-
gagged in the achievement Of this Consumma-
ton deyoutiy to be wished. Doubtless this
endeavor will meet with strenuous oppoSi-
tion at the hands of those who rccklessly
speculate upon the labor Of the farmer of
the South. He would be offered little more
than the market price to bring in his crop.
The argument of risk Of fire. loss in weights,
would follow with the usual dcnunciation Of
advice. but implore you for the sake Of
your families rendered destitute by these
dcspoiers and for the love you bear for our
Sunny Southland for all that is sacred to
our hearts and to our homes to resist this
current that is inSidiously, day by day. draw
ing Gs into 4 vortex CT poverty and shame
and depraying our manhood and increasing
crime.
There never was more cruel and rclcnt
less war waSed upon the people than uron
the South by England ana her cmissaries
and tory allies, reducing her people from
aflucnce to the pittancc OF ten cents Il day
for their labor. which cotton ut five cents
per pound means.