The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-08
A Big Cotton Combine.

A Big Cotton Combine.
& ATHENS, Ala, Jan. .5.-President Hec-
tor d. Lane, OF the American Cotton
Growers Protective Association, has is
sued circular. to the cotton growers
and handlers throughout the South ask.
ing general attendance at meeting at
Memphis on January 81. The meeting. is
70 take action regarding the acreage of the
crop for the present year. Mr.. Lanes
wear by bringing about considerable re-
duction Of acreage and a consequent in
crease In the price Of the staple. As is
indicated In his letter Mr.. Lane believes
that similar concerted action this year
will result in similar benefit to the grow
5ers. The following Is the text Of Mr..
Lsne's letter:
- The time has arrived when next years
acreage In cotton should receive your
most serious consideration. Our enemies,
the cotton "bears," are anticipating mat
sters by industriously circulating reports
that It is the intention Of tbs cotton grow
5ers To enormously increase the cotton
acreage and double the use of commercial
fertilizers the coming season, which will
result In the production Of q crop of from
ten to twelve million bales.
Information comes from Texas that
New Orleans "bears" are reporting that
Texas will plant four million bales.
these reports are circulated to induce the
Southern people to sell the balance OF
this small crop at present low figures.
i According to official data America has
exported to Europe one million three
hundred and twenty three thousand bales
less than last year. The Northern mills
have taken four hundred and fifty thou
sand bales less than last year.
Stocks OF cotton at American ports and
Interior towns are about the same as last
year, but as the season progresses the
stocks at the ports will daily grow less
as compared with last year.
On the other hand, the mills Of England,
America and the Continent are running
tfoll time, and IL they keep up the pres
tent consumption until next September
they will need all Of our cotton; they
cannot walt for the next crop.
iS. hat then prevents you obtaining re-
smunerntive prices for the remaining por-
.Hion Of this cropf
This Is easily answered. Tho specula-
live I" bears Of New Orleans, New York
and Liverpool. They are thoroughly In
different to your condition, and reckon
little Of your welfare. They would be
glad to see cotton selling at four cents,
and would contribute their aid In press
ingit down TO the lowest point, regardless
OF the destit1tion and sorrow that would
'elsns throughout the south under such
.eonditi ons.
The Southern planter has the power to
gdepose these reckless despots and whole
sale despoile lers ofour prosperity. Destroy
she annual surplus, their abe coadjutor,
10Y q iudicions decrease Of acreage, and
Plant only q moderate crop and you,will
te better off with q seven to a-seYan and
o halt million bale crop, selling at ten 70
eleven cents, than ten million bale crop
selling at five to six cents.
IS Do not be led into the error that you
can deceive the great firm that buys:your
product. They have their agents in every
town and village; they are ever scrutt-
loizing your actions and know more in
regard to the general acreage than you
ssan. possibly find out yourselves.
C0nceivtng this to be 9 matter OF para.
mount importance TO the material inter
Eests of the South and being impressed
that this question In its most comprehen-
'stYe form should be considered graveiy,
II therefore deem 1t advisable that the
cotton growers meet In convention, that
we may formulate and adopt some INTEL
;iigsnt rule OF aeticn through which We
may be enabled to combat these agencles,
whose pernicious methods are 30 de-
structive Co our prosperity.
On account OF Its general accessibility,
I hereby name Memphis as the place, and
Tuesday, January the 2lst, as the time OF
meeting.
I earnestly invite all classes Of our citi-
zens thst are directly Interested in pro-
sLecting the values OF our main commodity,
cotton, to join with us In our deliberations.
The invltAtion is extended to all agl.icul-
Gnral societies., Alliances, Oranges, Cotton
Exchanges, commission merchants, fac.
tors, associatl lons, etc.
# The movement is strictly nom political,
but essentially industrial; therefore no
man should say MS nay on account OF po-
5iitical affiliations.
I respectfully invoke the aid Of the
press. Recognizing the demand for he.
sroic action and the disaster that Is to fol-
low without 1t, Isappeal to all patriotic
people to Join In this struggle to emanci-
pate our people from a bondage that Is as
oppressive and ignomtnions as was ever
inflicted by the Czar upon aserfdom.
No longer can we live prosper0usly
and happily under 80 tyranntcal system.
The demand of the occasion Is for honest,
earnest men, who have the intelligence to
appreciate prevailing conditions and the
courage to itake up arms against Sea OF
troubles, and by opposing them end them.
I remain, sincerely z91ss, sazsn 5 1..rr
President American Cotton Growers
Protective Association.