The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-01-29

socia,ion Makes !, ,Gsreat S2ecsi.--Sen>ihie
Resolutions are .iaop,ed--rer:nanen5
Organization.
MEMPHIS, Jan. 21.-The convention
of cotton producers called by Prssi-
dent II. D. Lane Of the American Cot
ton Growers Protective Association TO
take action to effect a continuation OF
decreased acreage. was called 10 or
der here this morning. Fully one
thousand delegates We're IN the hail
at the time. Pro"iaeat planters from
every Gotten producing State are IN at
tendance. Delegates Without eEcep-
ton express the belle: that the lesson
taught the South this season by the
benefits derived from reduced cotton
production and the home production
of all supplies viii not be tor+otten
at planting tine.
Hold down yo--T-GotIo4. SAID Mr..
Lane, and you viii dictate the price,
but produce a 3,000,U13 ba,e surplus
and Liverpool viii pay Eoa what Il
sees fit.
President Lane SPOKE IS sis>-c%S:
Gentlemen Of tie .hl..@r."3G Cotton
Growers Protective Association:
shall attempt 70 be as i,!ief il nay
remarks IS possible. avoiding empty
platitudes, and bombastic theories,
confning myselfso TO practical everyday
facts, in my effort to convince YOU OF
the inadvisability OF the methods that
we have for the most part been purSu-
ing, and the suicidal policy OF It's con-
tinuance IL the overproduction OF cot
ton.
l appreciate the immensely Of this
effort, to decrease the cotton acreage.
but appreberd that the importance OF
its Accomplishment viii only BE com
mensurate with tha effort and as with
ali our shortcomings and dereIlctlons
the Southern man mas never been ac-
cused of lack Of patriotism Or OF re-
solution. and loving as we do our
Southland and our homes, 1t appeals
to our better judgment, our patroCl>m
and our manhood 10 face resoIutel :
this current, that is insiGiouSiy day by
day drawing us into q vortex OF pov-
erty and destitution.
l am aware that the consensus OF
opinion is with me; still | find others,
good and conservative men, who argue
I'VE had rather bear the Ills we have
than fly to others we know not OF,
but I ask in the name OF reason. and
appeal to common serse, If greater Ills
or disaster can overtake q country
than that it should be plunged IRE
deemably into debt, the vitality smoth>
cred out of it with a weight Of mort
cages, and the bone and sinew Of the
country, the masses Of our laoorlng
people, reduced 10 the plttance OF less
than 10 cents a day for their labor.
This is what cent cotton means,
and challenge any man, irrespective
of his greatness, his experience or his
qualifications, TO successfully contra
dict the same.
am also met with the argument
that comes for the most part from the
crossroa6 pessimist and that man who
measures his neighbor n his own half
bushel, that the agitation OF the ques-
ion would likely cause farmers TO IN
crease their acreage Of cotton, from
the fact that all would use the same
channel of reasoning to the effect that
his neighbor would reduce and thus
cotton values would rise, and he would
be the beneficiary. This is an argu-
ment that savors Of that dishonesty
and reflects that discredlt upon the
agricultural classes Of the South that
it should be Indignantly repelled, forit
is contrary to their history and general
character in that they nave always
proved loyal, brave and true to any
cause whose banner they have ever
enlisted under.
I am met with another argument,
that it is the only crop that merchants
will advance supplies uron. This l
am prepared to again refute, for there
are hundreds of wealthy, intelligent
and patriotic merchants who are as
zealously and as actively engaged IN
this movement as any o.her class OF
citizens that we have, approaching as
they do the true condition OF affairs
and recognizing the remedy therefor.
they are strong in their advocacy OF 6
decreased cotton acreage, a olverslhca-
ton of crop, and especially the pro
duction Of home supplies; therefore
lay not your actions 10 your nelshbor.
am impressed with the conviction
that this movement viii have to De
accomplished as all other great move
ments are through independent, lndl-
vidual action. This viii encourage a
concert OF action, which will accom-
plish the end in view and we will re
ceiye the intrinsic value of our main
staple, WITCH Will make US cne of the
most prosperous and happy people on
earth; whereas, on the other hand, II
previous conditions continue and we
willfully persist in the folly Of pro-
ducine a 100000 Gale surplus, We
simply subject ourselves and are made
willing victims Of, to be caught By the
tricks and devices that are Ialo by
cunning and unscrupulous men torob
US of ali compensation for our honest
toll, enhancing the Giscord and dis
satisfaction that is now dominant IN
the heart of the agricultural classes
and developing daily into lnclplent
CONmUUISui, q SOAiSt-9-O-A tA-e>s - Az
eign and unnatural IN It's tendency to
the natural character Of our people.
Under such regime no longer will
the product OF our toll De adequate 10
our subsistence. The cost Of lis pro
duction no longer the standard Of its
value. The law OF supply and demand
will be displaced and N its stead IN
terposes the result attained by the COM
mercial mountebank the most insidlous
and merciless ofwhich IS the CONNER,
cial fakir and fin1fam artist, known
as the cotton bear" who by false
prophesy, cunning manipulation and
willful Misrepresentation robs US OF
our substance, pauperizes our posierl'
ty, leaving us nothing but poverty N
our homes and hatred n our hearts.
e,,r,>l.-S +ho+ hHVp