The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-08
Cotton Growers Called to
Meet.

Calls a Convention to be
Held at Memphis January
2lst.
ATHENS, Ala January 4 -Presi-
dent Hector D. Lane, of the Ameri.
can Cotton Growers Protective Asso.
iation, has issued a circular to the
cotton growers and handlers through
out the south asking general attend
ance at meeting at Memphis on
January cc1st The meeting is to
take action regarding the acreage of
the crop for the present year. Mr..
Lanes association helped the cotton
planters last year by bringing about
a considerable reduction of acreage
and consequent increase 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
growers. The following is the text
Of Mr. Lanes letter:
Mr.. LANES ADDRESS
The time has arrived when next
years acreage in cotton should re-
ceive your most serious considera-
tion. Our enemies, the cotton
"bears." are anticipating matters by
industriously circulating reports that
it is the intention Of the cotton grow
ers to enormously increase the cotton
acreage and double the use of COM
mercial fertilizers the coming season,
which will result in the production Of
crop of from ten to twelve million
bales.
Information comes from Texas that
New Orleans clears" 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.
According to official data America
has exported to Europe one million
three hundred and tvventy-three
thousand bales less than last year.
The Northern mills bave taken four
hundred and fifty thousand 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 pro-
crosses, 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 full time, and if :hey
keep up the present consumption un-
til September they Will reed all Of
our cotton; they cannot wait for the
next crop.
What then, prevents your obtain
ing remunerative prices Tor the re-
naming portion of this crop?
This is easily answered. The spec
ulative "bears' of New Orleans,
New York and Liverpool. They are
thoroughly inc Terent to your condi-
ton, and recko" little Of your vel
fare. They would be glad to see
cotton selling at four cents, and
would contribute their aid in press
ing it dowm to the lowest point, re-
gardless Of the dsstitution aud sorrow
that would ensue throughout the
South under such conditions.
IN THE POWER oF DEsPoTs.
Tie Southern Planter has the
power to depose these reckless des.
pots and wholesale despoilers Of our
prosperity. Destroy the annual sur
plus, their able coadjutor, by judi
cious decrease of acreage, and these
gentlemen will be out of job.
Plant only q moderate crop and you
will be better! off with seven 10 a
seven and half million bale crop,
selling at ten to eleven cents than
ten million bale crop selling at five
to six cents.
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 scrutiuizing your ac-
tions and know more in regard to the
general acreage than you can posi-
bly, find. out yourselves.
Conceiving this to be matter of
paramount Importance to the material
interests Of the South and being i'm
pressed that this question in it's
most comprehensive form should be
considered gravely, l therefore deem
- q o11;,.b b)o +hot tho cotton rrOyuorc