The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-04
AMERICAN COTTON GROWERS
A Meeting Called for Memphis on
January 81.
BEARS DECEIylNG THE FARMERS
President Hector II. Lane Writes In Be
hair Of His Association Regard
Ing the Future.

Athens. Ala, January S-The following
address was issued by President Lane Of
the American Cotton Growers Protective
association late today:
TO the American Cotton Growers Pro-
tective Association:
Athens. Ala. January a-The tine has
arrived when next years acreage in cot
ten should receive your mos; serious con-
sideration. Our enemies, the cotton bears,
are anticipating matters by .n3ustr.ously
circulating reports tina; the intention Of
the cotton growers to enormously increase
the cotton acreage and double the use
OF commercial fertilizers the coming sea-
son. which will result IN the production
Of crop CT from ten to twelve milllon
baies. Information comes from Texas
that New Orleans bears are reporting
that Texas will plant for FOUR million
bales. These reports are circulated to ILL.,
duce the Southern people to sci, the bal
anee Of this ST all crop at present low
figures.
According to official data America has
exported 70 Europe so, 90 bales less than
last year. The Northern mills have taken
1900 bales less than last year. Stocks
Of cotton at American ports and Interior
towns are about the same as last wear,
but as the season progresses the stocks
at the ports will daily grow less. as com
pared with last year. on the ether hand.
the mills OF England. America and the
continent are running full time and II
they keep up the present consumption
until next September they will need all
OF your cotton. they can not wal, for the
next crop. What, then. prevents your
obtaining remuneratlve prices FOR the re-
naming portion OF this crop2 This is
easily answered: The speculative bears
Of New Orleans, New York and Liverpool.
They are thoroughly indifferent to your
condition and reckon little OF your welfare.
They would be glad to see cotton selling
at cents and would contribute their AID
In pressing It down to the lowest point.
regardless O. the restitution and sorrow
that would ensue throughout the South
under such conditions.
"'The Southern planter has the power 70
depcse these reckless despots and whole
sale despoiiers of our property. Destroy
the annual surplus, their able coadjutor.
ly a judicious decrease Of acreage and
these gentlemen will be out Of a job.
Plant only moderate crop and you will
he better of with a seven to n seven and
a half million bale crop sold at 10 TO II
cents than a 1900, 60 bale crop selling a,
) to 6 cents. Do not he led into the err
rcr that YOU can deceive the great firm
that buys your product. They have theii
agents in every town and village; they
are ever scrutinizine your actions and
know more in regard to the general acre
age than you can possible find out your
selves.
'Conceving this to be matter of para
mount importance TO the interests OF the
South and being impressed that this ques
ton in its most comprehensive form
should be considered gravely. therefore
deem II advisable that the cotton grower.
meet',n convention that we may formulat,
and adopt some Intelligent rule Of actor
through which we may be enabled tC
combat these aggressors whose perniciou.
methods are so destructive to our pros
perity.
"On account Of It's general accessibility
hereby name Memphis a. the place, anc
Tuesday, January y. as the time OF meet
ing, earnestly invite all classes of oul
citizens that are directly or indirectly in
.erested in protecting the values OF ou
In our deliberations The invitation Il
extended to all agricultural societies. ALL
aaces. oranges. cotton exchanges. commits
sion merchants, factors. associations etc
The movement Is strictly non-poliiical bu
essentially Industrial. therefore. no maj
affiliations.
II respectfully invoke the aid OF On,
| press. Recognizing the demand 70, hero!
/ action and the disaster that is TO follow
/ without II. l appeal TO all patriotic peopl
/ to join In this struggle 10 emancipate on
and ignominious as wa. ever inflicted b.
the car upon serfdom.
NO longer can we live prosperously an
happily under so tyrannical n system. TIL
| demand OF the occasion Is for honest, earn
| est men who have the Intelligence to APP
preciate prevailing conditions and tn
courage to take up arms against sea o
troubles and by opposing. end them
II remain sincerely yours.
Hector d. Lane,
President American Cotton Growers
Protective Association"