The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-22
COTTON PLANTERS CONVENE.
THEIR SECOND ANNUAL CONVEN-
TION HELD AT MEMPHIS.

PresideR Hector ID. Lane Points Out
That the Surplus Crop is the Ham
mer Used by the Bears to Depress
Prices-HOn. c. :. Scott of Mfssis-
sippi Stirs Up Enthusiasm by Al
IudinG to the Willingness of the
Southern Agriculturists to Turn
Soldier.
Memphis, Tenn, Jan. 21.-The second
annual convention Of the Southern Cot
ton Growers and others directly concerned
with the cotton crop convened here to-
day upon call from President Hector
d. Lane of Alabama.
Every one of the cotton growing states
was represented, Mississippi and Arkan-
sas having conspicuously large and in
telligent delegations. President Lane,
who was chosen permanent chairman,
delivered his address Immediately after
the convention was called to order, deal
ing extensively with statistics to demon
strate the necessity for holding the cot
ton acreage within bounds. He pointed
out that the annual surplus is the effect
i've instrument used by the cotton "bear"
to depress values and that over-produc-
tion fosters manipulation.
At the conclusion of the address the
various committees were appointed, and
then Hon. Charles 5. Scott of Mississippi
was introduced. He dwelt chiefly upon
the method of southern cotton growers,
which carried him away from diversifi-
cation and to the all cotton crop. which
in turn carried him to the supply men,
who predicated their advances upon that
| crop The close of Mr.. Scott's address
! aroused enthusiasm, because he took up
the certain consequences of a war in
which this country should figure as a
| principal He insisted that so long as
war could be honorably averted let it be
done, but when the time arrived IL would
| be found that the agriculturists OF the
south would be found among the foremost
of the country's soldiers.
LET us remember our honored British
| ancestry" he exclaimed ''and with a sin
| gle voice let people of both nations say
| God save the President, God save the
| Queen"
At the close Of the speech the committee
| on resolutions announced its readiness
| to report, and did so. The preamble re-
! cites the evil consequences OF oYer-pro-
| duction and unsystematic marketing Of
| the cotton crop, and resolves, that we call
the attention of the southern cotton grow
| ers to the fact that they are masters of
| the situation. The crop of 1895, being less
| than 100000 bales, renders 1t entirely
| feasible, by a further reasonable reduc-
LlOn OF the acreage curing Lne present
| year, to materially advance the value of
cotton, and thus insure a safe and sub
stantial profit that cannot fail to bring
| increased prosperity to the south, not only
/ as the immediate result of such profit,
| but by enhancing the value of our lands
| and turning hither the tide of immigra-
1 ton, much needed for the development
| of tie great natural resorces of this favor
| ed section.
1--WE earnestly urge all producers of cot
| ton to take advantage of this golden OPP
1 fa fas,tsa AI,ar
| ed during the past season of making the
| south self-supporting by first producing
| an abundant supply Of corn, hay, meat
| and other like commodities for home con-
| sumption; decreasing the cotton acreage
| still further for the matter of prime inn
portance, thus guarding against the dam
| gers of over production and leaving the
| cotton as a surplus crop"
Other resolutions We're reported and
| adopted, making the American Cotton
| Growers Association permanent, instruct
| ing the president and executive commit
| tee to move energetically against every
| disposition to increase the acreage and
| providing for permanent offices from each
| cotton growing state.
A committee to formulate an address to
| agriculturalists was also presented, to
| prepare and promulgate 1t, after which
! the convention adjourned sine die.
| The committee on the address soon COM
| pleted its work after getting together to-
| night. Calling attention to the greater
| returns from the decreased crops and the
| cause therefor. the committee concludes;
| I'VE appeal to your Self-intereSt and your
/ patriotism to do all in your power to Keep
! down the production of the staple. Do NOT
| desert the ground you live on. Follow the
| principles laid down, make the cotton
| states self-supporting put more land in
| clover and grass for your hogs to run
on; diversity your crops, and when you
| have done all this, the area devoted to
| cotton will yield more profitable returns
| than if you sought to increase the num-
| ber of your bales. II is felt by the most
| thoughtful men that we are entering upon
1 Of afafT4 Toe nd fhof
| even a small cotton crop may fail to give
/ adequate returns for its production. The
mutterings of a storm are disturbing the
| country and unsettling all business cal
| culations. The prudent man will trim his
| sails to meet it. With the commerce OF
| the country interrupted by war-and war
| may come cotton would be unstable ex-
| cept at nominal prices. Every consider
| alton then of patriotism, or self-interesi
o anu ot trnti to @ r3,e M efae a
| acreage"