The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-21
COTTON GROWERS MEETING.
The Question OF tho Low Price of Cotton
Considered--A Large Meeting Con
servative Speeches -Kesolu.
tlons Adopted.

III ICSpOuSS W t1S cdll OI GnS JOnn-
stone Alliance for the cotton growers
or Newberry County to meet on Fri
day, 18th, to consider the question of
the low price of cotton ut this market,
about l25 farmers, merchants aud other
Interested citizens assembled in the
court house 1T l1.30 O'Clock to discuss
and take whatever action was cOnsid-
cred wise and proper in the premises.
The speeches were all conservative
and in good taste all seeming to have
assembled for the purpose of righting u
wrong-having rs they supposed real
grievance. Nothing in the whole
meeting was said to hurt anyone and
nothing done that could possibly cause
offence.
The meeting was organized by >all-
ing Mr.. w. l.. Notes to the chair and
requesting Mr.. II. II. Grcncker, Jr.. to
act Us secretary.
Hon. J. A. Sigh WAS called on to ad-
dress the meeting, which he did in his
usual happy manner. He spoke pluin
and to the point, and no one could have
crowded into the few minutes that he
spoke moro sound logic and wholesome
advice than he. He tirst spoke of tho
bright prospects of few weeks ago for
such an enormous cotton crop and how
within the past three or four weeks it
had been cut of at least Il third--not Il
third OF an average crop, but third of
an extraordinary crop. He argued
that supply and demand did not re,ru.
late the price Of cotton, stating that up
to Septem ber lst the supply had been
less than for years, and since that time
the reports that como in are gloomy.
and look at the price. Supply and de-
munu have nothing to do with it, that
is not the trouble. The merchants of
Ncwberry arc not the blame for the
low price OF cotton-.it must be traced
to other sources. With less cotton in
sight, with Il smaller crop than last
year in sight, what can be the cause OF
the low price? 1t becomes US to invcs-
tlgate this closely. In his opinion it
was u prcconcerted plan of the monicd
men of Europe and America to buy tho
cotton just us cheap as they possibly
can and to their own individual inter
cSts. Banks were not to be blamed,
they are doing legitimate business
running the country--and the trouble
is not with them. They make Il legal
per ccntage to run then business, and
they would not rush you with your cot
ton to market if they were not pressed
themselves. He favored cotton mills
in the SC ith, but mill men wore going
to take care Of themselves and they
can't be blamed, it is to their interest
to get cotton just us cheap as they can.
Speculation u" the part Of the mOnicd
men OF Europe and America is the
cause Of the low price of cotton, and
the manufacturers arc in sympathy
with them. He thought nothing much
could De done at present, but this meet
ing will do much good in the future. If
cotton was not bringing quite Us much
at Newbcrry us at other markets, he
could not understand it: certainly there
was no just reason, yet the merchants
OF Ncwberry could not be blamed, for
they did not regulate the price. If it
Is true that you can get more elsewhere
for your cotton, why the remedy is in
your hands and can be regulated in Il
day-but you will find that that is not
the trouble; you will find it away back
of that. My remedy is this: If you
own your own farm, or if you are an iu-
dependent renter, make at home all the
supplies you possibly can, and after
that make all the cotton you can, econ
omlze and save all you can. Try to get
q little farm OF your own, IL you have
none; would that l could sec this whole
country dotted with happy little homes.
1t is curse to any country for Ghc
farming lands to be in tho hands OF Il
few. The fact faces us that q large ne
gro population, who can and never
will build up this country, get control
of lands, give liens on their crop to be
paid in October and November, COM
pelling the cotton to go on the market
at Il stated time. Own your own farms,
raise supplies ut home, ecOnomiZc in
every possible way, and we will soon
be happy and prosperous people.
'IhjQ np1 linr I'm ft,t is
curse to the country. Some few South
erb men have dealt in it and got bit
every time, and l am glad of it. This
curse Is allowed to go on and Congress
sits idly by and does nothing, but it
will ever be thus as long us dirty politi
clans hold the reins of government
The evil is not in Ncwberry. You may
spur the cotton buyers up here to give
You rs much as other markets, but that
is small matter.
DR.. w. e. Lake was called on and
stated that he had not expected to
make speech, but was glad to see
such Il large number present. Last
January you should Lave been inter-
csted in this matter. You have plant.
ed, raised and spent this crop. Seed
will be sown here today that will do
much good in the future, but you can't
tol tSSO VIC illNHCCS ol UulS country III
this meeting here today. Relief may
come after the next national campaign.
1t is nice thing to go home and talk
over with your neighbors about plant
ing and raising your necessary supplies
another year and the balance in cotton,
and arrange so as not to market it so
early. Capitalists, mill men and every
body else can organize and go together
for their own good except farmers:
they 80 by themselves.
Hon. Arthur Kibler was called on
and stated that as he was not Il cotton
grower he did not feel that he was en-
titled to place in the meeting. He
couldn't account for cotton bringing
less in Newberry than in other mar
kcts. The merchants he knew were
just rs anxious for the farmers to get u
good price for their cotton as the farm
or himself. He believed the price for
the present crop had been fixed and
that they were powcrless TO do any
thing. The remedy is in your hands
for the future, but he could sec no
remedy for the present. He was sorry
the impression had gone out that New