The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-12
SEA ISLAND coTToN'S SLUMP.
PLANTERS OF PIERCE COUNTY IN
CONVENTION.


Blackshear Ca. Feb 1.-THE Sea
Island Cotton Growers Union was organ
lied as result Of a convention held
here to-day. Despite the very inclement
weather. fully 80 farmers, representing
the better element of that class, were
present
The convention was organized by max
ing A p. Brsntley chairman and J. Riley
Allen, a farmer, secretary.
Immediately following its organization
the convention resolved itself into sort
of experience meeting. discussing freely
and fully the evils attendant upon the
growing of sea island cotton. After much
talk it was decided TO appoint an advisory
committee the committee TO consist OF
five persons from each of the several MI
litia districts in the county. The purpose
in creating this committee was stated TO
be to nave it act in an advisory capac-
ity and to secure signatures to pledge
to reduce the acreage to be planted in
sea island cotton the approaching season
to two-thirds that of last year. The COM
mittee as appointed numbers among It's
members some of the most intelligent and
successful farmers in the county.
4 committee on correspondence and no.
tification, as it was styled, was also APP
pointed, as follows: A. T. Brantley,
chairman; Lewis c. WILLY, ]. Riley Al
len. James Henderson and J. Randall
Walker. This committee was instructed
to place itself in correspondence with all
of the counties growing sea island cotton
in Georgia. Florida and South Carolina
that all growers may be made acquainted
with the action taken by the convention,
and TO invite and urge the formation OF
similar unions in all the counties inter-
ested
L was the sense of the convention that
an effort looking to increased prices Tor
the staple should be along two lines, that
Is first. TO secure tariff tax Of . cents
per pound against the importation OF
Egyptian cotton or other long sta
pie cotton; and, second, to cause a
reduction in the acreage of sea island cot
ton to be planted this year
Congress VIII be memorialized " behalf
of the planters. The memorial viii snow
that sea island cotton cannot be produced
at present prices save at a loss, and that
present prices are 20 per cent lower than
the prices of a year ago. and 40 per cent.
lower than two years ago. II Will also
show that Egyptian long staple is being
imported duty free into this country in
quantities increasing every year, and that
this importation is inimiCal to the best
interests of the American farmers, and
even threatens TO overthrow the industry.
1T viii also reCite that the prices of much
that is consumed by the farmers is fixed
in the highest market in the world, that
IS, America, and that 1t is therefore man
ifest that in justice the price of sea island
cotton, the product of American farmers,
should be fixed in the cheapest market
of the world. In view of these and other
facts to be recited, congress will be ask
ed to levy a tax for the protection of the
sea island cotton industry as already in
dictated.
The convention was notable for the quiet
earnestness of its members. That there Is
a determination to carry out the purposes
of the organization is manifest to All, All
present seemed to feel that the hope of
the Industry is in the course mapped out
by to-day's convention. The committees
appointed will go to work at once, and
other meetings viii be held in the near
future.
mously and enthusiastically adopted, fol-
low:
reached a price at which IL cannot be
produced at a profit except in a few
favored cases which are notable eXcep-
tons, not the RUE; Notwithstanding We,
the growers, labor hard from early morn
till night, day in and day out, year in
and year out, and still are not able to
provide our families with the necessities
and advantages to which they are justly
entitled.
And whereas, the price is now 20 per
cent. lower than one season ago, and 40
per cent, lower than two seasons ago,
during which period the crop has increas-
ed in size from 1000 bales to 10000 bales.
And, whereas, in all probability larger
crop will mean that prices next season will
be 20 per cent. lower than they are now,
judging from the experience of the last
the cost of production, we look with fear
into the future.
Therefore, be 1t resolved, That we, the
growers of sea island cotton in Pierce
county, unite for self-protection into an
organization to be called the Sea Island
Cotton Growers Union, whose object
shall be three-fold. viz: First, to produce
sea island cotton at less cost; second
10 prCduce sea island cotton of better
quality; third, to use all means in our
power to increase the price of sea island
cotton.
And, whereas. it is entirely futile and
useless for one grower to plant less sea
island cotton, or one section to plant less
sea island cotton, If other growers and
other sections plant correspondingly
Therefore, be il resolved, That we in
wife the growers of sea island cotton in
every county where IL is produced TO or
ganiZe a similar union with the same OBJ
jects and purposes in view
And, whereas, II has been brought to
our attention that the continually increas-
ing imports Of Egyptian long staple cot
ton into the United States, free of duty,
has been and is responsible to a large eX-
tent for the decline in the price of our
crop, for the following cause, viz: That
for the purposes of the coarser yarns it
can be and Is substituted, when cheaper,
for our sea island cotton, and
while IL cannot be substituted for the finer
yarns, nevertheless. the demand for the
finer yarns is not now sufficient to absorb
all of our crop, and spnners, well-know-
ing this, naturally permit the surplus that
we produce, over and above the requires
mentS FOR the liner yarns. TO make the
price for the whole crop, and as this price
for our surplus is regulated to a very
large extent by the price of Egyptian COZ
ton, for the reason that 1t can be substi-
tuted in place of our cotton, and while " G
are not, per sc, high protectionists never
theless, as we have TO buy much that we
consume in the highest market la the
world, it is manifestly unjust that we
should have the price of our product made
IN the cheapest market in the world.
Therefore, be II resolved That we petit
ton congress to place a duty of cents a
pound upon all importationsS Of Egyptian
or any other long staple cotton.
ana be II resolved, further, That we re-
spectfully urge our representative In con-
gress and senator's TO use their valuable
influence to this end.
Fearful, however. that we may fail to
receive justice at the hands Of congress.
il behooves us to use every means IN our
power to reduce the quantity of sea island
cotton another season TO the requirements
al the liner yarn manufacturers which is
Narlously estimated to be from 5000 70 Is,
OoO bales, in order that prices may go back
70 hgure al which we may produce our
cotton without a loss.
Therefore, be IL resolved, That we re-
duce our acreage Of sea island cotton to
tWo-thirds OF what We planted a year ago
and thai we request all unions through
Lent