The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-21
COTTON GROWERS CONVENE.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION IN SESSION
AT MEMPHIS.


the Laborer in the Cotton Fields.
A SERIES of Resolutions Adopted.
Memphis Dec. 20-The American Cotton
Growers Protective Association was called
to order at 10 o'clock this morning by
President Hector d. Lane of Athens. Ala.
Many delegates were present, including
prominent planters from Arkansas, Ten
nessee, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Geor-
gia and Mississippi
Immediately after the delegates were
called to order President Lane delivered
an address, in which he explained why the
convention had been called. Cotton 10
day is selling for less than cents" he
said, "and this means the insignificant
sum of 10 cents day for the labor of the
man, distinctlVely a cotton grower. |
make this statement deliberately and defy
successful contradiction"
President Lane made strong plea for
the reduction of the cotton acreage say
ing that over production fosters manipu-
lauon. BY destroying the annual sur.
plus the law Of supply and demand win
prevail, competition will intervene, and
the cost of the production of this com
modify, which is a fair standard of its
value, will be the basis of It's price mark.
After the president had delivered his
dUuttSS inc usual GOmIlltlGeS were ap-
pointed and the morning session was de-
voted to the reception of delegates and to
organization.
Continuing, Mr.. Lane said; "Under pre-
vailing conditions, the product of our toll
Is no longer adequate TO our subsistence.
Prevailing prices are below the cost of
production With a surplus of several
millions annually, which is an able coad-
jutor of the cotton bear the law of sup
ply and demand has been displaced, ana i'm
its stead nterposes the results attained
by this commercial fakir and fiim-fam
artist Commercial statistics show that
there has been a great falling off In spec
ulative gambling in cotton futures In The
last seven years, consequent upon small
crops, for, as the visible supply diminish
ed, the power Of manipulation decreased"
Among the more prominent delegates
present were the following: Gov. Eagle
of Arkansas; J. w. Pratt of Huntsville,
Ala; Capt. L. W Levesque Of Arkansas,
Capt. Jerome Hill of st. Louis;
Col. w. W. Stone. ex-auditor of Missis-
sippi; Col. Charles Scott of Mississippi and
McNel Bond Of Tennessee.
After President Lanes address the fol-
lowing permanent officers were elected;
Chairman. Hector D. Lane Of Alabama,
secretary, j. Cheatham Of Tennessee, as
sistant secretary, Sol Cohen OF Mississippi.
A committee on resolutions, consisting of
pointed. The meeting then adjourned un-
Ill O'clock this afternoon.
At the afternoon session general dis
cusson of the situation was had, in which
all the delegates took part.
DR.. d. NJ. Crossen, delegate from the
recent convention of cotton growers which
was held in Atlanta, was introduced and
addressed the meeting, after which an
adjournment was taken until o'clock to-
night.
When the delegates were called to order
at the night session, the committee on res
olutions presented the following report,
which was adopted:
Believing that the best thing this meet
ing can accomplish will be a permanent
organization of American cotton growers,
your committee respectfully report as fol-
lows:
Il. We reaffirm the principles announc-
ed by the association at its meeting in
Memphis in January, 1896.
-. We respectfully submit the follow
ing constitution and declaration of prin-
clples and urge their adoption as a basis
of permanent organization to be extended
TO all of the states and counties in the cot
ton country.
"Article /. The name of this associa-
tion shall be the American Cotton Growers
Protective Association.
article g The object of this association
shall be to educate the cotton growers of
America as to their rights and duties,
and to devise ways and means for the inn
provement of their condition.
"Article 8. We adopt the principles an
nounced by the association az its meeting
at Jackson Miss, Jan. and 10, 1895. and
Memphis, Tenn, in January, 1896. In or
der to carry them out, we shall strive,
by the thorough organization of all the
cotton growing states, counties and dis
tricts, to unite all cotton growers in an
earnest effort to reduce the acreage of
cotton each year TO such a point as will
insure fair average price to every grow
er. This organization shall take no part
in national, state or local politics, and Will
permit no persons to use 1t for personal
advancement or purely political purposes.
''I7his association shall aim above all to
teach the American cotton grower:
First, to reduce the cost of the produc-
ton Of cotton.
second, to practice the principles of
thrift and economy, which shall enable
him to escape debt and make his cotton
real money crop
Third, to make all his own supplies at
home to the end that the crop when pro-
duced may be all his own.
Fourth to hold his crop each year un-
til he can sell it to the best advantage
Fifth, to build factories for manufac-
turing cotton goods near the cotton flelds
so that he may receive the largest re-
turns from each annual crop. and that
home markets may be built up for all 9TH
er farm products.
"Article 4. This association shall elect
o vice president from each Of the cotton
states, who shall be the president for his
state It shall be the duty of the state
presidents to effect a thorough organiza-
tion Of all the cotton growers in their
states, counties and districts. To this end
the state presidents shall call to their as
sistance the commissioners of agriculture,
the professors of agriculture, and the di-
rectors of the agricultural experiment sta
tions Of their respective states, using as
far as possible existing organizations and
farmers, whose aims are not antagonistic
TO this association
"Article 8. The presidents of the state
associations shall constitute the executive
committee Of this association, OF which
the president Of this association shall be
ex-officio chairman. It shall be the duty
of said committee to. assist the president
in promoting the work and objects Of the
association, to advise the state presidents
with regard to the work In their states and
to direct the operations of the secretary of
the association. This committee shall
also prepare the constitutions and bylaws
of the states to be submitted to II at its
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