The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-11-17

Mr.. Ecddsy. = New York BrCl>Sr, Alterds
AID Mskes az ADDRESS Euli (, oceedinSs
of,he Copvs ntisE--The Plan Accp cd &c
Help, the Fa,msIs.
The Cotton Growers Convention
sssemhled at the cor1!houseiD 10 Colun
bia en- Wednesday riebt. aud WAS
called to order by Mr. J. Z. Nll6orn.
Mr.. Wilborn ssid SIS he called the
meetire, be would make s fer re-
msrks in oYelipg the proceedings
he said:
Gentlemen OF the Convention: am
more than sl4d 20 welcome SO manv
of YOU in attsrGarce on this meeting
tonight. While l am deeply impressed
with the Importance, individually: OF
some action being taken IN regard TO
the handling CT cur grest staple crop
I could not resist the lmportr2liles o.
nsny members Of TIE organ'zitl>n l
have the honor 10 preside over,Io tske
some official scion; therefore, as
president of the Farmers Stste ALI.
anCe ! requested representation o.
the farmers o. the State tc meet n tnls
city tonight 10 tate uroer CONSIDERS
,ion this crest o2esrcn, whlco III
cludes the prcGuclcl q three fcu 'tns
OF the cotton which clothes the civil.
jz,d world, as well ss The manner ID
which il shall Re prepared anG placed
uron the worlds market. What are
the facts2 We, OF the South are the
producers OF the raw mater:ai OF tfe
chief article OF clothing OF me world.
NJ known country can compete with
rs. we have an acknowledged monop-
oly of this grest staple. It IS s prcoUc.
that EMPLOYS mere people aeTlcultu-
ralry in It's production than any oiher
single commodity. Thsre is more cap
ital involved in the commercial hand
ling of it than any otter Que article
When our eyes first open to lhe sun
light We are wrapped IL It and layed
in cur crs6lss. We lNske USE CT it eli
TIE way through lies journey and
WIEN we cons 10 De caInereo 10 our
fathers our winding sheet IS made CT
it ard we are hic beneath the willows
in bed of cotton. Again repeat
more people are engaged n It's pro
6uc.ior; more capital invested IN It's
msnufsc1ure than any other agricul-
tural product; IN fact 1t does more TO
keep the world spinning than any one
article; sid ye. the farmer who pro-
duces this cotton real zes less from 1t
than snyone else who touches 1t. This
is not right, it should not be SO, and
tonight we wish to set IN motion some
&C ion that will corr c. this evil. IT
we make an 5, 500, coo bale crop let US
receive the prica !. is worth, If we
produce $500 GOO bales let the price
correspond. But don'G let US be sub
ject to an estimate OF II 000, 600 bales,
made by sn autholity whose first and
only aim is TO work 10 the interest OF
the manufacturer sgaiost that Of the
producer. I would recommend that
tonight we take some scion LOOKING
TO the calling OF 8 convention OF rep
reseptaIiyes Of the cotton growing
states early Ia January, 1898. We
have 8 national commissioner OF agrl-
culture who is q cabinet officer and
should be the highest agricultural au-
thority on any subjsct appertaining to
agriculture. Let our different asrlcul-
raj organizations be used, with him as
s national head, to collect and dissem
mate truthful and reliable facts IS to
the exact status Of the growing crop
and the estimates OF its ultimate r..
suits. II we make large crop we
must abide the effects such crop has
on the markets Of the world. Oar na,
tional commissioner may be able to
do something i the prcper efforts are
made, to increase the uss OF American
cotton products IN forlign countries,
we sre ali aware Of how ouS cotton
trade with Asia has increased during
the past 10 years. Il mas been our Gus
tom for the farmers who borrowed
money, if one did so in January, an
other IN February, another II Narch
and so on, all paper IS r1sde payable
in October and November. Now, If
we can arrange 50 that large per
cent. OF this paper of The farmer shall
run for twelve months and thereby
become due at different times SO as
not 10 force the cotton crop On the
market in too l.mited time, j; would
be much better for the marketing OF
the cotton ard for the producers IN.
terests. I have taken the liberty OF
making these remarks by way OF sug-
sestion aud will now declare the con.
vention resdy for any business you
desire to take up. shall consider any
one present who IS interested IN the
production of cotton as entitled to TIC
privileges of the floor without you
rule otherwise. In conclusion, / de-
sire to submit q letter I have received
from a proninet cotton broker OF New
York:
Mr.. J. G. Wlhorn, Rock Hill 8. q.
Dear Sir: No doubt severa. >ars
ago, you were surprised st my not
continuing M plan for organizing
the farmers, but as the market lmmedl-
ately began TO advance and sold up
$50 per bale ana as our object had
peen accomplished, deemed Il best to
say nothing and I would have re-
mained silent, had not IN the las. few
week the professional operator begun
their same tactics and are trying II
seems to wreck the south. Now,
consider it an absolute necessity tnat
we form our organization and show to
the world that the scUtn will not sub
NIT to any kir6 OF servltuce that the
balance Of the world IS Trying 10 p4ace
upon them; that ths south mas Z prac.
teal monopoly OF prCd0ct that IS
necessary to sll classes and countries
and tnat they will 20 longer allow
operators Representing different SEC.
tions and countries keep them IN a
condition Of servitude. I enclose s
letter which I trust you will consider
and have published IL every possible
paper that Gas al heart the >uutn's wei
fare. We lnay yet show the world
We are not the ignorant and shlftIess
people they consider Us. We must
wor < again; viii you have this pub
lished wherever ycu can send me the
address OF the presidents CT al tie
Farmers Alliances IN tie south. Be