The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-12-28
AMERICAN COTTON GROWERS.
TIE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION FORMS


The Amercan Cotton Growers Pro
tcctve Association met on the 20tl
inst, in Memphis, Tenn, and was
called to order by President Hector D.
Lane, of Athens, Ala.
Many delegates we've present, in
Guiding prominent planters from Ar
kansas, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama,
Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi.
Immediately after the delegates were
called to order President Lane deliver.
cd an address in which he explained
why the convention had been called.
"Cotton today is selling at less than
cents" he said, "and this means the
insignificant sum of 10 cents day for
the labor of the man who is distinctivc-
ly the cotton grower. l make this
statement deliberately and defy sue
ccssful contradiction"
Continuing Mr.. Lane said: "Undcr
prevailing cond tionS, the product of
our toll is no longer adequate to our
subsistence. Prevailing prices are be-
low the cost of pi oduction. With sur
plus of several millions annually which
is an able coad tutor of the cotton bear,
the law of supl ly and demand has been
displaced, and i'm its stead interpoScs
the result attained by this commercial
fakir and ilmAam artist.
''Stdtistics show that there has been
great falling IF in speculative gam
bling in cotton futures in the last sew
cral years, consequent upon the small
crops, for us the visible supply dimin-
ished the power of manipulation i'll
crcascd.n
President Lane made a strong plea
for a reduction of the cotton acreage,
saying that ovcr-productinn fosters ma.
nipulution. Ey destroying the annual
surplus the law of supply and demand
will prevail; comp tition will intervene,
and the cost of the production of This
commodity, which is a fair standard of
its value, Will be the basis of its price
mark.
After the president had delivered his
address, the usual committees were APP
pointed and the morning session was
devoted to the reception of delegates
and to organization.
Among the more prominent delegates |
present were the following: Governor
Eagle, of Arkansas; j. w. Pratt,
Huntsville, Ala. Capt. i. w. I.cvesquc,
Arkansas; Capt. Jerome Hill, st. Louis;
Col. w. w. Stone, eX-audltor of Mis-
sissippi; Col. Charles Scott, Mississippi,
and Mcneil Bond, Tennessee.
The sessions of the convention were
held in the hall of the Peabody house.
n Notwithstanding the inclcmcncy of the
weather, the vicinity having been visi-
TO NV Stn irl,
later, turned into cold rain, the at
tendance was a representative one.
After President Lanes addi ess had
been discussed, the following pcrma-
ncnt officers were elected:
Chairman, Hector ID. Lane, of Ala
bama; secretary, j. Chatham, Tennes-
see; assistant secretary, Sol Cohen,
Mississippi.
A committee on resolutions, consist
ing of two delegates from each state,
was appointed. The meeting then ad
journcd until 2 o'clock.
At the afternoon session a general |
discussion of the situation was had in
which all the delegates took part.
Dr.. ID. Nj. Crosscn, of S. c. a dele
which was held in Atlanta, was intro
duccd and addressed the meeting, after
which an adjournment was taken until |
s O'Clock that night.
When the delegates were called to
order at the night session the commit |
tee Oh resolutions presented the follow
ing report, Which was adopted:
Believing that the best thing this
meeting can accomplish will be per-
mancnt organization of American cot
ton growers, your committee respect
fully report as follows:
/. We rc-afliim the principles an
nounced by the association at its meet
ing in Memphis i'll January, 1896.
2. We respectfully submit the fol-
lowing constitution and declaration of
principles, and urge their adoption as
the basis of a permanent organization,
to be extended TO all of the States and
counties in the cotton country.
Article !. The name of this assoca-
ton shall be the American Cotton
Growers Protective Association.
Article 2. The object of this asso-
citation shall be to educate the cotton
growers of America as to their rights
and duties, and to devise ways and
means for the improvement Of their
condition.
Article 3. We adopt the principles
announced by the association at its
meeting at Jackson, Miss, January 8
and 10, 1895, and at Memphis in Janu-
airy, 1896. In order TO carry them out
we shall strive, by the thorough organi-
zation of all the cotton growing St9tcs,
counties and districts, to unite all cot
ton growers in an earnest effort to re-
duce the acreage Of cotton each year,
SO as to insure fair value oil pIice to
every grower. This organization shall
take no part in national, State or local
politics, and will permit no persons to
use it for personal advancement or
purely political purposes.
This ASSOCIATION shall ann above all
to teach American cotton growers:
! no reduce the cost OF the produc-
ton of cotton.
Q. TO practice the prime: les of thrift
and economy; to enable him to escape
debt and make his cotton real "mon.
ey crop"
8. TO make all his own supplies al
home, to the end that the crop, when
produced, may be all his own.
4. TO hold his crop each year unit
he can sell il to the best ADVANTAGE