The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-21
COTTON GROWERS.
County Convcnti"n-Rcsolut Adopted
. Against the Lien Lnw-Denling In
Futures Condcmnud-K"duce
Acreage.

According to announcement the Cr'-
ton Growers held their meeting ycster-
day. 1t was Il bad, rainy day, but there
was good attendance. No roll was
called or list of delegates made up.
There were about 80 farmers from
different parts Of the county in attend
anCc.
The meeting Was called to order and
in the absence Of the secretary and as
s;stant secretary, the treasurer, f.. II.
.Null, was requested to act us secretary
Of the meeting.
Col. Geo. JOhnStonc stated that there
were but two or three things made
public by the Atlanta convention Of
which this meeting should or could
take cOgniZancc-thc lien law, dealing
in futures and reduction OF acreage in
cotton. These were the matters con-
sidcrcd by the Atlanta Convention and
also Il meeting in January to perfect
organization.
Col. Johnslonc said it was plain to us
that the matter cf gambling in futures
was beyond our control, except that we
could petition to Congress and work up
Il sentiment by continued agitation, but
would take in Congress more than the
solid vote Of the Southern States to
effect anything along this line.
AS to the lien law that WAS II matter
for Legislative action.
AS to the reduction of acreage that
L., 4, Il
be left to the voluntary action Of the
farmers themselves.
Chairman lluntcr stated that the
privileges Of the floor to speak and vote
would he given to all present who were
Interested ia the subject.
Hon. JnO. II. Banks said it was unfOr-
tunatc that We did not have a larger
meeting. He Thought that gambling
in futures was detrimental 10 the best
interest of the cou&ry. Everybody
who handles cotton makes more out
OF it than the man who grows it,
He understood the Atlanta convention
to endorse the Stokes bill. He was not
in favor OF adopting and endorsing the
i"' "ch"mr Of any one. Somebody
might get a better bin. What he want
ed was stop to gambling in futures
and hc didn't care by whose bill it. was
accomplished. He favored petition
"t thc people TO congress for icgisla-
ton. Let every county in the United
States send up apctiti0n. Let us drive
it from our country. He said he had
some resolutions to offer but if any body
prcs"ni had any better plan he hoped
that it would be presented. Everybody
was in earnest and meant to do what he
thought was best. Hc then offered the
following resolutions which were
amended and adopted *
W.hera@s,- it has been frequently as
= serted and generally agreed to, that
cotton cannot be produced protitably at
cent per pound:
The reforc, Resolved, That it is the
sense of this association that the buy
ing of commercial fertilizers at present
prices to produce Il crop in which there
is no profit is the utmost folly.
Resolved End. That wo urgently re-
commend that farmers either secure
from Guano Co.'S what is termed the
cotton option, based on cents cotton
or refuse to buy fertilizers.
A ARcsOlved 3rd. That we earnestly re-
c9bmmend that proprict0rs of land re-
nulre OF their tenants to raise largely
tfM food products, taking rent thereof,
mstead of requiring all in cotton, that
MJch rs use hired labor cndcavor to
@esS5a lsc enough Of such products as will
e3 ssss3 I'd such hired labor.
s Altesolved 4th. That petition memo
~ IiyIIN Il
SA suppress gambling in futures, be de-
SsF Pited with our Senator and Repre-
SSss tat!ves, and that every citizen be
4Rss nested to sign said petition.
j. Nj. Johnstonc said he was
sss Artily in favor Of most of what is
aimed in the resolutions but he
n not favor what was said about COM
|ssy ,ial fertilizers. He thought we
better plant smaller aren and fcrti-
& han to have to work so much land.
q S there were lands in tins county
you'd not make crops without fer
Ia.
s Gas then moved that the resolu-
L be taken up by items. ~
aa5S H. Smith did not think that
5 8 could produce cotton for less
8 eits and pay for fertilizers at
GU prices.
'SS 2otion OF Mr.. Geo. Johnstone
ks35 tions were to be left with the
4 and Representative for sigma
szsSs3sSss Banks resolutions were then
lsiss as given above.
81 leo. Johnstone then offered some
pms to carry out the plan as
ia,eAtlanta. We give here
3 buttons as adopted and the dis
S.. S. follows,
40 - ked, II. That our Senators and
Representatives in Congress be urged
ITO press action upon e!ongrcss, having
Tia view he5prohibition, In all consti-
Btutional methods, Of dealing in futures
I'm a ~ srt,nf tnfa xub apa fha 90