Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-12-08

expressed Dy CdplalH .. II. " hito' al
though one of the largest farmers in the
township, he announced that if the At
lanta convention should decide upon re-
ductiUn of the acreage as the proper thing,
he would make whatever reduction might
be recommended, even to the extent OF
not planting a single seed. Mr.. Crook
went on to say that his people thought
there was something else necessary be-
yond a reduction of the acreage, and that
they believed also in the wisdom OF
adopting what is known as the Roddey
plan. He said also that resolution had
been adopted in condemnation OF the
cylindrical baling machinery, controlled
by the American Cotton company. II
the American Cotton company is allowed
to establish itself throughout the south,
then it will be only short time until we
will be forced to market our cotton in the
seed only, and conditions will become
even worse than now.
Mr.. w. J. Davis said that the people of
Kings Mountain township banked more
OH the Roddey plan than they did upon
reduction of the acreage. The proposed
reduction of the acreage might very well
be illustrated by the conditions prevailing
in the convention. Here there are a
number of us who are trying to discover
what is best for our common interest, and
outside are hundreds who have manifest
ed no interest in this movement; but are
merely waiting to get the advantage OF
whatever we might be able to do for them.
If we should succeed in securing PROM
ises of big reduction of the acreage,
there would be hundreds of planters
everywhere who would seek to take ad-
vantage of our efforts by increasing their
crops. However, whatever the majority
might decide upon, Kings Mountain
township would be found in line.
Mr.. L. R. Williams reported that so far
as he had been able to learn, the people
of York township were in favor OF the
adoption of the Roddey plan and the re-
duction of the acreage.
After the delivery Of these reports, Mr.
c. Il. Crook made brief speech in favor
Of a reduction Of the acreage and the
adoption of the Roddey plan. His main
idea about the reduction of the acreage
was that after the farmer raised all the
bread and meat necessary to run his place,
he might he at liberty to raise as much
cotton as he could, or wanted to raise.
The only objection that he had heard
raised against the Roddey plan was fear
that Mr.. Roddey might make money out
of it. He did not see where Roddey
could make anything until after he had
benefited the producers, and if the pro-
ducers were benefited at the same time,
he did not care if Roddey should make
millions.
Upon motion of Captain w. H. Ed
wards, it was unanimously resolved to "a
into the organization of the York County
Cotton Growers association.
Mr.. w. J. Miller nominated Mr.. l.. Il.
Williams for president, and Mr.. Williams
nominated Mr. w. N. Elder.
Mr.. Elder begged to decline the noni-
nation; but an election was entered into
by ballot, with the result that Mr.. Elder
received % votes and Mr.. Williams re-
ceived 43.
Mr.. J. F. Ashe was unanimously elect
ed secretary.
On motion of Mr.. w. ]. Miller, the
president was requested to appoint nine
vice. e-presidents-one from each township
each vice-president to act as his respect
i've township chairman, and be author
lied to appoint six committeeman to as
sist i'm the work of thorough organiza'
ton. In accordance with this motion,
vice-presidents were appointed as fol
lows:
Bethel-D. G. Stanton.
Bethesda-P. NJ. Burris.
Broad River-W. M. McGill.
Bullock's Creek-T. A. Gwinn.
Catawba-T. NJ. Allen.
Ebenezer-W. ]. Miller.
Kings Mountain-W. j. Davis.
York-N. A. Simril.
The following, offered by Mr.. w. j.
Miller, was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we recommend reduc'
ton of the cotton crop to ten acres tc
the plow, and, further, that we consider
the adoption of what is know as the Rod
dey plan as indispensable to the best In
terests of the cotton producers OF the
south.
It was explained that this resolution
was merely intended as an expression OF
the sentiments of the people of this Sec
ton, to be sent up to the convention tc
he held in Atlanta on December IA, and
that whatever might be determined up
on by the Atlanta convention, would
be acquiesced in by the farmers of York
county.
Mr.. d. NJ. Hall took occasion to make
a few remarks. He said that a few years
ago, when the situation grew so bad that
to raise cotton seemed impossible, the far
mers got together and passed resolutions
in favor of the reduction of the acreage
and the adoption of the Roddey plan, etc.
AS the result of the agitation, or anyhow
for some reason, the crop was reduced
and prices got better. But when cotton
began looking up again toward eight
cents, the farmers began to plant the
whole earth as they had done before, and
made things as bad as ever. If this or
ganization was to be a permanent thing it
would have his hearty sympathy and CO.
operation; but if it were to be only a
temporary expedient-a going up the hill
and down again-he wanted nothing to
do with it. He hoped that all the cotton
growers everywhere would be interested
and that they would stick permanently.
Mr.. c. T. Crook frequently interrupted
the remarks of Mr.. Hall with "Amen."
There being no further business, upon
motion of Mr.. Elder, the convention ad-
iourned to hold it's next meeting in the
courthouse, on the first Monday in jan
uary, 1898.
BY the next meeting, it is hoped that
organization will be completed in all the
H. III