The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-22
COTTON GROWERS PRO-
TECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
Ten Cents Per Day the Daily
Earning of the Cotton
Grower.

Memphis, Dec. 20.-The American
Cotton Growers Protective association
vas called to order at 10 O'clock this
morning by President Hector D Lane
of Athens. Ala. Many delegates we're
present, including prominent planters
from Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas. Ala
bsma, Louisiana. Georgia aud Missis
sippi Immediately sfter the delegates
we're called to order, President Lane
delivered an address. in which be ex-
planned why the convention had been
called.
Cotton to-day is selliog at less than
5 cents" be said. ..and this means the
insignificant sum Of 10 cents day for
the labor Of the man who is distinctive
ly the cotton grower. I make this
statement deliberately and defy sue
cessful contradiction !"
President Lane made strong plea
for reduction 10 the cotton acreage,
saying that oyer-produo.ion fosters
manipulation By destroying the an
Dual surplus the Law of supply aud
ESdemaod will prevail. competition will
Intervene aud the cost Of the produc-
sion of this commodity, which is fair
standard Of iss value, will be the basis
of its price mark
Continuing. Mr.. Lane said !: Under
prevailing conditions the product Of
our toll is no longer adequate to our
Subsistence. Prevailing prices are be;
loa the cost of production. With q
surplus Of several millions annually,
vhiob is au able ooadjusor of the COT
ton bear the Law Of supply snd de-
maud has been displaced and 10 its
stead ioterposes the result attained by
this commercial fakir aud Aim fam
artist Statistics show that there has
been great falling off iu speculative
mblipg in cotton futures in the las:
several years. consequent upon the
small drops. for as the visible supply
diminished the power Of manipulation
decreased
After the president had delivered his
address. the usual com mitsees were ap-
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 tArkansas j. W. Prast,
Huntsville. Ala Capt L W Leves-
que. Arkansas Capt Jerome Hill. ST.
Louis Col. W. W. Stone. ex auditor
of Mississippi Col. Charles Scott,
Mississippi. aud Mcneil Bond, Ten
nessee
The sessioos Of the convention are
being held in the convention ball Of
the Peabody House. notwithstanding
che ioclemency of the weather, this vi
cioisy having been visited BY slees
storm, which later turned into cold
rain, the sttendaDce was representa-
tive one. After President Laoe's ad-
dress bad been discussed, the following
permanent officers were elected Chair
man. Hector D Lane, of Alabama; sec
retary, j Gbeatbam. Tennessee; as
sistant secretary. Sol Cohen. Missis-
sippi
A committee ou resolutions. consist
ing Of two delegates from each State,
was appointed. The meeting then ad-
journed uo.il 2 O'Clock this afterooon
At the afternoon session general die
cossion of the situation was bad, in
which all Of the delegates took part
Dr.. D M. Crosseu, delegate from the
recent convention Of cotton growers.
which was held in Atlanta. was intro
daced aud addressed the meeting, after
which an adjournment was taken until
8 O'Clock tonight.
When the delegates were called to
order at the night session, the oom-
mittee on resolutions presented the fol
lowing report, which was adopted:
Believing that the best thing this
meeting can accomplish will be per-
maoent Organization Of American cot
ton growers, your committee respect
folly reports as follows:
First. we reafirm the priociples an
nounced by the association at its meet
ing in Memphis io January, 1896
Second. we respectfully submit the
following constitution aud declaration
of principles aud urge their adoption
as the basis of a permanent orgauiSa-
tioo to be extended to all CT the States
and counties 10 the cotton country
Article l. The name os this associa-
ton shall be the American Cotton
Growers Protective association
Article 2 The object of ibis associa-
tion shall be to educate the cotton grow
ers of America as to their rights and
duties, aud to devise ways and means
for the improvement of their copdi'ion
Article g. We adopt the principles
announced by the association at its
meeting at Jackson, Mise Jan 9 and
TO. 1895, aud Memphis. Tenn. in