The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-12-25
THE COTTON GROWERS C0NVEN.
TON.

I he luCellng nelu IN Melupn
/ on the goth to discuss ways an
] means for remedying the evi
- from which the industry of cotto
growing is at present sutTerin
: was enthusiastic, but of course nc
{ largely attended.
Ii planters in other parts of tn
district are in the condition 0
those Of the Delta, it is likely tina
The convention was made up chief,
of business men who grow cottol
| by proxy, so to speak, and not t,
any great extent by the actual ag
ricuIturists. Planters are too busy
just now trying to save that part
Of their crops which is still hang.
ing on the stalk or whitening the
| ground.
The results achieved by the con
vention are embodied in the reso-
lutions passed, and their practical
value can best be decided for him
self by each individual who reads
them. The following is a brief
form which contains the gist;
This association shall aim, above
all, to teach American cotton
growers, first, to reduce the cost
Of the production of cotton.
Second-To practice the prin-
ciples of thrift and economy, which
shall enable him to escape debt
and make his cotton a real money
crop.
Third-To make all his own
supplies at home, to the end that
the crop when produced. may be
all his own.
Fourth-To hold his crop each
year until he can sell it to the best
advantage.
Fifth-To build factories for
manufacturing cotton goods near
the cotton fields, so that he may
receive the largest returns from
each annual cotton crop, and that
the home market may be built up
for all other farm products.
In all the South there is proba-
bly, no section which has sinned so
persistently against the laws laid
down by the convention as the
Delta. Until compelled to it gave
no heed to reducing the cost of
cotton production. 1t laughed the
Of thrift and economy
o scorn. 1t welcomed debt with
'pen arms. 1t raised no supplies
It all at home, but bought them at
prices from New Orleans,
It. Louis and Kansas City. 1t
ever held ITS cotton for a day, but
old it before it was made and
hipped it hotf from the gin. But the
Delta was long ago brought to see
he error ofits ways by a far harsher
eacher than the cotton convention,
nd for years past it has observed
t least four Of the commandments
id down in the resolutions with
and fidelity. We al {
lady raise cotton at a cost that :
ould have been laughed at ten
ears ago; we are learning to
read debt as a burnt child breads
re we have had to raise our own !
Ipplies or starve. The result is a
at Delta planters view five cent
'tton with disgust, to be sure, t
1t without terror and with the
APPLE at that figure are in reality t
ore prosperous and better con- t.
nted than they have often been b
the past when it sold at ten. S
The reduction Of acreage at the Il
ctum OF the convention we re- t.
nd as improbable, for the sim "
e reason that it cannot be made G,
lndatory; and has been proved Il
produce exactly the contrary v
Get to that intended. The G.
oatest good accomplished by the p
lvention i, the foundation which 81
for a national organiza- cl
n Of cotton growers. If it is 81
ssible to secure concert of action IA
! bring about an earnest, intel id
ent and practical effort to con tn
| the product Of the whole to
nth, the desired end can be ac-
lished. Not otherwise. +