The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-21
GROWERS OF COTTON
Nearly All the Southern States Rem
resented at Memphis.
A REDUCED ACREAGE IS ADVOCATED.
A Constitution and Bylaws for Per-
maneut Organization.
FIVE OBJECTS ARE SOUGHT.
To Reduce Cost of Production, Econ
omy, Live at Home, Get Good
Prices and Manufacture Goods.
REDUCED ACREAGE IS ADVOCATED.
FIVE OBJECTS ARE SOUGHT.

| Memphis, Tenn, December 20 The
American Cotton Growers Protective as
sooiation was called to order at 10 o'clock
| This morning by President Hecor D. Lane
| of Athens Ala. Many delegates were pres
ent. Including prominent planters from
Arkansas, Tennessee. Texas Alabama
Louisiana, Georgia ard Mississippi.
Immediately after the delegates were
called to order President Lane delivered
an address. in which he explained why
the convention hal been called Cotton
today Is selling at less than 3 cents" he
said, and this means the insignificant
sum of 10 cents DAY foI the labor of the
man who is distinctlvely the cotton grow
er / make this statement deliberately
and defy successful contradiction"
President Lane made Il trong ule4 for
reduction of the cotton acreage, saying
that overproduction fosters manipulation
by destroying he annual surplus, the law
of supply aud demand viii prevail, compe-
tition will intervene and The cost of the
production Of this commodity. which is a
fair standard of It's value Win be the basis
of its price mark.
Continuing, Mr. Lane said Under pre-
vailing conditions the product Vi our toll
is no longer adequate to our subsistence
Prevailing prices are below the cost Of
production. W,lr Il surplus of several mil
lions annually, when IS a. dblc eoGds At)r
OF the cotton bear he law ~ supply and
demand has been displaced ard in Us stead
intorposes the result attained hy this com
mercial caklr and Him flam artist Sta
lisIics show That here has been great
falling OFT in speculative glmblnG IN cot
ton futures in the last several years, con
sequent upon the smali crops, ire as tne
visible supply diminished Tie lower o.
manipulation Noakcned.'
After the president mad delivered his ad-
dress the usual committees were appointed
ana the morning session was devoted 10
the reception OF delegates anu to organize
| ton,
Among the prominent delegates present
were the following. Governor Eagle Of
Arkansas J w. Peek of Huntsville, Ala
| Captain J. W. Lcvesquc OF Arkansas Cap
tain Jerome I'M oil st. Louis and Colonel
w. W. Store. ey auditor OF Mississippi.
'rhg SESSIONS OF the conventions are being
held in the convention hall OF the Pea
body hotel. Notwithstanding the incem-
ency of the weather, this vicinity having
been visited by severe seet storm which
! later turned into 4 cold ism. the attend
| tendance was representative enc.
| After President Lanes address had been
discussed the following permanent off,
| GERS were elected:
Chairman. Hector d. Lane of Alabama;
| secretary, }. Cheatham OF Tennessee, as
| s.st1nt secretary, Sol Cohen OF Mississippi
! A committee on resolutions consisting OF
Il IA
| pointed. The meeting then adjourned I'M
| I'll : o clock this afternoon, when it is eN-
| pocted that the committee on resolutions
will report advocating decrease IN acre
! age ban.shment of the one crop idea
and make strong plea for the diyers'fi-
cati1n cf products.
| AL the afternoon session general discus
| sion of the situation was mad, in winch oil
OF the delegates took part,
| DR.. d. Nj. Crosson, delegate from the
recent convention OF cotton growers, which
was held In Atlanta, Cd. addressed inc
meeting after which an adjournment was
taken until o'clock tonight
When the delegates We're called to order
| al the night session the committee on res
olutions presented the ioiloWlhs report
which was adopted
Believing that the best thing this meet
irg can accomplish will be- q permanent or
eanization OF American cotton growers.
,cur committee respectfully report Is fol-
! lows;
/ We reaffirm the principles announced by
the asso ,iation at ite meeting in Memphis
! in January. 1896.
We respectfully submit the following
constitution and declaration OF principles
and urge their adoption as the basis Of a
proper organization to be extended 10 all
OF the States and counties in the cotton
Article /. Tie name of this asseciation
shall be the American Cotton Growers
Protective Association.
Art. ?. The object Of this association
shall he to educate the cotton growers Of
Ameficr. as 10 their rights and duties. aud
to devise ways and means for the in-
proveu,cnt of their rendition,
Art. 3. We adopt the principles on
nornced by the association at its meeting
Ell Jackson, Miss, January and o. 1853
ana Memphis, Teun., January, 1886. II
order 10 carry them out We shall suive
by he thorough organization OF all The
4 cation growing States, counties AMI DIS
tri-ts 10 unite all cotton growers IN a!
ohort 10 reduce the acreage OF cotton Il
such a polnt as Will insure q fair aNefaS'
price 10 every grower. This organization
shall take no part In National, state Of
lofal polhics, and viii permit no persoa!
TO Use il for personal advancement OIL