The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-11-18
THE Farmers Of The STATE
Meet in Convention to Devise Means
to Handle the Cotton Crop.
R0DDEY GIVES GOOD ADVICE.
Presiden. Wilborn's Address, Every
County Was Represented, Except
Four, by Good Substantial Men.

In Columbia on Wedn esday OF last
week about 500 representative cotton
growers of the State met in convention
at the call OF Mr.. Wilborn. president
Of the State Farmers Alliance, to de-
wise some means as to the handling
of the cotton crop President MllbOrn,
on opening the convention, said:
GENTLEMEN OF TIE CoNvENrIoS: [
am more than glad to welcome so
many of you Ill attendance on this
meeting.
While I am deeply impressed with
the Importance, Individually, of some
action being taken IN regard to the
handling of our great staple crop.
L could not resist the opportunities
of many members of the organization L
have the honor to preside over, to take
some official action; therefore, as pres
ident of the Farmers State Alliance L
requested representation Of the far
mers of the State to meet in this city
to take under consideration this great
question, which includes the produc-
rlon of three-fourths of the cotton
which clothes the civilized world, as
we'll as the manner in which 1t shall
be prepared and placed upon the
worlds market.
What are the facts? We, OF the
South are producers of the raw mate.
rial of the chief article Of clothing OF
the world. No known country can
compete with us, We have an acknowl-
edged monopoly of this great staple.
It is product that employs more peo-
pie agriculturally,in its production than
any other single commodity. There is
more capital involved in the CONNER
cial handling Of it than any other one
article. When our eyes first open to
the sunlight we are wraprs ed in it and
laid in our cradles.
We make use of it all tn way through
life's journey, and when We come to be
gathered to our fathers our winding
sheet is made of it and we are hid be-
meath the willows in a bed of cotton.
Again repeat more people are engaged
in its production; more capital invested
in its manufacture than any other agri-
cultural product; in fact it does more to
keep the world spinning than any one
article; and yet the farmer who produces
this cotton realizes less from it than
anyone else who touches it This is not
right, it should not be SO, and We wish
to Set in motion some action that will
correct this evil.
five make IN 9, 500, 900 bale crop let
us receive the price it is worth; if We
produce $500, 900 bales let the price
correspond. But don't let US be sub
iect to an estimate of 1000, 900 bales.
made by an authority whose first and
only aim is to work in the interest of
the manufacturer against that of the
producer. would recommend tE.t we
take some action looking TO the calling
of q convention of representatives OF
the cotton growing States early In JAN
uary, 1858. We have national commits
sioner of agriculture who is cabinet
officer and should be the highest agri-
cultural authority on any subject ap-
pertaining to agriculture. Let our diff.
ferent agricultural organizations be
used, with him as national head, to
collect and disseminate truthful and
reliable facts as to the exact status of
the growing crop and the estimate of its
ultimate results. If We make large
crop we must abide the effects such
crop has on the markets of the world.
Our national commissioner may be
able to do something if the proper ef.
forts are made, to increase the use OF
American cotton products in foreign
countries, we ore all aware Of how oC-
cotton trade with Asia has increased
during the past ten years. 1t has been
our custom for the farmers who borrow
ed money, if one did so in January,
another in February, another in March
and so on, all paper Is made payable IN
October aud November. Now, If we can
arrange so that large per cent. OF this
paper of the farmer shall run for twelve
months and thereby become due at diff
ferent times so as not to force the cot
ton crop on the market in too limited
time, it would be much better for the
marketing of the cotton and for the
producers interests. have taken the
liberty of making theseremarks by way
of suggestion and will now declare the
convention ready for any business you
desire to take up. | shall consider any
one present. who is interested In the
growing of cotton as entitled to the
privileges OF the floor without you rule
otherwise. In conclusion, I desire to
submit letter have received from q
prominent cotton broker of New York.
Mr.. j. C. Wilborn, R0ck Hiil, S. c.
DEAR SIR:-No doubt several years
ago, YOU were surprised at my not con-
tinuins my plan for organizing the
farmer, but as the market Immediately
began to advance and sold up SEQ per
bale and as our object had been accom-
plished, deemed it best to say nothing
and l would have remained silent, had
not in the last few weeks the profess
sional operator begun their same tao
tics, and are trying, it seems, to wreck
the South. Now, I consider it an ab-
solute necessity that We form our or
ganization and show to the world that
the South will not submit to any kind
of servitude that the balance Of the
world is trying to place upon them;
that the South mss practical monopoly
of product that is necessary to all
classes and countries and that they will
no longer allow operators representing
different sections and countries keep
them in a condition Of seryitude.
I enclose letter which | trust you
will consider and hsye published IN
every possible paper that has at heart
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