Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-10-06
~ n.au aro prompt, efficient and
HOODS PILLS easy in effect. % cents.
Meeting Of Cotton ArOMers.

thcro being only sixty-oight persons
present, representing twenty-ono coun-
tics. Tho convention was presided owe,
by Mr.. Wilborn, who mado speech, in
which he declared that reduction il,
acreago was the thing to DO desired. He
donied that the Cotton Growers Convon-
tions already held had not tondcd to the
reduction of acreage and submitted a
report OF Latham, Alexander & Co., of
Now York, to show that thoy had had
that effect. Ilo said that reduction of
acreage could only bo obtained by organi-
zation--by unity of action,--and it would
tako money to push tho mattor, and that
tho delegates at that mooting should
provide tho funds for tho organization.
He called upon Col. l.. w. Youmans, as
vice president of tho Cotton Growers
Convention, to state tho status.
Col. 1oumans gave a history of the
movement. 1t was advised by somo that
if tho Eastern States reduced tho acre
age tho Western planters will take ad-
vantage and profit thereby.
Ho told how resolutions had been
passed and explained how last years.
movement failed. At tho last meoting of
tho Vice Presidents seven of tho ten
Statos woro represented, and it was do
cidcd to try and infuso uuw blood into
tho organization. 1t was tho concosus
of opinion at that meeting that NeilPs
figures would DO correct. 1t was thought
if thcro was no concerted action this i'm
monso crop would bo thrown on tho mar
kot in four months. 1t was assentcd that
the crop should be held and it was
agreed to try to havo tho acreage reduced
Uo urged President Maxwell to havo
all other States act. Ho reported thoro
was much interest. Somo State has to
tal1o tho load. Tho embarrassed Condi-
tion of the farmers must, sooner or later,
drive them together. Cotton has con-
tributod to tho country's wealth more
than all olse. In tho settlements of for
oigIn balances cotton is indispensable,
and no other crop can be relied upon
with the Same rolianco. Thoro has only
been one decade in which cotton had bad
its proper showing, and that was in tho
fiftics. Since the war legislation has
drawn tho line harder and harder OH cot
ton and tho cultivator has been rewarded
only by tho glcanings The manufacturer,
tho carrier and and tho middlc-man have
COTTON tho most. Since 1890 the farmers
have worked for nothing and found
themselves. This year the farmer is
lloly to give the land ront, horse ront,
guano bills and tho like for the laudablo
pleasure Of clothing the world.
Tho spectators and tho manufacturers
arc we'll posted Or tho conditions and
tncy Ciaill Lncy arc III CoIllHlanQ OF JnC
situation. The spinners say they will
1.-Two only from hand to mouth, and tho
spinncrs, already gluttcd with goods and
cotton, will allow tho cotton to bo forced
on the market. Never was thcre moro
imperative demand for organization, and
i'll reply it is said 100000 cotton growers
cannot bo united. Can it be that they
arc so devoid of intelligence and fore
sight that they will not organize B.?
In tho n2mG Of all that 10 rooconobln
if the weak and supine cannot combine,
then do not complain of trusts and com
binatiOns. Prompt and concerted action
would change tho whole situation in
ninety. days if guided by wise aud dis
croot leaders.
Ho related tho experience of trying to
buy up tho surplus and hold it and
showed how fruitless it was. The sur
plus idea would not do.
1T did moi strike him as being good
Ilan for the larmer to turn ono-third of
his crop down. 1t would be better to
gin this third and lay it aside.
The fourth scheme is to curtail the
supply; and this can bo reached by cut
ting tho acreage.
Ho next took up the prOpositiou of
Mr.. Tomplsins, that it was we'll TO have
cheap cotton, which he combattcd
Tho South has practical monopoly,
he urged, after reviewing tho conditions
in I'll, countries. He insisted that to re-
duco the acreage is to increase prices.
Noxt years crop must be smaller than
this years. AS soon as tho consuming
world realizes that the farmers arc in
earnest cotton will 90 up to cents.
There has to be an organization and keep
at it. Cotton to-day is quoted at 4 1916
cents for mddling at soaports. Any man
who can mako it at 5 cents can beat his
people. Col. Youmans exhibited his
wonderful store of information on tho
cotton question. South Carolina could
do nothing by itsolf, he argued.
Aftor much discussion tho following
resolutions, as presented by Dr. Stokes,
were adopted:
Resolved, That the president of the
several county cotton growers unions
constitute State executive committee,
whose duty it shall bo to thoroughly and
promptly organize each county.
Resolved, That tho president of this
convention be oX-officiO chairman of tho
executive committee.
Resolved, That the president of this
convention and Vico-Prcsidont YOumans,
of tho Interstate Union, DO a committed
to formulate IN address to tho farmers
of the State and also to apprisc tho SOW
oral State vice-prcsidcnts Of tho State of
our action and urge similar action in
thoir State.
There was general discussion ns to
what tho resolutions would load to and it
was agreed that tho limo to be pursued
was on what had boon dono by tho State
and general convention primarily to So
cure reduction of acreage.
Mr.. E. w. Smith and Thomas X. El-
lott wanted purposes indicated. Mr..
Elliott was satisfied if this State acted
independently it would help tho farmers.
IIo favored tho increase of food products
and decrease of cotton, no matter what
others did.
Mr.. +. l.. Brccdon argued and moved
that tho South Carolina convention re-
commend that tho acreage bo reduced
fifty por cont, and all othor States be
asked to cooperate. Twcnty-two raised
thoir hands to Indicate that thoy had cut
their acreage over fifty per cont. last
year. 1t was agreed to base tho rcduc-
ton on this years crop. No ono planted
more this year than last, as indicated by
tho hand primary.
Mr.. Rogers argu, d for tho co operation
of merchants. Tho negro product had
to bo considered.
Mr.. Elliott moved shat tho resolution
road that not oyor fifteen acres bo planted
to the horse.
Some ono said that this would DO an
increase in acreage.
Mr.. Elliott proposed ono-third roduC
ton.
Col. Youman's offered the following
substitute for tho whole matter:
Resolved, That it is tho sense of this
reduced 90 por cont throughout tho cot.
ton bolt for tho ensuing ycar.
Col. Shaw said tho first thing was to
nlAlrn a Gyinr nt homo and thpn thpU