The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-08-31
THE COTTON YIELD.
Convention Will Likely be Held on
an important Matter.
A LETTER FROM YOUMANS.

Southern Planters have a Plan
Which is Said to be the Only
One That Can Save Them
from Impending Disaster.
The following letter from Mr.. i. W
loumans to the press of the State ex-
plains itself:
Fairfax, S. c., Aug. %, 1898.
You have. | presume, noted Mr.
Henry Ncill's estimate Of the present
cotton crop, ranging between 10, 500, 600
and T., 600, 900 bales. 1t was the con-
sensus Of opinion among leading cotton
growers from all sections Of the South
at a meeting in Memphis, Tenn, from
which have just returned, that Mr..
Neills estimate was about correct. At
this date last year cotton was quoted in
New Y York at S 1-3c Before the 1st Of
November, without any suspicion that
the crop would approximate anything
like such extensive figures as II, ,000,-
900 bales, cotton had declined over two
cents per pound. Cotton is now quoted
in New York at 3-4c, with an estima
ted surplus on hand of 1,500, 900 bales
greater than at this time last year, to be
supplemented by a crop Of equal if not
greater magnitude than the crop of last
year.
Should this enormous volume Of cot
ton be hurriedly thrown on the market
already glutted with an over supply, it
would be hard to predict how low prices
would be forced. It would seem not at
all improbable for it to touch 4c. If the
plan Of the Cotton Growers Union
could be put in operation it would in
sure &c, net for every pound Of cotton
regulated by it. The difference be-
tween 4c. and &c. in 100000 bales
would be 800, 900, ,000-a stake sufici-
ent, it seems to me, to interest the en-
tire South With almost every south
ern interest more or less interviewer
with the interest of the cotton growers
it does seem to me that they might
combine with the cotton growers in this
effort to consummate a policy that
promises such great benefit to our sec
ton.
enclose you copy Of letter writ
ten to the Hon. J. C. Wilborn, presi-
dent Of the State organization, which
will give you an outline Of the plan
and more fully acquaint you with the
situation. I earnestly solicit the pow
erful influence Of the press in awaken
ing the cotton growers to q just appre-
citation Of the Importance Of the under
taking. Very sincerely,
L. ". Youmans.
The following letter on the vitality
important subject Of the handling Of
this years cotton crop has been re-
ceived by the president of the South
Carolina Cotton Growers association:
Fairfax, Aug. y, 1898.
Hon. J. G. Wilborn, Yorkville, S. G..
My Dear Sir: [ have just returned
from Memphis, Tenn, where. | have
been as the vice-president for South
Carolina to attend meeting of the ex-
ecutive committee Of the American
Cotton Growers Protection association.
At this meeting, after electing Col.
Maxwell, of Louisiana, president to
succeed the late Hon. Hector D. Lane,
deceased, and after simplifying the title
CT the organization by changing it to
that Of the National Cotton Growers
Union, it was determined by the r1esi-
dent and vice-presidents to inaugurate
vigorous policy on the part Of the
cotton growers of the South to meet the
requirements Of the present threaten
ing exigency of lower prices and i'm
pending ruin.
From the best informed and most re-
liable sources of information, the COM
mittee unanimously arrived at the con-
clusion that the present crop would
fully equal, if not exceed the last, and,
if rapidly thrown upon the market.
would in all probability sell far below
5 cents. In view Of the fact that the
cotton growers have the present crop OF
from ten to twelve million bales now in
hand while manufacturers and specl-
lators have only about three million
bales, if that, and that if the cotton
growers would withhold the present
crop from the market for so days, say
till December 1st, the world would be
bare Of cotton and at the mercy Of the
cotton growers for their supply, it was
determined to effect thorough and
complete organization Of the cotton
growers beginning with the smallest
geographical subdivision with a view
Of holding the present crop and follow
ing up this line Of action through the
medium of township clubs, by enrolling
all land holders in contract to reduce
next year acreage one-half
1t is manifestly clear that such line
of proceeding would place the cotton
growers in command of the situation
and change the outlook from one Of
bankruptcy and ruin to one of profit
and competency.
1t further seems that an effort in this
line would meet with the aid and APP
proval of almost every business interest
in the south.
Well knowing that the principle OBJ
stacle to the accomplishment of this
undertaking would consist in the ma
turing obligations of the cotton growers
incurred in the production Of the crop,
special committee has been arranged
for, consisting Of one member from each
State, to confer with capitalists and
provide the necessary funds to take up
these liens and carry the cotton until
such time as it can be disposed Of at fair
profit.
Under instructions from the execu-
tive committee Of the National Cotton
Growers Union, with view of placing
South Carolina in position to carry
| ont thocc pronositinnc I now call 11pOn