The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-09-28

%
get the growers to reduce the croo 90
per cent. Some State has got to take
the lead. Sooner or later the low price
of cotton must drive the planters to-
gether. He did not think the planters
felt the Importance of their position.
Nothing has so contributed to the
wealth Of this country as cotton. There
is no crop so certain as it is. Since the
war Of the sixties legislation has driven
The cotton growers to desperation.
Since 1890. as class, the cotton grow
ers. to use homely phrase. have
worked for nothing and found them
selves" The exceedingly low price Of
the present, and the indications for a
continued low price. show that We are
raising crop below the price Of pro-
duction.
Prompt work on the part of the South
would change the situation in 10 days.
He thought the most favorable scheme
yet suggested was for the cotton grow
ers to hold their cotton and then get
the farmers to reduce the acreage 80
per cent. The South had nothing to
fear from any other section, as it had a
monopoly on cotton.
The question is, are the cotton grow
ers to submit to the price they are now
getting, or are they to. hold their cotton
and follow this up by reducing the
acreage next year? The time had come
to organize.
DR.. Hopkins of Richland then said
organization came first. He suggested
that State executive committee be
formed by the chairmen from each
county, and he threw it out as a sug-
gestion. The urgent question was or
ganization, and if other States will or
ganize, South Carolina can and will do
so. The farmers have been organized
heretofore, and it is more important
now to organize. Resolutions and sug-
gestions were slow to be received.
Mr.. Hopkins made a formal resolu-
ton on the line indicated. Congress
man J. VIM Stokes suggested that the
South Carolina resolutions were adopt
ed by the interstate convention and
the protective association reafirmed
the resolutions. These provided for an
organization by States, counties and
precincts. Under these resolutions In
many counties this was done, and they
still have that organization.
1t would be well to build on the
foundation already made. The execu-
tive committee can look into the mat
ter Of how the county organizations
were getting along.
Col. L. W. Youmans moved to change
the name to the Cotton Growers Union
which was carried.
DR.. Zimmerman asked that Col.
Youmans prepare his address and have
it published. Carried.
DR.. Hopkins resolutions were then
introduced and passed. The resolutions
are as follows:
Resolved, First, That the presidents
Of the several county Cotton Growers
Unions constitute State executive
committee, whose duty it will be to
thoroughly organize each county.
Resolved, Second, That the chair
man Of the committee be ex-ofhcio
chairman of the executive committee,
Resolved, Third, That the president
of the committee and our State Vice.
President Youmans of the interstate
union be appointed a committee to for,
mulate an address to the members in
the State, and Of other States, appris.
ing them of what has been done and
urging prompt organization.
The thanks of the convention were
rendered to Col. L. W. Youmans fol-
his address above referred to.
Mr.. Breeder then moved that the
South Carolina Cotton Growers Union
recommend to the cotton growers OF
this State that they reduce their acre.
age 80 per cent, provided the cotton
growers of other States cooperate.
Mr., Elliott moved to substitute re.
Guction of one-third instead Of so pei
cent.
Col. Youmans offered the following
as further substitute:
Resolved, That it is the sense Of this
convention that the acreage Of this
year be reduced so per cent. through:
out the cotton belt the ensuing year.
Col. S. D. N. Shaw, Maj. S. e. May.
field and MIR. ". D. Evans spoke
against the resolutions and suggested
that the best thing to do was for the
farmers to make a living at home and
then look into a reduction Of acreage.
On vote the resolutions were lost,
not because the convention was not IL
favor Of reduction, but for the reason
that it did not wish to appear to be
taking independent action.