Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-05
THE COTTON GROWERS.

THE COTTON GROWERS.
The York County Cotton Growers as
sociation met in the court house last Mon
day pursuant to adjournment, and was
called to order by President Williams.
Mr.. j. F. Ashe, the secretary, being
busy in the meeting Of the county board,
in session in the office of the supervisor,
Mr. w. J. Waters acted as his substitute.
The minutes CT the preceding meeting
were read, and after correction which
included Mr.. G. II. Crook as vice presi-
dent for Fort Mill township, approved.
After reading a letter from Mr.. John T.
Roddey expressing his regret at his ina
bility to be present, President Williams
introduced Mr.. J. c. Wilborn, president
of the Southern Cotton Growers associ-
alton recently organized in Atlanta, and
Mr.. Wilborn made quite full explana-
ton of what has been done and what 1t is
hoped will be accomplished as the result
of the Atlanta convention.
He had heard, he said, expressions of
disappointment that the Atlanta conven-
ton had not gone further than it did.
He thought, however, that the conven-
ton had made capital start. The work
that is being undertaken is a big one and
cannot be accomplished at once. 1t will
take time; but if the farmers enter upon
it with the proper spirit and stick to it,
they will certainly improve their condi-
ton. He explained that the Atlanta con-
vention did not reject the Roddey plan.
On the contrary, he believed that the
representatives there are all in sympathy
with it. General NJ. G.. Butler had been
commissioned to present the Roddey plan
to the convention but General Butler
was not present, and Mr.. Wilborn had
himself taken occasion to lay Mr.. Rod
dey's letter before the committee on reso-
lutions and suggest its endorsement. All
the members of the committee approved
of it but they thought that to endorse it
now would be premature. The first
thing, in the opinion Of the committee,
to do, was to complete the organization
thoroughly over the country, and the
question of adopting this plan, or any
other, could be determined later. MIR.
Wilborn spoke at considerable length,
going over, for the most part, ground
with which the public is already familiar.
| In conclusion, he urged again the neces-
sity for organization, and said that he
sincerely hoped that York county would
not fail to do her full duty.
On motion, the convention returned
thanks to Mr.. Wilborn, and received his
report as information.
President Williams called for reports
from the various township chairnen;
but it developed that in the absence of
any instructions as to how to proceed,
none of the chairmen had accomplished
ANYTHING definite in the way of organiza-
ton.
After the hearing of the reports referred
to, Mr.. w. ]. Miller offered the follow
ing as tangable plan for more COM
plete organization
"Let meetings be called by the respect
i've township chairmen, to be held in the
various townships, on the 3rd Saturday
in January, 18th instant, 1888.
"At these meetings let there be organ
lied one or more township cotton grow
ers' clubs, each consisting Of president,
one or more vice-presidents, and secre-
tary and treasurer. Let each township
also have an executive committee OF
seven, including the county vice-presi-
dent, and six assistants to be appointed
by himself.
"Let it be the duty of the executive
committee to, aftor properly dividing up
their territory, visit personally every cot
ton grower in their township, and en-
deavor to induce him to assist in the OBJ
iects of this organization by signing the
following pledge:
I'VE, the undersigned, do hereby
pledge ourselves to diversity our crops
and not to plant more than 10 acres IN
cotton per blow. We also agree not to
increase our pl0w force for the purpose OF
planting more cotton, and, further, we
will see to it that this obligation extends
to all lands owned or controlled by u.s."
1.-The executive committee charged with
the work of securing signatures to tbls
pledge, is hereby instructed also to Keep
a complete list of all the cotton growers
who decline to aid us in our efforts TO
better our condition along the line indl-
Gated above.
"Let it be understood that the various
executive committees are expected 10
commence work Immediately after their
appointment, and that they will be ex-
pected to complete their labors by Feb
ruary 18th, pUXimo.
son or before the 18th proximo, let
each executive committeeman report 70
his township vice-president the names OF
those who may sign the pledge, along
with those who do not, and let the town.
ship vice presidents record these reports
in books to he kept for the purpose.
after having received the reports OF
their committee, then let each vice presi-
dent at once make report to the county
president of the number who have, and
have not, signed the pledge in the various
townships.
Upon securing the information indi-
Gated, let the county president publish in
the county papers, the total number of
cotton growers in the county who may
have signed the pledge, along with the
total number who may have refused.
"Let it be understood also, that the
pledge becomes of force only when all
the cotton growing states have taken sim
liar action"
D. E. Finley, Esq, made speech in