Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-09-01
HOLD THE COTTON.
Farmers to DO Organized to Secure
Better Prices. .1
FAIRFAX, S. c., August 90.

Better Prices. ,.1 q
FAIRFAX, S. c., August 90.
The Hon. j. G. ,Wilborn, York
vile, S. C.-My Dear Sir: / have
just returned from Memphis, Tenn,
where i have been as tho vice prcsi-
don't for South Carolina to attend a
meeting of tho American Cotton
Growers Protective Association. At
this meeting, after electing Col.
Maxwell, of Louisiana, president to
succeed the late Hon. Hector d.
Lane, deceased, and after simplify
ing tho title of the organization by
changing it to that of the National
Cotton Growers Union, it was deter
mined by the president and vice
presidents to inaugurate a vigorous
policy on the part of the cotton
growers of tho South to meot tho
requirements of the present threat
ening exigency of low prices and
impending ruin. From tho bost in
formed and most reliable sources of
information the committee unani-
mously arrived at the conclusion that
tho present crop would fully equal,
if not exceed, the last, and, if rapidly
thrown upon the market, would, in
all probability, sell far below S cents.
In view of tho fact that the cotton
growers have the present crop of
from 10,000,000 to 12,OOO,C00 bales
now in hand, while manufacturers
and spectators have only about
100000 bales, if that, and that if
tho cotton growers would withhold
tho present crop from the market for
ninety days-say till December l.
tho world would be bare of cotton
and at tho mercy Of the cotton grow
ers for their supply, it was deter
mined to effect q thorough and a
compact organization g., the cotton
growers, beginning with the smallest
geographical subdivisions with a
view of holding the present crop and
following up this line of action
through the medium of township
clubs, enroll all land holders in con-
tract to reduce next years acreage
one-half. 1t is manifestly clear that
such line of procedure would place
the cotton growers in command of
the situation and change the outlook
from ono of bankruptcy and ruin to
one of profit and competency. 1t
further seems that an effort on this
line would meet with the aid and
approval of almost every business
interest in the South.
Wo,l knowing that the principal
obstacles to the accomplishment of
this undertaking would consist in
the maturing obligations of the cot
ton growers, incurred in the produc-
tion OF the crop, a special committee
has been arranged for, consisting of
ono member from each State, to con-
fer 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 a
fair profit.
Under instructions from the exc
cutive committee of the National
Cotton Growers Union, with a view
of placing South Carolina in a posi-
tion to carry out these propositions,
| now call upon you AZ the president
of tho organization in this State, to
call a convention to meet in Colum-
bia at the earliest possible day.
Please use such diligence as will
secure a representative from each
county in the State. Should our
State act with promptness and dccis-
ion, it would in all probability have
most happy effect in all the other
cotton growing States.
This is a matter of vital conse-
quenco to tho entire cotton belt and
too important to brook any unncccs-
sary delay. While | thought proper
to give You an outline of the com
mittee's plan of procedure, it was
thought best by the committee not
to make its details public just yet.
Yours very sincerely,
l.. w. YoUMANs,
Vice Pres. N. G.. G.. u.