The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-11
The Cotton Growers, Asscia-
ton.

ship send one delegate to conven-
ton to be held at Laurens G.. H.
on Salesday in February. The
following delegates were chosen
to organize their Townships
Laurens, Col B. w. Ball; Scuf-
iletown, NJ. A. Sumerel; Hunter,
Jack Davis; Jacks, John Copeland;
Cross Hill, w. b. Fuller; Water
loo, j. II. Wharton; Sullivan, II.
j. Sullivan; Dials, w. II. Banks
dale; Goungs, w. II. Drummond.
1t was the request of the meet
ing that the townships assemble
on third Saturday in January.
Five delegates from each town
ship are to be elected to represent
each township in convention on
Salesday in February.
The following resolution was Of
fcred by O. CT. Thompson and
unanimously adopted:
While agreeing in the main with
the utterances of the recent meet
lngs of Cotton Growers in Atlanta
and Memphis, as to the cause of
the depression in this country, and
believing that a reduction Of acre
age in individual cases necessary,
we deny that there is over-produc-
ton in the aggregate. The farmer
who grows cotton to buy his feed,
is, individually an over-producer,
a"d must suffer the disastrous con-
sequences OF MS folly; but in the
aggregate output of cotton there
has been no oVer-prOduction-the
worlds supply has at no time been
in Xccss of what should have been
legitimate demand, under normal
conditions of supply and demand,
the surplus at the end of each
cotton season has decreased stead
lily for years, while we are CON
fronted with the strange and I'M
natural spectacle Of millions of
producers of this God-given boon
to the human race, that are barely
able to put Il scanty covering be-
tween their bodies and the wintry
blast. 1t is not over-production,
but under-consumption. The same
merciless power that now fixes the
prices of II products below the
cost of production long before they
are harvested, if unchecked by the
strong arm of the law, will price a
five million bale crops at three cents
as easily as it has fixed the present
crop at five cents. And it is more
than possible that reduction in the
South, may, under the fostering
care Of the great Powers of Europe,
result in greatly stimulated pro-
ductlon of Egyptian, Indian and
Brazilian cotton, and American
cotton will no longer be "King."
That while We urge our farmers
to reduce cotton production, not
because there is too much cotton,
but for the potent reason that I'M
der prevailing conditions our pco-
pie cannot afford to grow cotton
to buy their feed, we realize that
relief for evils that 50 sorely press
our people must come from remc-
dial legislation, State and Nation
al, that shall relieve us from Il
vicious monetary system that has
ruinously reduced all values, and
from trust control of the Govern
mcnt of this country that has legal
lied the robbery of the people
Wherefore, W. reitcrate and en-
phaslze Il expression at our first
meeting urging upon Il rcprescn-
tativos in State and National Leg
| lSln 4 roc hhfn 1yn rnr, /, NJ -
secure such legislation, providing
adequate penalties for infringe
ment, as shall forever crush out
the wicked and ruinous practice"
of gambling in the purchase and
sale Of farm products; and further,
that they abatc nothing in the
fight for bimetalism and relief
from the blighting effects of the
single Gold Standard.
The following preamble and res
olutions offered by G.. w. Shell
was unanimously adopted:
Whereas, unprecedented finan-
cial and industrial conditions, OPP
prcssive and alarming in their ma
ture, confront the wagc-earners
of our country, causing unrest,
dissatisfaction, and dcmoraliza-
ton; and
Whoroas, tho greatest distress
occasionod thereby exists amongst
the tillcrs of the soil whose labor
has ceased to furnish II bare sub
sistcncc, whilst taxation and II
wlllful expenditure of the peoples
money continues to increase by
fostering institutions inimical to
a free popular governments; and
Whereas, autocratic methods
and vicious legislation has pro-
duced discord, doubts, and lack of
confidence in the minds of our
people; and
Whereas, it is mete and proper
that the people assemble them
selves together to express their
determination to resist and de-
nouncc all excessive means of OPP
preston such as liens on crops,
chattcl mortgages, bills of sale,
and last but not least, a standing
army at a time when peace, pros
perity and universal happiness
should abound. Therefore, be it
RESOLVED, /. That we heartily en-
dOrse the plan of reducing the acrpage