The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-31
Youmans Deals With the Cotton Yield.

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. %, 1893.
Hon. j. G. Wilborn, Yorkville, S. c..
My Dear Sir: I have just returned
from Memphis, Tenn, where I have
been as the vice-president for South
Carolina to attend a meeting Of the
executive committee Of the American
Cotton Growers Protection Associa-
tion. At this meeting, after electing
Col. Maxwell, of Louisiana, president,
to succeed the late Hon. Hector D..
Lane, deceased, and after simplifying
the title Of the organization by chang
ing it to that Of the National Cotton
Growers Union, it was determined by
the president and vice-president to
inaugurate vigorous policy on the
part of the cotton growers OF the
south to meet the requirements of the
present threatening exigency Of lower
prices and impending ruin.
From the best informed and most
reliable sources of information the
committee unanimously arrived at the
conclusion that the present crop would
fully equal, if not excel 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
spectators have only about three
million bales, if that, and that if the
cotton growers would withhold the
present crop from the market for 80
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 eff
feet thorough and complete organi-
zation Of the cotton growers beginning
with the smallest geographical SUBJ
division with view of holding the
present crop and following up this
line of action, through the medium Of
township clubs, by enrolling all land
|'holders in a contract to reduce next
years acreage one-half.
It is manifestly clear that such a
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
approval 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 ina
turing obligations Of the cotton grow
ers, incurred in the production Of the
crop, special committee has been ar
ranged for, consisting Of one member
from each State, to confer with capi-
talists 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 a view Of plac-
ing South Carolina in position to
carry out these propositions, [ now
call upon you as the president of the
organization in this State to call a
convention to meet in Columbia at
the earliest possible day. Please use
such diligence as will secure full
representation from each county in
the State.
Should our State act with prompt
ness and decision, it would in all
probability have most happy effect
on all the other eotton-growing
States.
This is matter Of vital consequence
to the entire cotton belt and too i'm
portans to brook any unnecessary de-
lay.
While I have thought proper to
give you an outline of the committee S
plan of procedure, it was thought
best by the committee not to make it
public just yet.
Yours very sincerely,
j.. w. YoUMANs.