The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-25
COTTON GROWERS
Major w. A. Graham, Was
Elected President.
The Convention Elected Delegates to The South
ern Association to Meet at Macon,
Georgia.

Maj. w. A. Graham was elected presi-
dent of the Cotton Growers Association of
North Carolina last night, and Mr.. j. p.
Allison, of Concord was elected secre-
tarY
These elections were made upon the
recommendation of committee appointed
by the former meeting of the Association,
which is this year made part of the Cot
ton Growers of the South.
Col John S. Cunningham, of Person
county, called the meeting to order and
in a few terse sentences explained the
object of the meeting. His appearance
on the platform was cheered. He an
nounced the nominations which had been
made by the committee, and the nomina-
tons were unanimously ratified by the
Association.
Mr.. T. B. Parks, of Hillsboro. and the
newspaper men present were requested to
act as secretaries of the meeting.
Mr. r. H. Battle. Gen. w. R. Cox and
Mr. S. L. Patterson were Sc
lected to escort the newly elect
ed president to the chair. This was
done amid applause, and after being con-
Quoted OF the chair. President
Graham delivered a very spirit
ed, though practical address. He began
by saying that it was pleasant to have
the confidence of our fellows. and to be
considered worthy to hold an important
position. 81 thank you" said he, for
this expression of your confidence, and
accept this office of trust at your hand.
But l came here for no purpose of la
mentation. / am tired of that sort of
thing. There is no reason for it, we have
no vengeance to wreak and no harm to
do any one. In a spinners meeting you
will not hear them sit down and wall and
tell how bad they have been licked in the
past, and how bad they expect to get
licked in the future. We are here to
devise a way to get just and reasonable
price for our product.
ITO do this we must unite We must
work Systematically. We must start in
and bring our people up to this. But by
intelligent combination, we can so market
our crops at an advantage. Each sec
ton should have its place to distribute
it's goods. l don't urge the organization
of a trust, but we have a right to expect
a reasonable compensation for our labor.
1t can be done on sound business princi-
pies, and in a way to work harm to no
one. If we will unitedly act. wisely and
with conservatism, it can be done. and it
should be done"
Mr. Patterson was then called upon. He
said that he is of the opinion that the.
crop raised this year did not justify the
small price it is bringing. And while on
the other hand. he does not believe that
by holding back cotton the price can be
raised to 1871 or Is cents, still it is certain
that by judicious and systematic marketing
a higher price than that now paid may
be realized. He also called attention TO
the fact that while statistics show that
the crop this year is much shorter than
that of last year, the number of bales
already marketed is larger than for the
corresponding time last year.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the secretary
read the constitution and bylaws of the
Georgia Cotton Growers Association. 1t
was decided to appoint a delegation of
twelve members to attend the session of
this association at Macon, Georgia, on
November goth.
The delegation is appointed as follows:
S. l.. Patterson, Raleigh; T. B. Parker,
Hillsboro; J. Bryan Grimes, Grimesland;
W. A. Graham, Lincolnton; j. p. Allison,
Concord; Gen. w. r. Cox, Penelope; ]. A,
Leach, j. S. Cunningham, Cunningham; Capt.
Allen, B. F. Aycock.
The following were appointed on the
Executive Committee: A. T. McCallum.
]. B. Grimes, w. R. Cox, J. X. Spencer,
]. A. Shine. w. A. Graham.
General Cox was called upon for
speech and said: I'VE are here to discuss
a very important SUBJECTIVE production
of the crop that gives us clothes and gives
the government credit. Two years ago
the price of cotton was less than cents
Today it sells for nearly 10 cents. and it
is worth 10 cents. too. What makes the
difference? Is it anything the farmers
have done?"
He then went on to show that the rise
in the price of cotton was due to the
operation of the law of supply and demand.
He then spoke of the part the Farmers
Alliance had played in the work of regu-
lating the iute trust, and said that or
ganization had accomplished much good
before politics ruined it. He said that to
succeed at cotton raising a man must use
his eyes and have brains behind the eyes.
Don't be ashamed to raise chicken,
raise hogs, lambs, mules and calves and
charge it up to the cotton crop. General
Cox explained the advantages North Caro-
lima has over many of the supposedly bet
ter situated portions of the United States.
He insisted that we must rely upon our
selves.
His speech was full of striking sentences
and witty. and the convention enjoyed it
immensely The convention adjourned
until date in January next, to be named
by the President.