The Atlanta constitution., 1900-08-27
COTTON GROWERS
GETTING TOGETHER
Protective Association Is a
Result of the Agitation
Last Year
MEETINGS NEXT MONTH
The Establishment of Sub-Branches
in the Various Counties To
Be Accomplished With
out Unnecessary
Delay.

The work Of the Georgia Cotton Grow
ers' Protective Association, which has
for its object the protection of the farm
ers of the state and the establishment
annually through legitimate means of
fair prices for cotton. has progressed TO
that degree where sub-branches have been
organized in a majority of the counties
of Georgia.
A call has been issued by the president
of the association for meetings to be
held on September 4th I'm all counties
where organization has not been perfect
ed. out of the 137 counties cotton IS
raised I'm 115. and 1t is probable that
in all of these sub-branches of the state
association will be in working order by
the last of September.
More than a year ago when the pros
pect facing the growers or Georgia was
a price not exceeding cents for their
cotton. an earnest appeal W; made by
The Constitution for such an organization
as that now on foot. 1t was recOSnlZed
then. and emphasized repeatedly, that
without united action and definite plan
the farmer would continue to place nm
self at the mercy Of the buyer or COTTON
There are many who hold that the ear
nest agitation of this subject, before the
last crop was NiithtN1hs NAuA - -
ward bringing the price of that crop from
5 TO S cents Backed by the state depart
ment of agriculture. The Constitution
opened the campaign for organization
and united agreement among the Planters
and the Cotton Growers Protective 49,
sociation which has been pushed forward
with such success is an outgrowtn OF tiiat
campaign.
What the Growers Propose.
With the farmers throughout the cotton
belt of the state organized, or even Wlth
those in a majority of the cotton-groN4lS
counties willing to cooperate. there II
ground for the belief that the price OF
the staple can be forced to 10 cents. Inc
estimate of the state department OF ag-
ricuIture based on accurate stausucS.
is that the crop for 1900 Will not eXceed
q3O 600 bales With Georgia short ana
Alabama. Mississippi and Louisiana also
behind the average output, IL Is eSi-
mated that the crop of the south Will be
less than 10000 900 bales This estimate Is
as accurate as any that can be mace De-
fore November 1st
Working on this estimate, there VIII
not be 1t is believed, enough of the raw
staple to supply the American mills much
less the foreign market that annu4liy
depends for its supply on southern ports
The theory of the association Is tnat by
marketing the crop Slowly, IoAttitS bo1N
a large part of II and waiting for in
creased demand. the price will be raised
gradually TO 10 cents No one in Official
circles seems to entertain the idea that
the mills of the country Will qmbble
long over one or two cents more per
mound when there is danger of their ma
chimes lying idle and their labor re-
manning unemployed
The bankers. merchants and warehouse
indicated fhnir
Willingness to advance three-fourths of
the price of the staple placed in storage.
This advance OF funds to the farmers
while their product is held as security
will be necessary to such of them as
have obligations TO meet without delay.
Others more fortunately situated can
hold their cotton indefinitely
Other States Are Interested.
Georgia is not alone in the organlza-
ton of an association. The farmers of
South Carolina Will meet at Columbia
on September 5th for the purpose of COM
bining and agreeing on "A method for
holding back their crop. In Alabama
the work Of organization is almost as
far advanced as in Georgia, and equally
as great success has resulted in that
state.
With the states throughout the SOUTH
east organized, and this can be realized,
it Is believed, III lne course OF Two on
three years. the power to regulate the
price will be effectually taken from the
money market and given To the produc-
ers of the staple.
The interest of the farmers is now di-
rected to the county meetings called for
September 4th at the various county
seats of the state. On the success of
these meetings everything depends, as
without local organization there can be
no state control.
The Method To Be Adopted.
One of the methods of organization in
the various counties that have not yet
taken that step is advanced by the presi-
dent of the association. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Organization Is simple and easily perfected
Enroll the of every who desires TO
become a member OF the association and haln
in obtaining higher prices for the cotton crop.
both lint and seed, the present season. Elect
a president, vice president secretary and treaa-
urer the latter two combined. Select an ex-
ecutive committee composed OF one member
from each militia district in the county Fix
the annual membership dues at so cents per
member. IL all the members present have NOT
the amount hand, then the so cents can
be paid as early thereafter convenient. No
fixed number Of members or any fixed amount
of money is required to secure membership in
the association, except that county can he
assessed for N larger sum than 6 I00 h,,tt tuar