The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-24
{ Atlanta Journal

movement was inaugurated he part
Ct the Troupe country farmers which is
the most important OF anything ever un-
dertaken in behalf of tie Southern fal'-
mer This new 3lOvemenC IS the out
growth of a similar one undertaken last
fall by the farmers OF Troupe, bur which
at that time was only intrnl"l TO apply
locally to that immediate territory Of the
state. It's operation, 10" "eynr, extended
to many counties Of he state, ana every
farmer who held his cotton the past sea-
son made good money on sales made af-
ter the heavy advance in prices since Feb
ruary. Local banks readily agreed to adj
vance money on cotton in storage at q low
rate Of interest holding the warehouse
cotton receipts as collateral. Many far
mers who We're not financially able to
hold their cotton at home, but could
store it IN warehouses. using it as Gel
lateral to borrow money with which to
meet maturing Obligations took a1yan-
tage Of the plan and so came cut abe I'D
on the deal.
STATE CONVENTION CALLED.
1t decided at the meetiasg in la
Grange last Saturday to issue c.ll fcr
a state convention to be neld OF Macon
on Saturday, May 18th, to arrange Ways
and means for a general and permanent
organization Of the cotton growers n
| the southern states Ihe present in.en-
tiCn IS to first perfect organization in
Georgia and Immediately thereafter 20
extend the movement into all the other
cottCng growing states. l., was impor-
tant that the convention be called as
early as possible, because there is ar i'm
mense territory of country 10 be travereed
and thousands Of con y'r,s made in or'cr
that success as desired NAV e assurr ID
Within five months rom now the cott on
season Will open with, a rush, and no
time IS to be lost if the movement is to
be gotten we'll under way within that
short period Of time. We V IL arr3nge
to secure the opera house at Macon in
which to hold the convention. and the
delegates. may rely upon The old lash
ioned warm hospitality of the Macon peo-
pie tC do all in their power for the COM
fort and pleasure Of the delegates during
their short stay in our Central city. The
railroads III all parts of the state will be
asked to furnish delegates with low
be duly advertised. We expect to have
| speeches by prominent agricuturalists
| from different parts of the state and to
! organize all the machinery for future
| operation on q strictly business basis.
PLAN AS OUTLINED
The organization will be first for lie
purpose CT holding back our cotton AM
| cotton seed from the market in the carly
| fall and thus avoid the heavy sales which
/ each season tend to cut down the prices
Inc IDEA IS to insist upon fair ane
equitable price from the purchasers rath-
| ef than forcing them TO buy at prices
! fixed by themselves as has been the pre-
valilng custom heretofore. If the lri..e
| offered Tor cur cotton and cotton seed is
| lower than the demand justifies we pro
! pose to inaugurate plans by which they
! may be held until such time as the mills
| and ether buyers appreciate the situation
| sufficiently to come to terms. Thousands
| Of cur Independent. self sustaining FIR
| mers can hold their cotton on their prem
| ises, stored in small corrugated iron
! warehouses. which can be cheaply con
structcd and then insured against loss by
| fire. Thousands Of others, who make more
| than enough to pay their annual debts
but who have obligations maturing in the
fall, can store their cotton in local ware
houses, deposit receipts fer same with
the local banks and draw enough money
for pressing needs. Cotton is as good ST.
curity as n government bond and banks
VIII lend money ar it as collateral at q
rate ci to per cent per annum. There
are JiOuSdHuS Oh OIHor farmers who. be
ing less thrifty. do not raise their supplies
at home and are forced to mortgage their
cotton crops in order to obtain credit
This class generally have to deliver the
cotton to merchants as fast as it is gath
cred and have not control over it's n,Hr-
agement aside from the consent Of those
who held it in bondage. For this class
OF farmers we hope to enlist the support
and backing of all the merchants with
whom they deal and who are strong
enough to help their customers to hold
at least part of their cotton. We be-
lieve that the merchants and bankers i'll
cooperate with us in this movement ut
least tC the extent of checking a daluee
OF the cotton crop on the market in the
early months Of the season We hOya 10
extend the period Of sales from three
months to nine months. at least so that
the demand will be strong and healthy
at all times.