The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-19

lcti VI NlucIS SlCIu, - b-lO.
THE COTTON GROWERS CoNvENrIoN. |
This body met Thursday morning at 10
O'Clock, and was called to order by
Hon. j. G. Wilbotn, president of the
Association, who read the call for the
convention issued by him several weeks
ago. lie made brief talk, setting
forth the objects Of the organization it
was proposed to form and the benefits
to be derived. All classes are interest
ed IN the prosperity Of the farmer, he
SAID, and Tor that reason men of all
lines OF business and professions III the
state had been invited TO attend the
convention and participate in It's de-
liberatiOns. Continuing, he said that
it is shame the way the cotton crop
of the South has been marketed for the
past thirty years. AS general thing,
the cotton has been thrown on the mar
kct as soon as ginncd without regard
to price. The uniformed or indiifcr-
cnt man always suffer. The time is
more oppOrtunc now than for twenty
years TO perfect an organization and
remedy this evil. Last year there was
an unprecedented short crop, and the
| this year is even less than that of last
year. To-day the cotton planter has
corner on the crop, because the surplus
has been exhausted. We are now in a
| position we have never occupied be-
| fore; the world wants more cotton
than we nave to sell. If we will or
| ganizc now in an earnest and ntell-
gent manner we can control the price
not only now but in the future. lie
said it was proposed to devise scheme
by which the cotton crop of the South
could be marketed throughout the
twelve months Of the year, instead Of
being thrown upon the market at one
time and sold within two or three
months. This movcmcn; is Intended
to fight the spectators, and not the
legitimate buyers and manufacturers.
| "A well known cotton mill man said a
few days ago that he hoped this move
mcnt would succeed, as ii would be
better for The mills to be able TO buy
their cotton as needed. Under the pres
ent system of marketing the crop the
mills of the South are forced into the
market in the fall as spectators. No
man can tell what Will be the price of
cotton goods, six, eight or ten months
ahead, and when the mills are forced
TO buy nine or twelve months supply
AT one time they are forced to allow q
margin to protect themselves against
unfavOrable fluctuations in the pucc of
cotton goods. This Association is not
intended TO fight or njure the cotton
mills, on the contrary, they are asked
| N a. yEIt Nl,n ,.,t
of all classes depends on the prosperity
of the farmers, and it is only proposed
now TO enable the farmers to secure Il
fair price for their crop. The value Of
the cotton regulates the value of every
thing in the South. There should not
and will not be any conflict between
the southern cotton grower and the
Southern cotton manufactures. There
are lO5 900 900 cotton spindlcs in the
world, and of these 5000 900, are IN
the South. The Southern mills cannot
wholly regulate the price of cotton if
they so desired, because they are not
strong enough.
At the conclusion Ct Mr.. Wilborn's
speech the convention was formally or
ganized by the election of j. G.. vii.
born, of Columbia, president. J. a.
Pctcrkin, of Oraugcburg, vice prcsi-
dent, and j. Il. Blake, Of Abbevillc
secretary. Hon. G. II. Jordan, prcsi-
dent of the Georgia Association, was
present, and by request, gave the de
tails and plan Of the organization in
Georgia. Mr.. Jordan was the origin
ator of the movement 10 his State, and
has recently organized IL similar associa
tion in Alabama. He outlined the
plan of the organization. On motion
the president was authorized TO appoint
an executive committee, consisting OF
three from each Congressional district.
to push the work OF ofganizlnM the diff
fercnt counties. The convention adj.
opted the constitution and bylaws
of the Georgia Association, these TO be
in effect until the next meeting Of the
Association. The convention then
adjourned to meet in Columbia during
Fair week. the hour and place of meet
ing TO be announced later by The prcsi-
dent.
President Wilborn announced the
appointment of the following executive
committee as authorized NY the con
vention: First district, Thomas NJ.
Talbird, Beaufort; George a. Wagcner,
Charleston; M. r.. Cooper, Colleton.
Second district, l.. W. Youmans, Fair.
fax; II. II. Rainsford. Edgefcld: W.
II. Maudin, Hampton. Third district,
j. Malcolm Johnson, Ncwbcrry; c. p.
Roberts, Ninety Six; j. Il. Nandlvcr,
Anderson. Fourth district, j. ID. NJ.
Shaw, High Point; j.. Il. Stcppe,
Spartanburg; Willie Jones, Columbia.
Fifth district, Il. A. Love, Chester:
w. j. Roddcy, Rock Hill; j. f. Nesbtt,
Lancaster. Sixth district, T.. l..
Breeder, Bcnnettsvilic. }. f. Edwards.
Marion; ID. II. Traxlcr, Timmonsville.
Seventh district, ID. f. Efrd, Lcxing-
ton; j. w. "A. Dukes, Orangeburg:
Harvey Wilson, Sumter.
Immediately after the adjournment
of the convention the farmers of Green
wood County accepted an invitation
from the farmers of Anderson County,
who were present, to 90 so that county
and assist in the organization there.
Mr.. WIlborn expressed himself as very
much gratified at the attendance on
the convention and :lc interest shown,
and expressed the conviction that the
movement would be successful and the
method of marketing the cotton crop
in the South would be rcvolulioniucd
IL Will take some time to get II perfect
organization hp soiI hut , J,o ,,c,l ,,,;I