The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-04-10
THE COTTON GROWERS.

Pcrsuant to cali issued by Vice
President D N Crossop. a number
of 'he representative farmers OF the
diff ,rebt sectio, oi Lexington county,
met in the court house. in this place.
last Saturday, for the purpose of or
gauizing a branch of the Southern
C,tton Growers Protective Associs-
ti)n.
Toe meeting was called to order
by DR.. Crosson, who made clear
statement as to the object Of the AS
sociation, and urged the importance
OF diversified crops 80 as to make the
supplies necessary for home consump-
tiou aud red lotion Of the cotton
acre sgs to surplus crop in order
that a remunerative price can be
commanded by the planter. His
address was plsip, practical and full
to overt owing with logic and reason.
We regret that our limited space will
not permit even brief synopsis but
hope that We will be able to give
from time TO time his views on the
subject. At the conclusion of his
address be resigned the Presidency
OF the Association in this county and
Mr. G. A. Derrick was elected in his
plsce and Mr.. E. L Wiugard occupi
ed the secrstsry's desk.
IL i,r j. g. Counts made short,
but practicsl address in which he
made good point in illustration OF
the evils arising from the tenant sye-
tenn of farming and the incentive OF
the tenant to ruise more cotton than
supplies to meet bic obligations and
thereby ipcreafe the cotton acreage.
He wanted to know how many pres
ent leased lands to tenants and several
responded in the affirmative. HIS
lext question vas an eye opener to
those present and one that should be
given the most careful and thought
fni consideration of those landlords
who are desirious Of reducing the
cotton acreage 80 as to meet the de-
mand of legitimate consumption only.
He asked what was the nonsidera
tiou for the rent of the land, and the
reply was that it vas to be in 30
many bales of cotton. He Ilen stated
his own experience in renting land.
Il was his custom to rent only on
the cotton basis and he found that
as a rnle, the reotor not only planted
cotton sufficient to meet the rent but
also be gave lien which was to be
paid for With cotton and not only
this, he put in more cotton, the pro.
eeeds of which were to be applied to
his own necessities. The couse-
qaence in pursuing this ruinous
practice. was that the market was
glutted at it's early opening with
suficit of cotton as we'll as during the
entire seasop, and those who were
not in a position to hold their cotton
were forced to sell it at sacrifice to
meet their guspo bills and other iu-
debtedness. His plan now was to
lay eff 90 much ground to be planted
in cereals, SO much in potatoes, 30
much in cotton and so much in other
farm products, and requiring the
rentor to agresto this condition be-
fore renting bim land He, on bis
part, agreed to take in payment for
the rent grain, peas, cotton and SO
on. He affirmed as bis belief that
i'she merchant who made advances
and other creditors of the rentor
would liqnidate their claims by TAX
ing in payment the same commodi-
ties there would be an appreciative
decrease in the cotton acreage. His
remarks were listened TO with the
closest attention and seemed to
create 8 favorable impression on
those who rented lands.
The following resolutions were in
troduced by Dr.. D. NJ, Crossou:
Resolved, That this Association
expresses it's hearty appreciation of
the efors being made BY Charleston
iu the interest Of the coming Ezposi
sioD, and that the county should send
8 creditable exhibit to that exposi-
tion sud that as an evidence of our
earnestness the Chair appoint
committee of three to serve with
committee of the County Fair Asso-
citation. The following gentlemen
were sppointed: DR.. D. 81. c. ossor,
Hon. ". II F. Rast, H. H Eleaz-r.
Resolved, 1st. That, whereas, We,
the farmers of Lexington county,
knowing that the great hue and cry
entwiDed around our interest, IN
Cotton Circles" and especially in
Wall Street Cotton Exchange, in re,
CARDS to the price Of cotton, is
claimed to be based upon The Law