Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-27
FLORIDA LONG
STAPLE GROWERS

~ L. 0nOWEhS
The cooperative movement among the
cotton growers OF the south started two
years ago in Georgia, is gradually
spreading out over the entire cotton belt
territory The wide and constant agita-
ton 81 the objects and purposes Of the
Cotton Growers Protective association.
through the columns OF the press and ad-
dresses delivered al different times before
agricultural gatherings has put the
farmers 70 thinking. and they are today
beginning to realize that the only hope Tor
their future salvation depends upon some
system OF cooperating together In the sale
Of their farm products
Livery farmer viii readily admit without
argument that cooperation Is not only es-
sentfaI 10 success. but IS absolutely i'm
rerative. III agriculture IS again TO occupy
q high position along the desirable lines OF
prosperity. The great difficulty IN the way
IS To nerfect any sort Of organization
which viii first secure the enthusiastic
endorsement OF the rank and file OF our
people and then hold them together long
enough 10 realize good results. lndiffer-
ence on the part Of the average farmer
TO attend 20 his own business interests in
the markets and the want Of confidence in
one another are the two chief causes OF
failure TO bring the agricultural classes
close together.
Farmers have. Il seems. only desired to
do the work necessary to produce and put
fn.o marketable condition their various
products needed for consumption b. the
world. So far as perfecting any system by
which the supply OF their products could
be made to meet the legitimate demand
OF consumers and regulating the market
price Of those products. based upon their
true value were concerned. the farmers
have BY their actions appeared 10 be ut
terly indifferent. Yet the continued neg
lect of these last important essentials
have had more 10 do with failures on the
farm than ali other things combined We
make the products. and we ought 10 have
whatever legitimate profit the producer
f. entitled TO when the products are sold
But as already stated. the constant agi-
tati0n OF these defects in our system Of
handling the products OF our farms on the
market has put the farmers 10 thinking.
and they are now beginning TO act. For
two years we have been gradually getting
together for the purpose Of demanding
better prices for our raw cotton. and
thousands Of farmers in the short staple
belt have already been made converts and
are preaching the doctrine Of cooperation.
Recently the long staple growers have
determined 10 unite their forces and BY
organization and concert Of action refuse
70 any longer quietly submit TO the die
tation OF two or three buyers who have
ton market Of the south and fixed prices
at their own figures.
Meeting at AIachua.
On January 18th. the meeting OF the long
staple growers OF East Florida was held
al Alachua. IN that state. as had been
previously stated in this paper. I had
been invited and was present at the con-
vention 10 assist in perfecting a state as
sociation OF the Long Staple Cotton Grow
Of ha.
members OF a local club at Alachua had
in pooling 900 bales OF cotton, and by
cooperation. forcing the price OF their
staple from Is cents per pound TO q cents
before they would sell. thereby netting
about 5000 in 50 days was sufficient to
convince the producers in that section
that permanent organization was needful.
> Several hundred delegates from AIchua
county and surrounding counties were
present in the little city OF klachua on
the day fixed for the convention The
large auditorium in the handsome new
brick school building was crowded. and
quite a number could not get in. a large
number OF the farmers wives and daugh-
tiers EXPRESSED their interest I'm the move
ment by their presence during the morn
ing exercises OF the convention and later
by taking active charge OF the dinner
which was so abundantly and delight
fully served during the dinner hour.
After a full presentation and general
discussion Of the object and purposes OF
the Southern Cotton Growers Protective
Association. II was unanimously decided
10 AZ once perfect a state association OF
the long staple cotton growers OF Florida.
and a business committee was appointed
20 at once prepare a constitution. by
laws. and other details necessary. and
present back 20 the convention for rati-
hcation- This committee met in executive
session Immediately after dinner and az
ter some discussion adopted the same
constitution and bylaws already in force
in all the other states which had organ
lied under the rules and regulations OF
the Interstate AssOcia ton. The follow
ing officers were elected at the head OF the
Fsorida state association:
J. p. Dell. president. Gainesville. Fla.
James Chestnut. vice president. Alachua.
J. 6. Keilum. secretary and treasurer.
Aiachua.
The election OF the executive committee
which shall consist OF three members
from each long staple county in the state.
was postponed until the next meeting
which was called 10 meet at AlachUa on
the second Wednesday in February.
All the details OF organization were
carefully worked out and the movement
viii Be pushed on business basis. The
president was authQrized 10 proceed at
once 10 the organization OF sub-branches
OF the state association in every long sta
PIE cotton county I'm Florida and il is con-
fidently predicted that by next season the
long staple growers in that state will be
sufficiently united and posted on the value
OF their staple 20 make the buyers pay
better prices than heretofore.
Warehouse Facilities.
The plan % establishing cooperative
warehouses was fully discussed alsd At
the meeting and the farmers at Alachua
have determined 10 construct a ware
house in which 20 store and hold their
cotton. instead OF rushing IL on the mar
ket as heretofore.
Each county viii doubtless adopt the