The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-09-17
COTTON BUYING
CONSIDERED.
Gathering Of Laurens
Farmers Monday.
THE ACTION TAKEN.
Statement OF Grievances
and Remedies Proposed.
Addresses Made by Various Citizens-A
Committee Appointed to Consider
the Situation.
THE ACTION TAKEN.

The meeting of Laurens farmers and
business mon called by President r..
ID. Boyd of the County Alliance to dis
cuss the cotton buying situation met in
the Court House Monday morning.
About 800 persons were present. Mr..
j. ID. Sullivan was elected Chairman
and w. Il. Crews Secretary.
The meeting was first addressed by
Mr.. r. d. Boyd who stated briefly his
views of the situation. He was followed
by Col. j. III. Wharton.
Tha object of the meeting was to
consider the fact that there is at pres
ent only one cotton buyer in the city OF
Laurens,-this buyer representing the
local mill and two other mills. A great
many farmers are dissatisfied because
they fear that they will not receive full
value for their cotton unless there is
more than one buyer. There have been
charges that a trust has been formed
to keep down the price.
The speeches elected nothing espe-
cially new in the situation. Mr.. Good
win was of the opinion that the price
of cotton generally is too low.
Mr.. w. l.. Gray was called for and
responded. He suggested that farmers
leave their cotton in bonded warehouses
and invite buyers here to bid for it on
certain days.
The meeting was then addressed by
-" Wy pon opl n ID rDnlu,;,
On motion of DR.. ]. r.. Smith the fol-
lowing committee was appointed:
r.. d. Boyd, o. p. Goodwin, 7. N d.
Barksdale, w. l.. Gray w. A. Watts,
A. G. Owens, James Smith, Miles Fer
guson, l.. M. Cannon, w. A. Ander-
son.
The committee appointed 10y the Mass
meeting this day held in the city Of Lau-
rens to formulate resolutions for the
consideration of said meeting, beg leave
to submit the following:
That it is the sense of this meeting
that we respectfully request Mr.. w. E..
Lucas, President Laurens Cotton Mills,
to place cotton buyer on the public
square OF the city of Laurens to repre-
sent all interests represented by him,
and that all persons be allowed to have
cotton weighed where and by whom
they please.
Furthermore, that we believe it to be
to the interest of the CO. ton sellers of
our county to bulk their cotton at the
different ware houses in the county Of
Laurens, S. O., in order that the same
may be offered for sale in bulk to the
highest bidder on Thursday of each
week.
That we respectfully ask the aid of
the merchants, bankers, landlords and
all others interested in the agriculture
of our county to aid us in carrying into
effect these resolutions.
Respectfully submitted,
R. d. Boyd, Chm'n.
w. L. Gray, Sec'y.
Mr.. Cooper made motion of amend
ment which was adopted, that If there
be any combination or pooling of in
terests Of the cotton mills, with view
to controlling the price of the staple,
that a committee investigate the mat
ter, collect evidence and report to the
Solicitor, whose duty it was to take the
necessary legal steps.
That committee of three be appoint
ed to investigate the cotGon-buying sit
uation and ascertain il the Cotton Mills
have any agreement bet geen each other
for the purpose Of controlling the price
of cotton. and report same to the Solici-
tor Of 9TH Circuit.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that the interest of all farmers
will be advanced by cooperating in this
undertaking, and to this end the fsrm-
ers OF adjoining counties and through
out the State be asked to Join with the
farmers OF Laurens county . pursuance
of the plans set forth in the above reso-
lutiOns.
Mr.. w. M. Irby's amendment as to a
cotton weigher was no, seconded and
therefore lost.
DR.. Jno. II. Smith made o few re-
marks clearly stating his position which
was against the resolutions on the
ground that they were ineffective. He
was, as o good old Democrat, against
all trusts and combinations of an un-
lawful nature.
Mr.. John Putnam favored the reso-
luton.
President Boyd thanked the farmers
and merchants and business men for
their attendance and beseeched the
farmers to cooperate In the movement
started by this meeting.
Mr.. w. l.. Gray and o. p. Goodwin
both In few words asked for co-opera-
tion.
The meeting then adjourned.
Evans and J,atimer wapted vou,