The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-14
FARMERS ARE URGED TO MEET Commissioner Poole Issues
 A Call TO HOLD THEIR COTTON January 10 is Date Fixed for Gatherings. apoun with shyiocks of Wall Street." is to be the slogan of Alabama's
 Department of AgrI-

The State Department of Agriculture l and Industries yesterday issued gen. l eral call to cotton planters in all parts of Alabama to hold in every town ana city a mass meeting on Tuesday, Jan | uary 10. At all these meetings the slogan VIII be, Down with the shylocks of Wall Street. If the purpose of State Com missioner R. R. Poole prevails with the | leading farmers of the State hundreds l of resolutions win be passed defytng the speculators in cotton and providing for the salvation of those who raise the staple.
 In the call for mass meetings which was made by the Commissioner or Agriculture, it is recommended that a
 smaller cotton acreage be planted next year and that Alabama farmers become seif.sustaining by raising a diversity of crops. . -4
 The Commissioner insists that the cation raisers of Alabama stand stsadfasfly together against the specu. lator and sell no cotton voluntarily. He suggests that the expediency or holding the staple be given free, full, ouen and honest discussion" at these mass meetings.
 sent to all Farmers. C.opies of the letter have been sent to l farmers in every section of the stats The co-opefation of the Commissionel l ia assured the holders of cotton and | he offers his suggestions to everyone The circular letter is as follows: | Montgomery, Dec. Is. l "To Alabama Cotton Owners: '"The present conditions make me ! extremely anxious and solicitous oi your interests. and I have determined | to take prompt and decided action in the premises The extremely mild and ldry fall has upset all calculations in | relation to the output of the cotton crop, and brought the fact more vivid " and forcibly to mind than ever be'
 fore, and further demonstrates to my l complete satisfaction, that we know pr reeious little about what the yield is | going to be, or what the market is go- | ing to do.
 ''The cotton market is controlled completely and absolutely by the Shy locks of Wall Street, and as 6 matter of course, they always manipulate 1t SC las to put money in their own pockets and defraud those who raise the sta pie and handle it first hand. l have 1 advised the holding of cotton and nave all along believed that the price would go up soon after the holidays; l am oi the same OplnlOH Stlll, put WC AhooS oN our part in forcing a fair and equit' able price for what of the staple we still may have on hand. I am aware
 of the fact that the producer has mar keted three-fourths of his crop. and am happy to know also that he got g fair price for 1t. But that still on hand | should not be sacrificed, and along with | the 25 per cent. yet in the hands oi the merchants or middle man, makes al least 50 per cent. of the crop yet in, oui
 hands.
 | Mass Meeting Called.
 'WTise and judicious and prompt ac' ton is worth many thousands of dol lars to the people of Alabama. I have been urged by farmers and merchants
 all over the State to make some sug' l-gestions to guide them in bringing
 about the much desired results, and after reflection and consultation witt others have determined to call and d hereby call a mass meeting in elite: and county towns of the State on Tues day, January 10th, 1905, for the dis cussion of the question from every standpoint. and if possible, to decide upon the best and most effectual mode and manner of the disposition of tht present crop in hand. and for concert
 of action in making the next crop.
 Tt is highly essential for our future ! salvation that we stand steadfastly to. sether against the speculator and sel
 no cotton voluntarily. and permit none
 to be sold by coercion or intimidation
 suggest free. full and open and honest discussion of the matter of so vital i'm l portance to you all, and would recon. mend:
 q. That the remainder of the pres 1 ent crop in hand be held for fair and | just prices.
 "2. That smaller acreage be planted next year, and that the wisest concert
 of action be had in bringing tha,
 about.
 | g. That more and abundant food