The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-25
FARMERS 70 MEET
President Iiaryic Calls for Meetings
Il Cotton Planters 10 Each Cor nty.

TO the Editor Of The Messenger.
Mr.. Harvie Jordan president of the
Southern Cotton Association, has isl
sued Il general call for each cotton
growing county in the South TO hold n
mass meeting OH Tuesday the Ind OF
May. Mr.. Jordan writes: 4 think it
is highly important that this rallyI
should be held. We want 10 take aG-i
vantage of that occasion TO increasel
the membership Of our association and
To get from the farmers present att
these meetings IL concensus of opiniorI
as to what the actual reduction of cot
ton acreage and the use of guano underl
cotton will be for 1905. By that timsI
o Of the cotton will be planted. but
the planting will not have advanced sol
far but that, if it is necessary to still
further insist upon Il reduction, it can
lie done without material loss.
This information should be gather
Ell and Immediately transmitted
through the various counties to thel
state secretary. and by him forwarded
10 the headquarters of the Southern
Cotton Association, where it can bel
tabulated and put i'll form so as to-
give us some idea us to where we are
standing with reference to this very
important feature"
In accordance with the above re-
quest from Mr. Jordan | ask the cot
ton farmers, business men, and all 9TH
ers who really have at heart the per-
Il prosperity of the South to
meet i'll mass meeting at their court
house the first Tuesday in May at p
O'Clock to consider this vital question;
that is now confronting II people. 1t
is Il question that affects every person
and ME the cotton crop of the South
is very materially reduced from last
years crop we may expect a repetition
Of the low prices and depressing times.
we had ten years ago. 1t is for our
cotton farmers to say whether they will
drive it from their doors. To fail to
reduce the acreage is to invite the dis
aster and to admit hat Mr.. Price thcI
great cotton bear has been telling the
truth about us and knows us better
than we know ourselves. It is also Il
confession OF our part that we will not
do what we say we will. | sincerely
hope that every North Carolinian Will
stand firmly by the action of the New
Orleans Convention thus proving them
selves truthful and loyal to the South's'
best interests. Every n is invited to
join in these meetings. Our cause is
a common cause and should appeal
forc1bly to all true southern people.
Surely no true man wants to 60 back
to the days of five cents cotton with all
the ~hardshipS it will bring to our peO-
pie Let the people set their faces
hrmly against any such conditions ana
determine rather than be slaves for
spectators they will not plant any
cotton at all. But there is no need fOl
any such drastic methods. A sharp re.
ductiOn of % per cent. all over tho
South would accomplish the ends we
are striving for, and, it seems to me.
as business men, we would not for a
moment desire to, or consent to do
less.
Let us al meet at the time named
and have the biggest, most determin-
ed and enthusiastic meetings that have
ever ueeI led il North Carolina. Let
the county officers where there is an
organization take up the work az once
n insist on all the people turning out,
and where there is no organization let
the people turn out any way and eff
feet one. I will gladly send literature
tc any person asking for it. Let every
cotton farmer and all the friends of
the movement make this the effort of
Their lives and show to the people they
mean business.
T. B. PARKER, Sec. y. c. Division.
Southern Cotton Association.
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