St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-05-20

of raising crop so large as TO make
possible another period OF lOw-prlced
cotton.
l am making this appeal to you be-
cause regard the next few weeks as
critical to the South and because |
believe that every man who is inter-
ested in the welfare of the South
should urge the Importance of re-
duced acreage.
COTTON ANcREAeE REDUCTION.
Gov. Blanchard Issues Proclama.
ton to Louisiana Cotton Planters.
Gov. Newton c. Blanchard has is
sued an appeal to the people of Louis
lana which is believed to be unprece.
dented, coming from the chief execu-
tive Of a State.
It is directed to the cotton planters,
bankers. merchants and business men
OF Louisiana, urging and appealing to
them in language potent and eloquent
now that the planting season is at
hand, that the farmers reduce their
cotton acreage this year One-fourth or
one-fifth from that planted in 1904.
Let us plant for no more than an
5000, O0O-bale crop this year" says
Gov. Blanchard. ut is the only means
left of 1ehabilitating the cotton grow
ing industry of the South and again
placing it on profit bearing basis"
Weather conditions throughout Ok,
lahoma continue unfavorable for farm
operations, and as consequence prep
arations for cotton planting are very
backward throughout that section, the
frequent rains interfering seriously
with planting. Wheat and oats, OF
the other hand, are in fine shape, sell
dom better. Some reduction in cot
ton acreage may be considered a GER
tainty, but to what extent cannot yet
be determined-nor likely to be be.
fore the end of next month. A fac
tor in the Western districts tending to
discourage cotton planting is the diff
ficulty of getting labor to pick it, even
though as high as SIPS per hnuderd
was offered and paid. At the present
value of cotton. this and other
charges incidental to the marketing
offer little inducement to the farmer
to cultivate more than can be cared
for by his own family In the picking
season.
A meeting was held at Perrytown,
Wilkinson county, Miss, last week,
and an organization was perfected.
The number of members enrolled was
238. National Committeeman r. M.
McGehee delivered an address at this
meeting, and the people seemed to
be thoroughly enthused, and the re-
suit of the meeting left no doubt of
Their intentions about the cotton crop.
You are at the dividing Of the ways;
either four or ten cents for your cot
ton. It is up to you.
The Southern Cotton Association
stands for the prosperity of the South
speak at Pascagoula, Miss, on Sat
urday, April 30, at meeting to be
held under the auspices of the Pasca.
goula Commercial Club.
All over the great State of Missis-
sippi the cotton acreage reduction bal!
is rolling, and the movement is gath
ering great force as the ball keeps
rolling.
The prosperity Of the South depends
on maintaining fair price for cotton.
All interests are dependent on the
farmers.
II you expect your friends on the
exchange to assist you in securing a
fair price for your crop, you must be
true to them and to yourself-by re-
ducing your acreage in cotton.
Congressman John Sharp Williams
has accepted an lnvitation to deliver
an address before the cotton farmers
Of Oktibbeha and surrounding coun
ties at Starkville On May /. The meet
ing will be held il the Assembly hall
at the Mississippi Agricultural and
Mechanical College, and promises to
be the largest rally ever held IN that
section of the State.