The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-04-15
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS
MAKES AN ADDRESS
In lnterst of Cotton Producers
A Large Audience Hears the
Distinguished Speaker.

Hon. John Sharp Williams, the dis
tinguiShed Democratic leader in the
National Congress, addressed a large
audience on Monday at the court
house, on the cotton situation, and iu
the interest Of the Southern Cotton
Association. Most of the business
men of Grenada, and goodly number
of the farmers from different sections
of the county, were present to hear
the learned speaker on the question
vital to every business interest in the
South and one that concerns every in
dustry in the South.
! Mr.. Williams was introduced by
Hon. w. S. p. Doty in the following
appropriate language:
| Ladies and conference.-the move
ment by the Southern Cotton Growers
begun short while ago for the pur-
pose of reducing this years cotton
acreage and thereby securing imme-
diate relief to the cotton grower in
the price of his cotton has developed
into broader movement than the
mere reduction Of acreage, and has
cryStalized into permanent and most
| formidable organization having for its
laudable and comprehensive purpose
not only decreased acreage in cotton,
but intelligent and systematic CO.
operation in the production and mar
keting of cotton: intelligent and re-
munerative diverSifcation of crops;
intelligent and successful farming in
all of its branches; the development
and expansion of new markets for cot
ton and other Southern productS-in
a word, the general upbuilding Of the
agricultural and industrial intereStSef
the great South.
THE movement is one which has
cOught the quick and eager ear Of the
people, and engages the profoundeSt
intellect in the land, and the matter
is one, which today challengeS-if you
pleaSe-the attention, the interest
and the earnest cooperation OF not
alone the farmer, but the lawyer, the
doctor, the banker, the merchant and
in fact every citizen who has at heart
the welfare Of his country.
And congratulate you, my friends,
that you now have the rare OppOrtu-
nifty of hearing this great question in
its varied forms and interests ably
discussed by one CT our most diStin-
gulShed citizens. a successful farmer
and peerless stateSman-the Hon.
orable John Sharp Williams.
After Mr.. DOty's introduction, Mr..
Williams took the speakers stand and
begun by telling his audience that he
would not attempt any flights of ora
tory, but that he ha1 a commOn-sense
subject to present, and that he ex-
pected to present it in practical way
and to individuals of good Judgment
and of reasonable intelligence. He
assigned reasons for the failure of
other organizations begun to promote
the welfare OF the farmer, and said
that the Cotton Association was wise
ly steering clear of the shoals that had
wrecked Kindred organizations in the
past. lie gave figures to show the
great increase ~ the amount of money
invested in the varied industries of
the South from 1890 up to 1905, rang
ing all the way from 400 to 600 per
cent, and the great Increase in the
aggregate wealth of the same section
for the same time. He saiothe rate
Of interest on money had droaned
during the last twenty years, frOm1
per cent to and 9 per cent, and
lrsueing from these premises he held
that the farmers were in better condi-
ton than ever, either before or since
the war, and that they are in posi-
ton now TO protect the products of
their own toll and in a measure. fix
heir market value He conten6ed,
md backed his position by convincing
argument, that but for the Cotton
Association, cotton would be selling
,Oday for cents per pound instead
If d and cents. He expatiated up
IN the enlargement Of the cotton
markets and showed what steps the
lai ional government was taking to
encourage the using of cotton gOoGE
n the different countries beyond the
ea He stressed reduction of acreage
md explained fully and to the salts
action of the most unthinkable tiii.kz-
n, that in reduced acreage alone o(ElsA
he farmer hope to obtain living
prices for his product the coming
eaSon.
He spoke of his large farming, in
crest and said that he was not talk
ng merely as politician, butraS one
interested in everything
hat concerns Mississippi, and indeed
he whole South.
Mr.. Williams address was highly
njOyed by everyone present. He is a
speaker, a man of deep
earning and one who is convincing in
is argument.
Mr.. P. K. Whitney, secretary OF
he State Cotton Association, was alSe
resent. He told something, of the
rogresS of the organization lin the
tate and what he thought was being
Our business. men re-
Donded literally to his call for .finan-
al aid to prosecute the work of the
sSociation.