The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-22
FARMERS GATHER IN BEATs15
 AND RENEW THEIR FEALTY

house today realized full well that talking avails little when 1t comes to opposing the eminently respectable men who do their business around the pits of the cotton Exchange. While they. perhaps, never see bale of the heecy staple season in and out, they are looked upon as the shrewdest ma nipulators of the ring. They have to be dealt with in action and not in mere words
 Even If what we say were as much as hot-air." exclaimed one of the farm CTS after the meeting, it would not be felt by the gamblers up in New York.
 They are too far away"
 To Conquer the Foe.
 nevertheless, because this dealer In
 fictitious cotton is in the distant East
 and far away. the Southern farmer has declared that he will conquer him though he be an invisible foe. That was the sentiment of the assemblage at Stoddard. It has been the unex- pressed feeling of all thinking cotton planters for the past forty years. The metaphorfc skinning that the bear got yesterday has to look to the past cs well as the present for it's authority. As was asserted by the coterie of speakers yesterday. the depredations of the war and as result the farmer of the South has lived but little above the level of poverty.
 As the protecting Aegis of the South in this perilous moment, the Southern Cotton Association was pointed to with absolute confidence and sincerity. What are its workings and the people it reaches and the aims for, which 1t Is striving were expounded in detail by the array of special speakers. They were J. T. Robertson of LeGrand, A. B. Brassell and W. R. Sawyer of Mont gomery, Secretary Charles l.. Gay of the Montgomery County Cotton Crow CTS Association, N. B. Williams, Organ izer of this Association. and Rev. T. E. Price and James Carter of Beat 15.
 President Seymour of the Alabama ident W. H. Vaughan of the Montgom- cry County Cotton Growers Associa- tion, sent messages that they could not be present. They had been put on the program. but MT. Seymour could not fill his engagement because of his at- tendance at the meeting of the Southern Cotton Association in Talladega the same time. Mir. Vaughan was prevented from being present on account of sud- den illness.
 M. 0. Merritt Presided.
 The meeting was calledto order a few minutes after 10 o'clock and M. O. Merritt of Beat 15 was elected chair man and A. P. Smith of Beat Is secre- tary. Chairman Merritt announced the purposes of the meeting. telling of how the South need never expect prosperity until the speculator is taken from be- tween the planter and the manufacturer of cotton. He emphasized the neces- sity of farmers taking the steps for this task right at the present time or go on record as incapable of meeting their duty to the country in which they live
 Before any business was gone into Rev.. N. B. Williams was called upon to invoke the blessings of the Almighty upon the work about to be undertaken. Secretary Gay of the county organiza- tion then read the constitution of the Southern Cotton Association fin full and 1t was adopted by unapimous vote. The document was read in order to ac- quaint the hearers with all the fea- lures of the movement started at New Orleans last January and which re- suited in the Southern Cotton Assocfa- tion of which every beat in the cotton growing States 's' an integral part. a.s.f'.
 On suggestion of J. R. McLendon, the Secretary proceeded to revise the mem bership of the beat organization and receive new members. At the same time those delinquent in their dues and assessments paid up In full.
 Negro is Applauded.
 The negroes accepted an Invitation to go into the organization and when Sam stepped forward to announce his membership and willingness to pay the assessments on forty bales of cot ton he was greeted with applause. A minute or so afterward a dozen more blacks joined and when the last had given in his name and money a stand ing vote of thanks was given for their fidelity to the cause represented by the 
 J. T. Robertson was the first regular speaker. He was a prominent mem Der of the Montgomery mass meeting last Saturday and q subscriber to the steck of the proposed warehouses. He was enthusiastic in his. address today He began by paying a tribute to Presi- dent Seymour, of the State organiza- ton. He declared him to be an emi- nently it man to be at the head of the division of the general cotton and spoke of his vast infor- nation on the cotton history of the South. He regretted his absence but spoke of his engagement in the Talia- iega meeting.
 Mir Robertson strongly denied the severe indictment that the farmer can- not be organized. He referred to the 'act that lawyers, doctors, bankers, and every vocation and occupation under he sun are united for self-preservation. This, he said, makes 1t certain that the armer must organize for his survival. He added that the Grange and the Ali lnce did not disprove that the planters ,an organize. In the one experiment, to MT. Robertson. there was co much social tendency and too little business on the part of the members md the others was talned with politi- | ics from beginning to end.
 Cotton "Leakn Scandal.
 As for the third effort of the South | rn farmers, the Southern Cotton Asso- | iation, the speaker said much has Liready been accomplished since the | of 1t less than a year ago. | Ie alluded to the cotton leak scandal | which was uncovered by the dogged | ifforts of the Association agents, Presi- | lent Harvie Jordan and Secretary | Richard Cheathnm. That very suc- cess, he said, meant great good and prestige for the Cotton Association. It | an two employees from Washington out If the statistical bureau and an indict- nent has been found against one of hem. He told of the great injuries he bureau has always been to the southern farmer and to the western Of grain, meats and other essentials of life. 'To the credit of the Cotton Associa- ion, MT. Robertson also referred to the rradual increase in the price of cotton rom 1-2 cents last year to 10 cents IS the result of the New Orleans con-. ,ention in January and the work of the organizers since. He said the con- ,titution of the Association Is q direct ,ppeal for everybody in the South to come into the ranks and engage in the light for their own salvation as the