Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-02-22
JORDAN ISSUES ANOTHER LErrEa.
The Prospects Bright and Reports Encour-
aging-Will Hold for Ten Cents.

Atlanta, Ga, February iS.-To tine
people of the South: The Southern Cot
ton Association recently organized at
New Orleans by the largest and most dis
tinguished gathering of prominent farm
ers, merchants, bankers, cotton men aud
others, is already getting well under way
and exceeding the most sanguine expec-
tations of those who at New Orleans so
enthusiastically advocated its policies.
The daily press of the South indicate
to-day that hundreds of county ana pre-
cinct organizations were perfected ON the
1lth instant throughout the entire cotton
belt under the plans adopted by the
Southern Cotton Association, and that
thousands of farmers, merchants and
bankers have enthusiastically Joined the
movement.
Reports this early from hundreds Of
counties, townships, precincts and par
ishes show that everywhere the pledges
ON reduction of acreage and guano are
being promptly signed up by the cotton
growers. The very severe weather of the
past ten days has in no wise checked the
determination of the farmers to immedi-
ately organize and meetings everywhere
have been largely attended.
Another matter which the cotton
world must be forced to understand, and
that is, that spot holders of cotton in the
South are firmly and unalterably fixed in
their determination to hold their cotton
and refuse to sell at prices less than 10
cents per pound delivered at the ports.
Holders in every part Of the South sig
Nifty their Willingness to sign contracts to
tie up the surplus part of the crop until
next fall and the Planters Cotton and
Commission Company recently organized
at New Orleans as q branch of the South
ern Cotton Association with w. p.
Brown as president, will have but little
trouble in securing the necessary tie up
Of 1000. 900 bales.
The Southern Cotton Association has
already proceeded far enough to assure
and conduct of its affairs, ia broad and
liberal enough to command the prompt
and active support of the cotton growers
and all allied business interests in the
South. The cotton world has been abso-
lutely amazed at the action of the farm
ers and Southern bankers during the
past two months.
The spinners are demanding the fulfill
ment of contracts from the buyers. The
their contracts and the spot cotton is in
the hands of tho producers. In many
sections farmers are now hauling their
cotton homo from warehouses. In other
sections warehouses are Offering to
store cotton free and bankers are advanc-
ing loans at per cent per annum. The
entire South is working in perfect har-
mony and unity to restore the price of
cotton to its legitimate value of 10 cents.
No cotton must be sold on temporary
advances. 1t is a we'll laid scheme of
the "bears" and buyers to bring out cot
ton on the market so as to insure heavy
reaction in price and secure the fulfill
ment of spot contracts. Hold cotton
tighter than ever before and prove to the
foreign spinner and speculator, who con-
slider the Southern farmers as so many
"brainless labOrers," that we can com
bine and force the world to recognize for
once that the South can and will protect
its interests.
Let the active work of organization
rapidly proceed. Let every county and
parish in the South hold it's meetings on
the 10Th, organize and elect delegates to
attend the meetings at the State capitals
on the 21st. The railroads have already
intimated their willingness to give rate
of one fare for the round trip to all dele
gates attending the State meetings on
February 2lst. Reduce your acreage
and use of guano at least 25 per cent or
more.
Diversity your farming interests and
plant more food crops. Hold your cot
ton with a death grip until prices ad-
vance to 10 cents. Pay no attention to
temporary advances. Help to tie up the
two million bales of the surplus and the
to standstill. The sixty millions of
dollars cut off the value of the crop dur
ing the last sixty days by speculative
depression will be returned and the
South will again enjoy her period of
prosperity.
We must win in this contest. The
future of every farmer, merchant, banker
and the business and professional men of
the South is at stake. Cooperation is
teringly together. Let no break in the
ranks occur anywhere. The cotton men
are frightened. The "bear" spectators
are frightened. They can't hold out
many weeks longer. We have victory in
sight. Stand by the Southern Cotton
Association and win success.
Recognizing the importance of dissent
mating information throughout the
Southern press for the benefit of all the
Southern Cotton Association has opened
in Atlanta a department of publicity,
which will daily from now on supply all
the news to the press from every section
Of the South covering the entire work
of the association and all other informa-
ton on the cotton situation.
The columns of the Southern press in
all sections have been placed at our dis
posal and are aiding the movement in
every way possible. Letters of interest
bearing on the present situation and all
other matters of news intended for pub.
Iicity should be sent to the Southern
Cotton Association, care r. J. Simmons,
Jr., Manager, Department of Publicity,
Atlanta, Ga.
We want good strong letters from
merchants, bankers and others.
Let the South continue to stand pat in
The protection of hergreat money staple.
We now have the situation absolutely in
our control. Harvie Jordan,
President Southern Cotton Association.