The news & observer., 1905-10-22
Meeting of State Asso-
citation Last Night.
WAS WELL ATTENDED
Annual Meeting Will be Held First
Wednesday in December. Farmers
Declare They Will Not Sell Un-
tll They Get Minimum
Price.

Last night in the Hall of Represen-
tatives was held the most important
meeting of the North Carolina Divi-
sion of the Southern Cotton Associa-
ton that has been held in the exist
ence of the organization. twenty-five
counties were represented, and the
life of the association was stirred up;
it's actual power was ascertained, AS
we'll as it's shortcomings. and these
will be remedied by a more perfect
organization. The annual meeting
Will be held on the evening of the
first Wednesday in December, when
the election of officers will occur.
The meeting was presided over by the
President, Col. John S. Cunningham.
Secretary Z. B. Parker read the
minutes of the last meeting, and gave
an account of the finances of the AS
sociation. after which Col. Cunning
ham said the farmers had acted wise
ly and conServatiVely, and were in
position to demand the true value
of their cotton. and if they would
uut mold they would receive the min
imum price of IL cents fixed by the
Southern Cotton Association. He said
between sticking to the minimum
price, with big stick in their hands
with which to fight Wall street, and
upon the principles of the organiza-
tion the farmers would win out in
their fight.
After the call of counties, and reg
istration of delegates, the reports OF
officers were called for. President
Cunningham made his report, saying
that last year the cotton farmer of
North Carolina held a great meeting
i'm Raleigh, and like meetings were
held throughout the South, to find
out the reason for the tremendous de-
cline in cotton that then existed. The
opinion at that time, he said, was
that if the farmers would hold their
cotton they would secure better
prices They determined to stand
together and demand reasonable
price. and standing together the re-
suit was that the great depression was
soon eaSed, and the heavy appro-
brium that devastated the homes OF
the growers ard would have made
the country people penniless. has
been abolished. He eulOglZed the
bravery of the farmers in looking
starvation in the face and he de-
clared that by their patriotism they
had raised the South to affluence and
raised cotton from IL to 10 cents.
He spoke of the cooperation between
the tobacco growers and the cotton
growers and said that when the
price of cotton fell the prices OF
tobacco were sure 10 tothe d us lOt'P
downward: land the tobacco grower
wants to help the cotton grower 700,
said the Colonel. because he knows
the cotton grower will chew tobacco;
and the cotton grower reclprocateS
because he knows the tobacco grower
wears cotton clothes. Last year,
he continued, eve decided to hold cur
cotton for 10 cents. We got it. y
few weeks ago we met at AsheVlile
and fixed the minimum price at IL
cents. The bears depressed the mar
ket temporarily. but as everybody
knows, the crop is short, and IL the
farmer will only hold his cotton, he
will get IL cents, but if he sells now
he will get less"
In conclusion, Col. Cunningham de-
clared that the farmers, united.
would win, but divided. they would
fall, and he urged the members OF the
Association to do their duty, stand
by the guns. fight the battle, and get
prices that would pay their expenses.
support their families and educate
their children. He pleaded for oct
ter. organization, and larger member
shin with livelier spirit, and not
more liberal but more regular con-
tributions The funds contributed
last year, he said have been eXpend-
ed. and to defray the expense OF the
organization and push 1t forward ana
hold it together, the members mus'
hold up the hands of President HaFVle
Jordan and his assistants.
The reports by counties were calleC
for. Anson had 80 per cent OF the
crop gathered, with 60 per cent. mar