The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-03
FARMERS PLEDGE
FOR LESS COTTON
To Cut off Acreage a
Third at Least.
ARE HOLDING COTTON
An Earnest Meeting in Raleigh al
Which Farmers Sign Agreement
to Decrease Acreage Next Sea-
son. Other Meetings Held
i'm Wake and State.

The farmers of Raleigh township,
with many from other townships, and
with merchants, manufacturers and
business men present, were in session
yesterday morning at the court house,
discussing plans to better the price OF
cotton.
It was a meeting in which business
vas done from the word go" No
time was wasted in rhetorical flights,
hut practical steps for the future were
taken. These consisted in practically
every farmer present signing pledge,
stating that he would reduce the acre
age planted this year in cotton by at
lease 33 1-3 per cent some going as
high as fifty per cent, putting the fig
ureS in acres, and in a renewed ex-
preston of determination to hold the
cotton on hand for d better price.
The meeting was an enthusiastic
one in its very grimness and determi-
nation. The big farmer was there, the
small farmer was there, and sitting oft
III a corner were three negro farmers,
who said they would hold their cotton
and decrease their acreage. The re-
suit or the meeting was so practical
that if each of the SO cotton produce
ing counties i'm the South take a SINH
control the price of cotton.
The meeting organized with Mr.. L..
X. Wyatt as chairman and Mr.. f. E..
Rritton as secretary. Mr.. Wyatt stat
ed the purpose and read the call for
the meeting stating that this WAS pre-
paratory to the county meeting to be
held in Raleigh on the 18th of jan
uary next Saturday, and that in every
township similar meetings We're being
held.
Mr.. w. A. Wyatt was next heard,
and he read the last statement of con-
Gitions sent out by Mr.. Harvie Jordan.
of Atlanta president of the Southern
Cotton Growers Association. This was
listened to with attention and the
plans he laid out were approved. Mr..
Wyatt urged that the cotton now on
hand be held for a rise and that the
present acreage be decreased. saying
that if the $32 100000 acres of this
year be decreased to 10000, 600 next
year the problem of an increase in
price would be solved not alone for
1906, but for 1906, and that cotton at
ten cents a pound and over would be
assured.
The secretary who had interviewed
every farmer present, reported thae
each of these declared that he would
hold the cotton on hand for an in
crease in value. some saying they
would hold it till the Lasgnis wore off.
CT till DEATH in the face of the present
low prices.
1t was explained to the farmers
that those who desired to borrow
money on their cotton could do so by
storing it in a warehouse and using
the receipt for this at the banks Of
Raleigh, where money would be
loaned.
The following offered as resolu-
tions by Mr.. L. r. Wyatt, were
adopted:
Farmers and Business Men.
This pledge recommended co-opera-
ton between farmers and business
men to decrease acreage next year
and to prevent balance of present
crop being sold at a ruinous price.
The Farmers Alliance is urged to aid
III decreasing the acreage, and to Sc
cure from all farmers a pledge to re-
duce by at least 33 1-3 per cent and
the use of commercial fertilizers In
the same rate. The merchants are
asked not to advance money to farm
ers who do not decrease acreage,
chairmen are to be named in each
township to carry out this, and all
who hold cotton are urged to market
it as judiciousIy as possible till the
acreage IS known.
Township Joint Pledge.
This pledge, which was signed by
the farmers agrees that the acreage
shall be reduced as placed opposite
the names, with like reduction in
the use of commercial fertilizers.
The pledge for the merchants is not
TO sell on crop time to such as do not
sign the pledge to decrease acreage,
which is to be SO 1-3 per cent.
The Farmers Sign.
When these resolutions were read
Mr.. j. II. Robbins moved that they
be signed and coming forward signed
the obligation to reduce his acreage
from 100 acres to so acres. Then the
names came thick and fast as fol-
lows, the majority of the farmers
signing being from Raleigh town
ship. though other townships We're
represented:
The following We're the reductions
agreed to in acres: j. Fl. Robbins,
w. c. Riddick, 95 to 65; r. a. Sea-
grove. % to Is; L. r. Wyatt, $50 to
100; +. Fl. and f. w. Hunnicutt. so
to Is; j. p. Bobbitt, AS to 80; J. NJ.
Henderson, 20 to II; j. r. Durham,
IS 10 80; w. f. Taylor. IS to As; J.
w. Parker, 80 to 20: w. I. Howell,
500 to 200; G.. B. Norwood. IS to so;
Thomas Burns Is to 10; S. F. Baily,
80 to 20: Richard Taylor, Is to H.:
Nj. c. Buffaloe. 80 to 60: T. e. Daniel,
% to ID; David Stokes. IA TO II; j..
il, Gill, to 6; j. w. Garner, rs to
20; j. r. Young, II to 8; r. T. Mill
100 to 65; Marion Brian 30 to Is;
John Jones' 40 to Is; a. f. Taylor,
reduce by five acres to horse; ). w
Pool, 20 to 15 G.. NJ. Allen. TO B;
j. f.. Baker, % to IL; j. w. Jones,
65 to so; A. j. Rhodes, 20 to Is;
Henderson Ray, IL to 8; Jacob Stan
cell (colored) II to 8; G.. f. Harris,
(col) IL to 8. 1t was announced that
Mr. w. e. Wilder had sent word that
he would cut his crop in half next
year.
On motion of Mr.. e. Il. Britton. a