The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-11-21
COTTON ASSOCIATION
DEMANDS IS CENTS
ORGANIZATION WAGING WAR
ON SPECTATORS.
A Vigorous Campaign on Foot-Sec-
retary Weston Talks Of the
Fight Now Being Made by
Southern Cotton Associ-
alton.

That the Southern Corton associa-
ton is in earnest in the fight to resist
and put aside the speculator to the
welfare and benefit Of the producer,
no one who yesterday vislted the office
OF Mr.. F. H. Weston, the secretary of
the South Carolina division, can doubt.
His office force was busily engaged
sending out literature to the various
counties and there were other evi-
dences that the work is being pushed
in no uncertain way.
Asked for an interview concerning
this recent activity on the part of the
association, Mr. Weston said:
"Today, am in receipt Of instruc-
tions from headquarters in Atlanta
TO institute movement toward Sc
curing pledges from the farmers for
the cotton which they now have on
hand for IS cents.
1--WE know that there is most ac-
tive demand for dry goods and that
the mills have not the cotton neces-
sary to run them to fill these con-
tracts. The association considered II
cents fair but not unreasonable
price for cotton, but in view of nhe
very aggressive campaign that has
been instituted against cotton in the
lost few days by The odorc. Price and
his allies, it would be absurd for the
Southern Cotton association to stand
81 and see the producers of cotton
throughout the south despoiled OF
millions OF dollars.
sWe must convince the spinners OF
the world that the price of cotton is
70 be fixed by the producer and not
by the speculator.
ssMr. Smith is absent from the state,
in Texas, speaking in the interest OF
the association, but l propose to or
ganize most vigorous campaign IN
behalf of securing pledges from farm
ers for IS cents for cotton now ON
hand. am now placing these pledges
in the hands of county presidents, with
Instructions to employ canvasserS in
every school district in South Caro-
lima.
I'VE have the money on hand and
propose to pay these canvassers tor
their work. The AUDITORS books will
be used to furnish us the names OF
every cotton grower in each county
The names will be placed in the hands
of the party canvassing the school
districts and thus every farmer Will
be approached.
mo southern man should stand
idlv by and see his secrion robbed OF
millions of dollars which does not
inure 10 the benefit of the spinner but
to the benefit of Wall street specu-
lators.
"A similar campaign is being waged
in every cotton producing stare in the
south. This is a fight of producer
against specuIator and we must and
will win"
Concerning the cotton crop Of Rich
land county and OF the state gener-
ally, Mr.. Weston continued:
"You have asked me for an eSpla-
nation of my opinion Of the cotton
crop of this county. am largely in
terested in farming and am probably
the largest owner of agricultural lands
in this county, and am also con-
nected with one Of the largest banks
of the city, which gives me an eX-
cellent opportunity Of being brought
in contact with the farmer.
This years cotton crop has been
one of the most disastrous 70 the
farmer Of the county in this respect.
We had abundant moisture and our
people fertilized very heavily, thereby