Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-09-09
COTTON ASSOCIL TI)N
DEMANDS 10 CENTS
Farmers Union Will Stand
Pat" for II Cents.
SECRETARY cHEATHAM CLEARED
Farmers Union President Seeks II
Cents for Cotton, and Says His Or
aanIzatIon Has Not Placed the Price
Too High.

Hot Springs, Ark, Sept 8.-The
executive committee of the Southern
Cotton Association late Friday after
noon recommended to its members
and the cotton growers of the south
that no cotton be sold during the pres
ent season at less than II cents per
pound. "a
In a resolution adopted by the COM
mittee, 1t is stated that the crop is in
state of deterioration, and for that
reason no estimate OF the crop was
made. The resolution states, howev-
er, that the committee is satisfied
that the crop will not be as large as
the current estimate.
The placing of the minimum price
at 10 cents was In the nature of
victory for the conservative element
OF the association In the executive
session of the committee, which was
continued throughout the day, the
highest price named as a minimum
was II cents.
The resolution adopted by the COM
mittee, which is in the shape Of an
address to the public, follows
"Inasmuch as we, the cotton grow
ers of the south, know that there has
been great deterioration in the cotton
crop since Aug. Is, and,
Whereas. the consensus Of opinion
of the members of this committee is
that the deterioration is still going
on, we deem it unwise to make an
estimate of the crop at this time. We
are satisfied that the crop will not be
as large as the current estimate.
"We, therefore, suggest and urge
upon all our members and producers
throughout the south not to sell their
cotton at figure less than the cost
Of production.
Owing to the high price of the cost
of living and scarcity of labor, we
feel, in order for the farmer who
raises cotton to live, feed and clothe
himself and family and set aside a
small pittance for the improvement Of
his farm, it is necessary that cotton
should not be sold below the bread
and meat line, which is 10 cents.
I'm fixing 10 cents per pound as the
limit below which it should not be
sold, we have no reference to the crop
or any immediate condition.
I'VE call upon all southern interests
to aid in maintaining for all time this
price as a minimum. We urge the
necessity Of marketing the crop slow
ly and only on an advancing market,
and withdraw all cotton from the
market at every decline.
I'VE appreciate and thank the press
for the valued service of the past, and
urge those interests of the south to
assist in every manner possible to
maintain this minimum price.
1--WE appreciate and thank the mer-
chants and bankers for the noble man
ner in which they have stood by the
farmers in the past and urge a CON
tlnuation of their cooperation and
support. Walter Clark, chairman; E.
D. Smith, J. A. Brown, J. G. Hickey,
F. A. Maxwell"
At the night session of the executive
committee Richard Cheatham, secre-
tary OF the association, was exonerated
of the charge of dealing in futures
while an official Of the association. In
corporated in the resolution clearing
Mr.. Cheatham was an expression pro-
viding that it shall constitute an of
tense in the future for any official
or member of the executive commit
tee or member Of any state committee
to deal in futures.
The resolution generating Cheat
ham declares:
That while all foxm of specula-
tion are disapproved of, yet the com
mittee finds that Mr.. Cheatham was
acting only for other parties and in
view OF the fact that there is nothing
in the constitution which makes a
person incompetent to hold office be-
cause he deals in futures, and because
of Mr.. Cheathams efficiency and of
the fact that we believe the assaults
on Mr.. Cheatham came from the enc
mics of this association, we dismiss
the charges as unworthy of further
consideration, and denounce all the
charges made against Mr.. Cheatnam
except what is hereinbefore stated.
as false.
That in the future it shall consti-
tute an offense against this associa-
ton for any officer or member of the
executive committee or state officer
to in any way deal in futures, and any
one violating this shall be expelled
from office"
The report, which is signed by
committee composed of L. B. Irwin, E.
w. Smith, and L. E. Love, was adopt
ed by vote Of IL to 5.
A resolution presented by Walter
Clark, of Mississippi, instructing the
president of the association to confer
with counsel looking into an investi-
cation of the cotton exchanges of the
country and especially the New York
Cotton Exchange Gin order to deter
mine whether or not the system of
business employed in said exchanges,
and with especial reference to the New
York exchange, are not vioIative of
the federal laws and the laws of the
state where located" was adopted.
Texarkana, Ark, Sept. 8.-The third
day of the convention Of the National
Farmers Educational and Co-opera-
tive Union was perhaps the busiest.
Fridays session was taken up for
the most part in hearing the report of
the national executive committee. This
report shows the affairs of the organ
azation, financial and otherwise, to be
in excellent condition, also that the
books and accounts of all officers