Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-23
BROAD RIVER COTTON GROWERS
Mr.. Stewart Makes a Talk In Which
He Explains the Situation.

Correspondence OF the Yorkville ENQUIRER.
HICKORY GROVE, March 20.-The
Broad River Township Southern Cot
ton association held a called meeting
asst Saturday, 18th instant, at which
meeting county organizer, w. II. Stew
art was present and made an inter-
esting and instructive address to the
farmers The meeting was held In the
w. o. w. hall at Hickory Grove, and
Letween forty and fifty members OF the
association were present to hear the
address. There would have been a
much larger attendance If the meeting
could have been better advertised.
Those present seemed greatly interest
ed in Mr.. Stewards address, giving
him the closest attention throughout.
Mr.. Stewart manifests great enthusi-
asm in his work and seems to have
very clear insight into the conditions
which affect the farmers interests.
The writer is inexperienced In taking
notes and Mr.. Stewart is a rapid talk
er-so, only an imperfect outline or
some Of the main points II the address
can be given. The speaker began by
drawing a distinction between the cot
ton association and other associations
the membership In this organization
not being bound together by any for
NAL pledge, but simply by their sense
of honor in standing together Tor the
common good-it may be called the
Honor" association. Mr.. Stewart
strongly emphasized the importance OF
reducing the cotton acreage and OF
raising home supplies. He pointed out
the advantages to farmers in being or
ganized and begged them to stand by
the association. If II is an advantage
for men of other vocations to form
unions and associations, why should
not the cotton planter be profited
thereby? The war is on, and 1T be-
hooves the cotton planters to stand to
their colors If they would win out in
the fight. The opposing forces are ac-
tive and persistent In their efforts to
break down the cotton association.
The farmers are only asking for a
square DEAL" and this they have not
had in the past. There IS danger In
the farmers planting so much cotton
and neglecting to raise other crops. He
falls into the cotton habit which
leads to uncomfortable circumstances.
If you would be independent raise
your home supplies, is Mr.. Stewards
advice to the farmers. Raise supplies
for comfort-cotton for profit. If you
would raise cotton for profit, reduce the
farmer i'm a small cotton crop than In
large one. 1t costs 8 cents to raise
cotton. The crop of '04 was sold at
the average price of 9 cents pound,
giving a profit of SIS on the bale, and
a total profit of the entire crop of about
6S,000,000. The average price paid
for the crop of 1905 (Which may be
raised when the part of the crop with
held from the market is so.d) Is IL
cents, giving a profit of SIS on the bale,
assuming 8 cents a pound again as the
cost of production. This would give a
profit of about 155,OO0,OO0 on the crop
Of 1905, or more than twice as much
profit as the larger crop of 1904 pro-
duced. 1t is the profit from his produce
that the farmer wants and let them
stand together and increase this profit
if they can, from SIS to S35 bale.
Mr.. Stewart called for hand pri-
mary" to show how many of the far
merS present raised the six articles of
supplies-wheat, corn, oats. peas mo-
laSSeS and meat Only one farmer
raised his hand-Mr. w. S. Wilkerson.
Mr. Stewart said he was the second one
he had found, so far i'm the county.
He referred to the heavy drain on the
cotton crop-it costs $50,000,000 to sell
the crop and about the same amount
was lost to the south by gambling In
cotton futures. 1t is the duty of our
people to ask our national law-mak-
ers to pass stringent laws against
gambling on what we eat and wear
especially on grain and meat from the
northwest and cotton from the south.
Mr.. Stewart spoke of the coming of
the Spinners' committee from Man.
chester to confer with the farmers with
regard TO better arrangements for bal
ing and selling cotton to the manufac-
turers and expressed the hope that
good might come from this conference.
In conclusion, Mr.. Stewart asked for
the hearty cooperation of the different
organizations i'm forwarding the plans
for the attainment of the great objects
of the association. Mr.. j. E. Leech,
speaking for the Broad River associa-
ton. said that he would guarantee that
this association would do its full duty
along this line.
Many of the farmers present signed
the pledge with regard TO reduction of
cotton acreage and the raising Of sup
plies. and great interest was manifest
ed I'm this measure. S.