The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-11-29
SOUTHERN COTTON
GROWERS CONVENTION
Meet in New Orleans Saturday
and Pass Resolutions.
Will Hold 1900, 900 Bales Next
Year and Build Warehouses;
fleet at Memphis Next Year.
N. O. Item. Nov. "a.

N. o. Item, Nov. -.
As the result Of a convention of the
representatives of the various Farm
ers' Unions in the South. held at the
Commercial Hotel yesterday, it is said
the entire cotton market may undergo
a mighty change, 1t is commended that
the farmer will absolutely control cot
ton. something he has never done be-
fore.
Briefly outlined the convention re-
solved to:
absolutely control about IL 900, 600
bales of cotton next year.
'To hold this cotton for a minimum
price of Is cents.
$50 build warehouses in every por-
ton of the South and bond them.
$50 make warehouse receipts as
good as bank notes.
''To withdraw the deposits of farm
ers from banks which attempt to force
a foreclosure of cotton in order to
lower the price.
.'To hold one of the biggest rallies
of cotton farmers ever held in Mem
phis, Tenn, on January I, 1885,
This brief outline OF resolutions
adopted at the convention yesterday,
the cotton farmers believe, will absO-
lutely place cotton in their control,
instead of in the power Of banks and
brokers.
At 10 o'clock Yesterday morning
hfteen men gathered in the conven-
ton room of the Commercial Hotel at
a meeting presided over by Mr.. {. 5.
Barrett, president of the National
Union of Farmers. Those present at
the meeting represented the States OF
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Tennessee. Mississippi, Louisiana,
Texas and Oklahoma; in fact, they
we're the leading lights in the growth
of cotton.
The session lasted all day and at &
O'Clock last night j. w. Boyett, Jr.,
state secretary and treasurer of the
Louisiana Farmers Union said:
''The farmers hold the key to the
situation and will control the price of
cotton from o. on
He went on to state hat in the past
farmers had placed their crops IN
warehouses and had mortgaged the
crop to banks. In this way the banks
we're able in some cases to fOreclose
on the crop whenever they saw tit and
to control the price.
Under the new resolution as made
yesterday, he said, the farmer would
receive a warehouse receipt which
would be made good as a bank note
and that any banks. attempting to
effect a foreclosure would be black
listed. The farmers would withdraw
their deposits and the banks would
suffer in consequence.
! tive discussed the secret letters OF
Theodore HI. Price, said Mr.. Boyett,
Jr. ssMr. Price had a regular habit
of getting out secret letters to bank
orS dQQ DrOhefS ttliinS tuCtu W iolSC
conditions and lower the price. His
letters were acted upon and we suffer-
ed, but that will no occur again.
We will be in a position to Offset any
such efforts on his part
MIR. Barrett, National President was
even more enthusiastic over the idea
than was Mr.. Boyett. When seen at
the Commercial hotel last night.
1.-The action taken to-day will force
out of business every cotton exchange
and bucket shop. 1t will absolutely
place cotton in the control of the man
who grows it and that is the farmer.
For years the farmer did not know
his power until he suddenly awaken
ed.
when he did realize what he could
do by concerted action. he got busy,
with the result noted to-day. From
now on we will hold rallies in every
portion of the South which will lead
to>the big rally. to be held in Memphis
on January I, next. .