Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-07-24
THE COTTON GROWERS PIoNIo.
Large Attendance and Good Behavior
Speeches by Smith and Weston.

4 Speeches by Smith and Weston.
On last Friday, the IL eth instant,
there was a representative gathering
OF all classes of citizens of Oconee
county at Richland in attendance on
the picnic given under the auspices
of the Oconee County Cotton Associa-
tion, and to hear the speeches OF the
Hon. Francis HI. Weston, secretary
and the Hon. e, D. Smith, president,
of the South Carolina Division of the
Southern Cotton Association.
/ the day was an ideal one for such
a gathering, and the place one of the
most beautiful shady groves to be
found. The crowd was estimated at
about three thousand persons, all OF
whom gave the best attention to the
speakers. A large stand had been
erected on the north side of the Rich
land Academy building, and seats for
the audience arranged under the wide
spreading oaks in front.
j. Paul Stribling, president of the
Oconee County Cotton Association,
pres.ued, and introduced the speakers
In most happy manner. He is one
or Oconee's most successful farmers
and a public spirited citizen. He
never does things by halves, and the
success of the occasion was lar gely
due to his untiring efforts.
The hospitality of the people of
the -Achiand community has long
been proverbial, and this occasion
was no exception to the rule. Several
long tables were spread for the din
ner hour, and the vast crowd ate
plentifully, and an abundance re-
mained. Everybody was in the best
of humor, and, remarkable to state,
there was not the least evidence of
drinking or rowdyism anywhere.
In point Of order 1t would have done
credit to d Sunday gathering.
The Speeches
The first speaker was Hon. Francis
H. Weston, who spoke for forty-five
minutes, giving clear and lucid ac-
count of the work of the Southern
Cotton Association since its organiza-
tion. He showed how it had brought
about an advance in the price Of cot
ton and maintained the stability of
prices practically for the last two
years. The days of extreme fiuctua-
tions Of prices have passed, and this
result has been brought about by the
association. He stressed the import
ance Of organization. 1t behooves
every farmer, as well as the business
and professional men, to lend their
influence and support, since the sue
cess of the association and the main
tenance of fair price for cotton
means the welfare and prosperity of
the South. Cotton is the one crop of
which the South has O monopoly. ard
there Is no valid reason why the pro-
ducer should not be consulted in
fixing the price of his product This
has, In a large measure, been done
for the past two years by the South
ern Cotton Association, and its in
iuence will be more potent in the
future. 1t Is the only channel throug gh
which the voice of the producer can
be heard. Heretofore the prices have
been fixed by the spectators and con-
sumers oftherraw material in foreign
States and countries. For years he
had been impressed with the unbusi-
ness-like method in which the South
handled and marketed it's cotton.
Being thus impressed, after mature
study, he had given himself to the
work of the association, believing
that 1t was, and is now, the only prac-
ticable solution Of the problem In
accordance with its suggestion, ware
houses have been built and are being
built, In nearly every one of the eight
hundred counties of the South I'm
which cotton is grown BY the use
of this method of storing and holding
cotton the producer can borrow his
money for the liquidation of debts
That are pressing, and the cotton can
be sold gradually from time to time,
SO that there will be no depression of
prices. He gave plain, business
talk, and held the close attention OF
all present. He is engaged in impor-
tant work, and 1t speaks well for the
cause when man of Mr.. Weston's
standing and attainments gives him
self to Its promotion. 1t was his first
appearance before an Oconee audi
ence, and he made many friends for
the ASSOCIATION and himself by the