Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-09-30
MASS MEETING.
Mr. E. ]. Norris Employed to
Buy Cotton by a Committee
Representing the Farmers.

In response 10 tne Call VI Mt.
T. P. Morgan large number OF
representative farmers and many |
Of the business men of our town
gathered iii the court house Sat-
urday morning to discuss matters
pertaining to the weighing of cot
ton st Edgefield.
The meeting was organized by
the election of Mr.. P. w. Cheat
bam chairman and Mr. S. B.
Nicholson secretary. As has been
stated before, the law providing
for the election of cotton welgher
at Edge6eld was practically re-
pealed at the last session of the
legislature. Soon after the meeting
was called to order, Hon. B. E.
Nicholson, who is member of
Edge6el delegation to the Gen
eral Assembly, explained in de-
tail and at length now the repeal
of the law came about. Stated
briefly, it occurred as follows:
Several years ago law was en-
acted providing for the election
of cotton weigher in some of the
counties of the state, but did not
include Edgefeld and aboat a
dozen other counties. Later this
Flaw was repealed and another en-
acted which included Edgefeld,
hut did not include lexington.
At the last session of the legisla-
ture the Lexington delegation de-
ssired to have their county in
eluded in the cotton weigher's act
but instead of amending the ex-
listing law, the old law, which did
not include ~Edgefeld, was re-
enacted, makiag no provision for
the election of cotton weighe. in
this and possibly a dozen other
counties. Thus~it is seen that in
advertently Edgefeld was taken
i from under the cotton weigher's
act.
The ca ption of the bill intro
duced by the Lexington delega'
.Etion indicated that it was al
together a local measure, relating
only to the people of Lexington
! conn y.fsr tais reason the mat
Estanding how this confusion arose
!. Eno one blames or censures any
member of the Edge6eld delega.
tion for the action of the legisla.
|ture.
| However, as Mr.. Nicholson
stated, the condition that exists
In Edgefeld as to weighing cotton
did not arise from a repeal of the
law, bat was made possible by a
change in the law several years
ago allowing cotton stored in pub
lie warehouses to be weighed by
Fthe warehouse-men instead of by
the public cotton weigher. And,
primarily, the meeting was called
to discuss this phase of the situa-
ton, and to effect a change if
possible.
After Mr.. Nicholson had
satisfactorily explained the
change in the law, Mr.. R A Coch-
ran offered the following resclu-
ton: Be it resolved:
1st. 1t is the sense of the far
mers who market their cotton at
Edgefeld, in convention assem-
bled, that the cotton buyers and
warehouse-men at Edgefeld, have
the elected Cotton Weigher weigh
|all cotton sold to or stored with
them. Provided that the cotton
stored be weighed by the cotton
weigher at the warehouse.
End. That a committee of three
be appointed by the chairman to
confer with the cotton buyers
dwarehouse,-men at Edgefeld
at once, and ascertain whether
they will comply with the fore
going resolution.
Mr.. w W Adams, repre senting
W W Adams & Co., and Mr.. 4 E
iPadgett, + representing the Edge
field Mercantile Company, made
statements at length setting, forth
their reasons tor having the cot
ton they purchased weighed at
their warehouses Both of these
gentlemen stated that they raised
no objection to. Mr.. Morgan as
weigher, being personally his
TREND, but that cotton on the pub
lc platform was exposed to the
1ot sun and RAIN, also liable to be
burned. Furthermore, they fire.
luently could not sell the cot
on Immediately after purchas-
ng is,and:the railroad objected to
lashng it remain OIL the platform,
wen if there were room; where
8, with the cotton in their ware
'ouses. they could sell at their
Convenience.
The resolutions were discussed
y ) VIM. Thurmond, Esq, Mr..
a Cochran, O Shepr ,ard, Esq
nd others.
at Mr.. Sheppard's suggest ion
ae foregoing resolution was
mended by adding the sentence
roviding for the public weigher
, weigh the cotton at the ware
ouse that was stored.
The resolution was adopted byl'
rising vote, and the chairman
ppointed Hon. 3 E Nicholson,
Y + SweariDgen and w F Vance /,
8 committee to confer with theI