The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-12-11
Farmers Educational
-AND-
Cooperative Union
Of America
A COTTON COMMITTEE.
Which Is Seeking Cooperation Among
All the Associations.

J. NJ. Pearson, OF Memphis, who IS
ton between all the cotton growers
associations, and says he is a memkar
of both the Southern Association and
the Farmers Union, said recently that
he had secured the passage of a
resolution through both the Memphis
and New Orleans Conventions looking
to the creation Of a national cotton
committee, whose purpose is outlined
in the following resolution and re-
port of the Committee:
Moved, That a permanent commit
tee of three be appointed by the
Chair, having power to fill vacancies
therein, whose duties shall be to pro-
cure all available State, organization
and individual aid that they can ap-
prove, for the purposes below stated,
and at their discretion to merge with
similar committees from other organ
iZations.
They shall establish headquarters
and adopt such form of organization
and such rules as may be required
to canvass each cotton-growing coun-
ty in this country.
They shall procure pledges from
the cotton farmer that they will pro-
duce sufficient food and feed or
something other than cotton to eX-
change for these necessities, publish
ing their names in their respective
counties. or otherwise, as they deem
best.
They shall procure all possible aid
from the State and national agricul-
tural institutions to aid our people in
correctly and profitably utilizing every
unit of human energy in the South.
They shall collect and disseminate
available information and statistics
that will further and protect our cot
ton interests, on which depends our
social and economic welfare.
They shall encourage the dealing
in spot cotton instead of future con-
tracts, if for no other reason than
because low rates of interest, insur-
ance and warehousing will enable the
purchaser to carry approximately so
much spot cotton as future contracts,
thereby stimulating instead of de-
pressing the price of spot cotton.
They shall from time to time rec
Ommend to cotton growers such con-
cert of action as in their opinions
will result in the common good.
This Committee of Three shall
submit to this meeting plans for max
ing this work effective
The report is as follows:
We, Your Committee appointed to
perfect an organization for the pur-
pose of procuring pledges and other
matters pertaining to cotton interests,
as well as plans for making this work
effective, submit the following report
and suggestions related to this work:
1t is apparent that financial sup
port to carry forward this work is
Immediately necessary. We are con-
vinced that if this matter is properly
brought before our people there will
be true loyal sons of the South who
will consider it pleasure and priv
ilege to thus aid in this vital under
taking.
Therefore, we recommend that those
present at this meeting are hereby
requested to make such liberal con-
tributions to this cause that it will be
a credit to this meeting and an ex-
ample worthy Of being followed.
The press of the South is hereby
requested to lend their valuable serv-
ices in giving publicity to these needs.
Each paper in the South is urged
to at once institute a campaign to
raise money to sustain this movement.
We also recommend the Chair appoint
CUlllullltSS VI llklSS llOlu SdCu COllOll
State to act with and under instruc-
tons from this Committee to solicit
aid and otherwise develop in SYM
pathy with this task.
We also request our Board of Di-
rectors to aid this work with such
financial support as may be available
or needed to insure the efficiency of
this important campaign.
Mr.. Pearsons said that the Farm.
ers' Union had appointed a committee
of three, consisting of himself, W.
T. Loudermilk, of Texas, and T. T.
Wakefield, of South Carolina, and the
Cotton Association in Memphis had
also appointed committee of three,
of which he was Chairman
Under the authority Of the resolu-
tons he had merged both committees
and they would now appeal to the
farmers and others for funds with
which to carry on the work outlined