The Port Gibson reveille., 1908-01-16

ths Mississippi Division Of the South
eTn Cotton Association, sends out the
following cali for the annual meeting
of this organization to be held N
Jackson, Wednesday, February 5th.
AL parties who are interested IN the
development of Agriculture, whether
members Of the Association or not,
are invited to attend this meeting
and identify themselves with the As
sociation. Tt is deserving of the great
est consideration at the hands of the
people Of Mississippi. The call is
Is follows:
"The last Annual Convention Of
the Mississippi Division Of the South
srn Cotton Association was held in
Jackson on the second day of last
January. There was a great complaint
among the farmers on account Of
these meetings coming at the begin
ming Of the year, and general de-
mand made for holding them later.
Complying with this request, the
Executive Committee has named Feb
ruary 9Th for the Annual State meet
ings; and by the authority vested in
me as president of the Mississippi
Division of the Southern Cotton As
Sociation, I hereby call upon the va
rious county organizations to meet at
their respective places of meeting on
Wednesday, January 22nd, at
10 O'Clock a. m. Cor the purpose OF
reorganization, and the election Of
delegates to the state convention,
which is hereby called TO meet in the
city of Jackson, at 10 O'Clock a. M,
on Wednesday, February the 5th.
"The purpose of this convention
is the election of all the state Officers
and the outlining of the work for
the ensuing year.
"There has been much of lethargy
in some of the counties; and in fact,
many of our organizations have been
absorbed by the Farmers Union:
While not depreciating the work Of
this great organization, feel that
there is room in Mississippi for both,
and I urge upon the people in every
county of Mississippi the Importance
of maintaining both of these organi-
cations.
The primary object of the South
ern Cotton Association is for the pur-
pose of maintaining the price of cot
ton; and since Its organization, the
price of cotton has exceeded our wild
est hopes and that there is no further
need for it; but if | have learned
anything whatever in the past three
years about cotton and the necessity
for organization, think you will find
before the end of the next twelve
months, a greater need than ever be-
fore, and l sincerely trust that you
will re-organize your local divisions,
and send your delegates to Jackson,
to help us in our efforts.
"Under our Constitution and By
Laws, copies Of which may be had by
writing Miss Louise {. Crane, sec
retary, Jackson, Miss, any and all
citizens, of whatever calling, desiring
to cooperate with us, are eligible to
membership"
The state meeting of the Farmers
Union held at Jackson, January End,
3rd and 4th has passed into history.
This marks the Second Milestone Of
this great organization, the first Ineet-
ing taking a little less than two years
ago. It is by far the m1st powerful
of the agricultural Nsoeieties which
have grown in the country during the
past forty years ana promises the
greatest good to its members.
Many were the comments heard Of
q favorable nature upon the excel
lent personnel of the body which met
at jackson, being composed of intel
ligent and conSecrated men who had
the best interests of the people at
heart. The deliberations were Of an
order that stamped the members is
fully capacitated to care for their
own affairs without the interference
or aid of outside forces. The pro-
ceedings were harmonious on the
whole and there were no discussions
that forebode i'll for the future sue
cess Of the organization.
The growth of the Farmers Union
in Mississippi has been nothing
short of phenomenal Less than two
years ago the State Union was form
ed, when the total membership was
less than five thousand. A year la
ter this number had increased to ap-
proximately thirty thousand and to-
day there are fully seventy thousand
affiliations in the state. The cam
paign has been launched to make it
near one hundred and fifty thousand
when the next annual meeting is call
ed to order. The movement to estab-
ish warehouses for storing cotton
was begun this year and thirty have
been provided. This good work viii
be prosecuted during the present year