The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1908-03-12
Letter from President Clark.
o the People of Mississippi;

] the Southern Cotton Association
came out in glaring headlines ths
: I had started the ball that cam
near rolling the Association Int
disorganization."
The Associated Press report c
this meeting, which was in tn
main correct. did not justify an
such headlines. It was quite tru
that in declining to accept the nom
ination for President, suggested
that, in view of the direct opposi
tion to the Association from man,
| directly interested sources, and es
pecially the Farmers Union ii
some of the States. and the failur,
to support the Association 6nau
cially, it was in my opinion the
best for all of us that we temper.
arily retire from the field. =
This advice was unanimously re-
jected, and I was soundly abused
by some of those present for max
ing any such suggestion. It was
pointed out that hundreds of our
most loyal supporters had not sold
single bale of their cotton, and
It was our duty to stand by these
nen'to the last ditch. This, after
a thorough discussion. we unani-
mously decided to do. and We all
parted with the determination to
put forth our best efforts for sue
cess.
have always opposed the fixing
of any minimum prize above the
ten cent "deadline;" and the If
teen cent minimum fixed was a
mos; grievous mistake, and has
worked great hardship on a great
number of people; 1t has. however,
undoubtedly helped a great many
people who were least deserving,
to dispose of their cotton at much
greater price than they would 9TH
erwise have heen able to obtain.
The price of cotton will very
shortly he governed by the area
planted. and If the acreage is not
materially reduced from last year.
a slump is inevitable; and if We
grow twelve million bale crop
this year, predict eight cent cot
ton for October; and if fourteen
million bale cropis grown. look out
for a repetition of Ieo4-5.
With the army ofthe unemploy-
ed growing daily, aud the mills
production, consumption
will be materially decreased. and it |
is to be hoped that the farmers will
take a sane view of the situation,
and at least grow their own food |
crops
I have repeated pointed out that
the pc eaple Of Mississippi spend an
nuallv foI food crops at least one
third of the proceeds of the cotton
crop; and if they persist in doing
this under present conditions of
high priced grainand hay. and with
a greater abundance of farm labor
than we have9had for six or eight
J ears. ruin and disaster are newt
able.
I have, in the past few weeks,
met several large farmers who told
me that they were not going to
grow anything but cotton. and it
was the little fellows place to re-
1uce his cotton acreage, and the
little farmer says he can buy with
the cotton he grows on one acre
more corn than he can grow on
four acres; and foreseeing what
must happen if this policy is to be
continued, I preferred very much
to get out of the road, and not get
run over.
A most vigorous campaign should
be carried on now in every county
Of Mississippi to prevent this poll
~; and while I am perfectly willing
10 do what l can without compen-
sation. ! simply cannot give my
time to this work and continue to
pay the expenses myself.
Mr.. P. K. Whitney, the Finan-
,ial Agent, Is now in the field; and
It is for you to say whether you
wish the work continued.
I have at times felt that it was
necessary to have a repetition Of
Ioo4-5 to bring our people to their
senses; and I feel, and know, that
# the Southern Cotton Association
and the Farmers Union would