Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-12-02
THE MASS MEETING.
Plans and Resolutions Submitted
County Union Meeting at Cot
tonwood.

County Union Meeting at Cot
tonwood.
A meeting which held within it the
possibility of much good to all the
varied interests of this section, oc-
CURED in the courthouse here yester-
day afternoon at o'clock.
The meeting was attended by few
of the business men of Bryan as well
as the farmers.
President W. L. Edge of the Brazos
County Farmers Union outlined the
purpose for which the melting was
called. In this outline was also ex-
pressed the sentiment Of the presi-
dent in the matter Of better county
roads, and recommendation that the
state convicts be employed in this
character of work. 7 He suggested
THAI bill be presented for passage
at thu approaching session of the leg
islatc.e with this object in view.
At the conclusion of the presidents
remarks, Mr.. J. II. White was in
vited to address the meeting. The
object of the meeting, as heretofore
stated in these columns, was to sug-
gest some means whereby a higher
price could be realized for cotton
which the farmer raised, and, in fact,
to formulate plans looking to the adj
vancement of all concerned. Mr.
White realized that something had
to be done to obtain better price
for cotton, or else all business in the
south would suffer 1--WE are rails
ing cotton today and selling it for
less than four cents a pound. com
pairing the prices paid for articles
purchased at this time with the price
charged for the same articles some
years ago when the price of cotton
was only four to five cents. How
shall we devise way to increase the
: price of cotton? He had studied
four years this question. Mr.. Brit
tain of Galveston had said at New
Orleans that if fair price was paid
for cotton, the farmers would con-
sumo 100000 bales in manufactur-
I ed products, while at present $4,000
600 bale crop estimate puts the price
down. Mr.. White stated that the
Farmers Union was based upon equal
ity, Justice, and the golden rule.
The crop mortgage and consequent
inability to hold cotton when pressed
for payment was discussed, and a
means of buying for cash suggested.
This, il made to go, will releave the
market of distress cotton. Mr.White
would do away with the credit sys-
TEN as at present employed. His
plan. briefly stated is, to arrange for
a loan from a farmer who has the
money, or with a banker, securing
the banker just as the merchant is
now secured. If 500 is needed to
make the crop, or more than this
amount. arrange 10 borrow say 500
for one year. payable on or before at
s per cent On the first day of Feb
ruary draw s25, which is to be re-
paid on October /. On April !, draw
$50. returnable January l, of the year
to come. on July draw the final S29
of the first loan. if it is needed, which
would be payable March !. 1t is I'M
derstood that these various amounts
are all payable on or before. in
Mr.. Whites opinion the farmer would
save sufficiently in the purchase Of
necessities to more than pay the in
terest demanded by the bank or the
! private lender. 1t should be stated
here that Mr.. Whites plan intends
for the farmer to live at home first
and the money is to be employed IN
procuring necessities and paying for