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

gathered III the court mousse oat-
urday morning to discuss matters
pertaining to the weighing of cot
ton at Edgefield.
The meeting was organized by
the election OF Mr.. ?. w. Cheat
ham 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
legis lature. Soon after the meeting
was called to order, Hon. B. E.
Nicholson, who is a member of
Edge6eld's 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 3 law was en-
acted providing for the election
of cotton weigher in some of the
counties of The etate, but did not
include Edgeield and abOat
dozen other counties. Later this
law was repealed and another en-
acted which included Edgeheld,
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 ~Edgefield, was re-
enacted, making no provision for
the election of cotton weigher In
this and possibly a dozen other
counties. Thus it is seen that in
advertently Edgefeld was taken
from under the cotton weigher's
act.
The caption of the bill intro.
duced by the Lexington delega-
ton indicated that it was al
together local measure, relating
only to the people of Lexington
l.ea,,ntxs:-ter this reason the mat. T:
Estanding how this confusion arose
fno one blames or censures any
member of the Edgefeld 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, bnt was made possible by a
change in the law several years
ago allo wing cotton stored in pub
lie warehouses to be weighed by
Fthe warehouse-men instead of by
the public cotton weigher- Ard,
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 resolu-
stion: 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
jail cotton sold to or stored with
them. Provided that the cotton
stored be weighed by the cotton
weigher at the warehouse.
End. That committee of three
be appointed by the chairman to
confer with the cotton buyers
aud warehouse,-men at Edgefeld
at once, and ascertain whether
they will comply with the fore
going resolution.
Mr.. w w Adams, repre- senting
W " Adams & Co., and Mr.. \ E
Padgett, 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
welgher, being personally his
friend, but that cotton on the pub
lic platform was exposed to the
not sun and raln,. also liable to be
burned. Furthermore, they fire.
luently could not sell the cot
:on Immediately after purcbas-
ng is,and:the railroad objected to
laslng it remain OH the platform,
'xen if there were; room; where
IS, with the cotton in their ware
louses. they could sell at their
convenience.
The resolutions were discussed
y j VIM. Thurmond, Esq, Mr..
A Cochran, o Shepl ,ard, Esq
nd others.
At Mr.. Sheppard's suggest ion
ne 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 by|
rising vote, and the chairman
ppointed Hon. B E Nicholson,
Y r SweariDgen and w F Vance 7
8 committee to confer with the !;
otton Buyers. Finding the buy-It +
rs unwilling to comply with the q
,rms of the resolution for the +
l.-l /