The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-22
New Plan Adopted

The executive committee of the Southern Cotton congress adjourned tonight after deciding upon a plan to secure a re- duction in the cotton acreage of the seuth to the extent of 25 per cent next year and taking steps to secure the uniform operation of the plan in all the cotton growing states.
 The plan adopted is modification of the so. called Rock Hill plan, which was proposed 10 the committee by J. e. Anderson of Rockhill, $. C., and provides for securing signed pledges from farmers through state and county organizations. In the "declara- tion" adopted 1t is specifically stated that the organization does not wish to do anything which may be in viola tion of the sherman antitrust law.
 The state organizations are to cali upon bankers and business men to as- sist the farmers in securing sufficient organization expenses. Each state or ganization, headed by a superintendent, is to appoint committees in each coun- ty and in turn township committees are to be organized. Paid canvassers are to be employed to secure the sig natures of the farmers to pledges to curtail acreage. The form of pledge used by the Farmers union was ap- proved and adopted as the form to be employed in this work.
 The reports on acreage reduction from the various state superintendents are to be filed with F. J. Watson, pres ident of the congress, at Columbia, S, C., by March l, 1912, and after the figures are compiled they will be pub lished throughout the south.
 Farmers Rallies
 ,The committee recommended that farmers rallies intended to aid in this haI on oh next at every school house in the cotton belt. to be followed on January 27 by county rallies at the various county seats.
 Already it was stated, state and county organizations are actively at work in Texas, Alabama and Missis- sippi to secure a reduction in cotton acreage and great success was report ed by the delegates from these states.
 R. D. Bowen of Paris, Tex, directed attention to report published in the Farmers Union Journal at Arlington, Tex over the signature of officers of the Texas state union, charging that the figures on which the federal agri- cultural department bases it's estimate of the cotton crop are distorted, to the great injury of the cotton plant CTS. This statement charged that l. S5O000 bales of cotton are virtually counted twice by the government in making up the estimate of the prob able size of the seasons crop.
 Governor Noel of Mississippi sug gested that this was a very serious charge and should be immediately brought to the attention of Secretary Wilson at Washington.
 V G. R. Hightower of Jack son, Miss, addressed the committee, after the con- lclusion of its regular work, regarding an entirely new cotton holding plan, which he stated Mississippi was will ing to enter upon at any time if joined by the other cotton growing states
 It was estimated by the representa- lives present that about 25 per cent of the present cotton crop is being sheld by the farmers for higher prices The executive committee will meet again on March 20 at some place tc be designated by President Watson Today's meeting was presided over by Capt. R. F. Kolb, Alabama's commis- ssioner of agriculture.