The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-10-04
HIGHER PRICES
State Cotton Convection T,kes Ac.icn
Locking, to That E d.
WILL CANVASS The STATE

WILL GANsA9S snL 1lAEE
Farmers. Bankers. Merchants and
Other Business Men of State At.
tend Meeting, Discuss the Situation
Generally and Formulate Plans to
Aid Cotton Sellers.
The State cotton convention, call
ed by E. j. Watson and E. w. Dabbs,
president OF the State Far:ters' un-
ion. in response to the action of the
Southern Cotton congress, recently
held at Montgomery, Ala, was held
ir Columbia Thursday in the hall Of
the House OF Representatives. It was
one Of the most largely attended con-
vent;ons ever held in the hall, and
the personne! was such as 70 cause
many to remark that seldom had
there been seen gathered together for
conference a more representative
body.
The convention was composed of
Farmers union men, farmers, mer-
chants, bankers, and business and
professional men from all parts of the
State and throughout the proceed
ings there was perfect harmony Of
thought and action and unity of
purpose was manifested with q de-
gree Of determination indicating the
character of the fight that the people
Of this State propose to MAKE
throughout for higher price for
cotton.
The action Of the convention in the
end provided machinery extending in
to the vigorous prosecution of the
holding, warehousing and financing
movements, with the object in view
of causing a, substantial cessation Q.
the rush of cotton to market.
Action was taken on almost every
phase of the cotton situation and
considerable work was cut out for
this States representatives in con-
gress to undertake. Along this line
the plain intimation was given by the
convention that the time had come
for some kind of national legislation
to be insisted upon in regard to the
marketing of the cotton crop. now
representing nearly 1,000,000,O00-
In calling the convention 10 order
Commissioner Watson, who is also
the president of the Southern Cotton
congress and a mem Der of the nat
ional cotton campaign committee,
along with President Barrett Of the
National Farmers union and Con-
gresham Hefin Of Alabama, declar-
ed that he was glad the hour had
come in South Carolina when the pro-
ducer, the business interests and the
banking interests Of the State could
meet to discuss situation involving
the welfare of every material inter
est in the State and indeed the very
life-blood Of every man, woman and
child in South Carolina.
He said that the hour had arrived
at last for Intelligence to hold sway,
for the thinking men of the South to
realize the value Of their cotton. He
felt thankful to the bears that they
had hammered cotton down to 10
cents in the face Of this convection
for. perhaps 10 cents cotton would
stiffen the backbone of some people
why, if cotton were above 10 cents,
were likely 10 rush it on the market.
The conference was convened in
the hall OF the house Of representa-
tives at $50 o'clock The meeting
was called to order by +. J. Watson
commissioner of agriculture. J. Whit
ner Reid was named as secretary.
Following the roll call of the dele
gates present a permanent organiza-
ton was perfected and Commissioner
Watson was named as president.
Mr.. Barrett had asked him to say
to the convention that negotiations
were under way but had not yet been
concluded, that he hoped, however,
they would be completed at an early
day. a message from Mr. Barrett
was also conveyed to the effect that
tkere was every Indication of reac-
ton in New York almost immediate
" in the rice Of cotton, and he urg-
ed the convention to do everything in
it's power to hold every possible bale
of cotton OF the market.
Commissioner Watson further an
nounced that the national committee
members had about determined upon
whiTlwind campaign through the
cotton belt with a series Of monster
meetings and that United States Sen
ator Smith of this State and United
States Senator John Sharp Williams
of Mississippi had been requested tc
take part IN this campaign. This Will
give five men, posted on cotton, tc
conduct the meetings, the committee
men being AIessrs. Barrett, Hefin anc
Watson.
Mr.. Hef!n in his remarks at the
opening Of the night meeting pre-
sented number Of essential TACT:
bearing upon the marketing and han
ding OF the cotton crop.
Committees On resolutions, com
posed OF one member from each con
gressional district, was appointed a.
follows: ". Mel. Frompton, K. VI
N!xson, Alan Johnstone, y. P. Good
win, ". P. Pollock, Douglas Mcln
tyre. E. W. Dabbs, chairman.
There were calls for United state
Senator E. D. Smith and in yer!
few moments Commissioner Watson
referring TO Senator Smiths work l.
behalf of cotton in the n1ovemen
that carried the price to 10 cents
presented Cotton Smith to his peo
"a 49, ro,;fa~onc chaeriOp o