Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-11-15
URGED TO HOLD COTTON.
Commissioner Watson and Far.
mers Union Urge Holding
Cotton. President Long
Received Pledges.

Commissioner of Agriculture E.
J. Watson, who is the president cf
the Southern Cotton Congress, aid
ed by the president and secretary of
the Farmers Union, is doing his ut
most to induce the farmers of the
cotton belt to hold their cotton for
better prices.
Prof. G. F. Long, the president
of the County Farmers Union, has
received letter from Mr.. Watson,
also one from President Dabbs of
the State Farmers Union, urging
him to induce as many farmers as
possible to sign a pledge to hold
their cotton for 1s cents. Prof.
Long came to Edgefeld Saturday
and left the pledge blanks with Mr..
w. B. Cogburn, the clerk of court,
as requested. He also called at The
Advertiser Office and discussed the
situation with the writer.
The following is a copy of the
letter which Prof. Long received
from Commissioner Watson:
Following the action of mass
meeting of South Carolina farmers,
would urge upon you to take imme-
diate steps to push with all the vigor
you possess, in every township and
county in your state, the holding
movement on following lines, SINH
lar request being made of State Far
mers' Union President your state:
| Open books at each county seat for
signatures of farmers to pledge to
hold stated number of bales until
September l, 1919, or until the
price has reached l3 cents; prose-
cr.te vigorous campaign in each
township for holding cotton and
getting pledges; get also pledges to
reduce cotton acreage for 1912 to
not exceeding go per cent of arabic
land held; get reports each day as
to pledges fled and publish names
of signers with number of bales
pledged. Call for not less than Q;
cents per bale from growers holding
cotton, to be sent Immediately to
Secretary-Treasurer of State Union,
to defray expenses of quick CAM
paign for pledges, publishing ref
GENTS 6aily. This plan is already
under way in South Carolina and
quick and effective retirement of
cotton seems assured. 1t is abso-
lutely necessary to bring the indi-
vidual producer into line right now
if millions of dollars are to be saw
ed to the Cotton Belt. bPlans for, the
future can be agreed upon later, but
feasible quick campaign of this
kind pushed simultaneously in all
our states can, and will, effectively
stem the present disastrous tide in
this critical moment. Iimost earnest
|ly appeal to your patriotism in the
name of the masses of southern peo-
pie to act upon this matter and act
quickly. Am arranging for whirl-
wind campaign through Belt in
holding cause for Senator Smith,
President Barrett and other mem:
bers of National Committee created
at Montgomery. Kindly wire me
Immediately if in behalf of every
material interest in the south you
NAV be relied upon to take the
speedy action invoked.
E. J. Watson,
President Southern Cotton Congress,
Approved:
E. W. Dabbs, President State Far.
mers's Union.
IJ. Whitner Reid, Secretary-Treasur
er State Farmers Union.
All farmers who fare disposed to
give their support to the cotton
holding movement are requested to
call at Mr.. Cogburn's office and
sign the pledge.
| Fresh shipment of Leverings