The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-11-07
CAMPAIGN TO HOLD COTTON.
Yhis Movement Inaugurated Through.
out SOuth-WOrk of Farmers
Union.

Union.
"To secure 13 cents a pound for
cotton.
'tTo open books in every county IN
the cotton belt to secure pledges from
farmers to hold cotton.
t'To reduce cotton acreage for 1912
to not exceeding 60 per cent. Of ara
BILE land held.
"To publish daily the names Of
those who intend to hold their cotton
for higher price"
These are the features Of the cam
paign for holding cotton with a view
to relieving the present unsatisfac-
tory condition that was launched
throuhout the States of the cotton belt
Friday by the South Carolina State
Farmers union. The plan was adopt
ed at a meeting of the Farmers I'M
ion and business men held in Co.
lumbia Thursday night, and was con-
tanned in a, telegram addressed to the
commissioners of agriculture and pre-
sidents of the State unions Of the
South. The telegram was signed by
Commissioner Watson as president of
the cotton congress Of the South and
E. W. Dabbs, president of the State
Farmers union.
Plan Proposed.
The following is the telegram sent
out yesterday: "FolloWing action of
mass meeting, South Carolina farm
ers would urge you to take immediate
steps to push with all Tigor you pos
sess, il every township and county,
your State the holding movement on
following lines, similar request being
made of State Farmers union presi-
dent, your State. Spen books each
county seat for signature of farmers
to pledge to hold stated number bales
until September /, 1912, or until the
price has reached 13 cents; prosecute
vigorous campaign each township tor
holding cotton and getting pledges;
get also pledges to reduce cotton acre.
age for 1912 to not exceeding 10 per
cent. of arabic land held; for reports
each day as to pledges filed and pub
lish names Of signers with number OF
bales pledged. Call for not less than
two cents per bale from growers hold
ing cotton to be sent Immediately to
secretary-treasurer State union, to
defray expenses quick campaign for
pledges, publishing receipts daily. This
plan already under way in South Car
olina and quick and effective retire.
ment Of cotton seems assured. It is
absolutely necessary 20 bring the in
diyidual producer into line right now
if millions Of dollars are to be saved
to the cotton belt, Plans for the fu-
ture can be agreed upon later, but a
feasible quick campaign Of this kind
pushed simultaneously in all our
States can and will effectively stem
the,present disastrous tide in this crit
ical moment. I most earnestly appeal
to your patriotism in the name Of the
masses of Southern people to act upon
this matter and act quickly. Am ar
ranging for whirlwind campaign
through belt in holding cause for Sen
ator Smith, President Barrett and 9TH
er members of national committee
created at Montgomery. Kindly wire
me Immediately if in. behalf of every
material interest in the South you
may be relied upon to take the speedy
action invoked.''
Cotton Pledge.
The following is the cotton pledge:
"State of South Carolina, County of
We, the undersigned, own
ers of cotton Of the 1901 crop, here
by pledge ourselves to withhold from
the market the number of bales enter
ed opposite our respective names un-
til September 1, 1872, or until the
price of cotton has reached 13 cents,
and we do severally solemnly declare
that we will regard this pledge as sac
red.
eve further agree not to plant, for
the crop of 1912, more than 80 per
cent. Of our arabic lands in cotton.
eve hereby agree to forward to j.
Whitner Reid, secretary-treasurer,
State Farmers union, Columbia, S. c.,
by postal money order two cents per
bale for the cotton held, to defray ex-
,e,coe of tho holding camDaigQ.