The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-11-02
HOLD YOUR COTTON
REDUCE THE ACREAGE
GOVERNORS PLAN FOR RELIEF OF THE
SOUTHERN FARMERS
TO PLANT LESS NEXT YEAR
Keep Cnsold Portion of Present
Crop OFF the Market. State Ware
house System Recommended

house System Recommended.
New Orleans, Oct. 81. - The
farmers OF the South :4ust withhold
from the market every remaining
bale of the present seasons crop of
cotton and follow this with a con-
certed and binding agreement to
reduce next seasons cotton acre
age at least % per cent, if they
nope to restore the South's great
money staple to normal price lev
el and retrieve the losses sustained
by reason of present low prices.
This is the plan which the Con-
terence of Southern Governors
adopted at its concluding session to-
day, 10 secure immediate relief
from the depression in the price of
the staple.
Live ut Home-Cotton as Surplus.
We earnestly recommend to the
planters of the Southern States to
follow the example of Louisiana
and SO diversity their crops as to
produce everything necessary fol
consumption on the farm and let
cotton be the surplus crop, even if
the quantity raised shall be twenty
I'VE per cent. less than the present
crop, as then they will get lust as
much in return for much less labor
than this years crop will yield at
present prices. They will soon free
themselves from debt and be in
condition without financial aid to
sell gradually as the demand shall
exist and not market the work of a
year in 60 or 80 days as they have
been accustomed to doing.
orge Consumption Figures.
We call upon our Representa-
tlVes in Congress to have the pres
4 ent crop reporting system so amend
ed as to require the periodical pub
ncatlon of reliable statistics of cot
ton consumption and trade informa-
ton, gathered from all cotton con-
sumlng countries and we recon-
mend, also, and for ourselves agree
4 that the commissioners of agricul-
] ture in the cotton States gather and
: publish like information and we
\ suggest TO the legislatures of the
i coLton states to adopt to this end,
any uniform legislation enabling
the agricultural commissioners to
4 act in concert and to constitute a
bureau of cotton manufactured. cot
ton trade, and cotton consuming in
formation, 10 the end that, with the
estimates of production which are
now furnished by the Federal Gov
ernment, there may also be estimat-
eS OF demand and thus put the
PLANTER in position to fix a fair
price for his products.
Prosecute Bears. Also.
The members of the conference
nave been reliably informed that
bulls on the cotton exchanges have
been indicted in the United States
Courts under the sherman Act for
conspring to buy cotton and ad-
vance the price, and if this is in
accordance with the provisions of
this Act then we respectfully in
sist that the bears in the exchanges
who conspire to sell cotton, which
they do not possess, with the eX-
pectation of a decline in price, or
for the purpose of affecting a de-
cline, be likewise prosecuted
State WarehouSing System
1t is earnestly recommended that
the several State Governments shall
take appropriate action to bring
about such warehousinc system, or
systems, as will best serve the in
terests OF the producer of cotton.
In view of the apparent ie-
mard for cotton during the next
thirteen months we recommend that
the unsold cotton OF the present
crop be withdrawn from the market
and disposed of by 4 system of
gradual marketing. We urge bank
ers and business men to cooperate
with the farmers in this undertake
ing.
We report to the cotton farm
erS that tentative and attractive
propositions have been made by re-
sponsible financial interests for pur-
chasing some two million bales Of
the present crop This negotiation
is referred, for development in
practical form, to q committee.
Plan to Reduce Acreage.
reduction of acreage in 1912 is
urged as a necessary part of any
plan in holding and financing the
present crop. We recommend, and
for ourselves agree, that the Gov
ernor of each cotton State proceed
at once to appoint a representative
In each county, who in turn will ap-
point representative in each
school district or young precinct, to
secure from every farmer a bind
ing, written pledge to reduce his
cotton acreage in 1912, 25 per cent.
below his acreage in 1911.
After All, Up to Farmers.
1T is our firm opinion, that by
prompt action under cooperation
and organization, the cotton farm
ers and business men of the South
ern States can speedily rescue
themselves from impending sacri-
lice and can restore the fair price
which demonstrated demand war
rants and can insure stable values
from year to year"