Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-02-15
WEE\IL PLOT IS DISCOVERED.
PiottcrS Would Destroy Cotton Crop
by Distributing Insects.
(Atlanta Georgian, 11th.D


boil wcevil in every cotton growing
county in Georgia and South Car
Olina, in order to reduce the crop and
raise the price, that the plottnrs may
profit, is exposed in a statement
made to Governor-elect lIoke Smith
by man whose name he cannot dis
close, but who is given credence by
the GOvernor-elcct.
The first information came i'm a
letter to Mr.. Smith and was followed
by personal visit to him by the
man who gave the information Far
merS and the public generally are
warned against the two plotters.
who are reported to have more than
100000 live boil weevils in their
possession, ready to distribute over
Georgia and South Carolina and
spread the plague Of cotton beyond
all cure.
Letter to Mr.. Smith
On Wednesday, February |, Gov
crnor-c.cct IIoke Smith received the
letter which is printed below. He
communicated at once with Commits
soncr Of Agriculture Hudson and
state Entomologist Worsham.
AS result Of their conference
Govcrnor-clcct Smith published the
personal in The New York Herald on
sunday, February ), as requested
They also agreed that the letter
should be published to put the public
in possession Of the facts
On Friday, February 10, the wri-
ter Of the letter called on the Gov
crnor-clcct and assured him that the
facts stated in the letter were abso-
lutely true; that he had promised
not to give the names OF the parties,
but had notified them that he intend
ed TO do ali in his power other than
giving their names to the public to
deieat their purpose. He also au-
thorizcd the publication of his letter,
but insisted that his name should be
withheld from publication.
The following is the letter:
Hon. lloke smith, Governor Of
Georgia: Dear Sir--In writing this
letter do so because feel it is my
duty, and know YOU well enough
by reputation to know YOU will APP
prcciate it fully. | will be as brief
as possible and get right to the
point.
There are two men-one from
Texas, and am not Just sure at this
writing where the other is from, but
should say Chicago from his talk
weevil in every cotton raising county
in Georgia and South Carolina in 40
next 80 days. They claim to have
over 100000 live insects now, and
they showed me box containing I
should Say) 1000 Of them.
Their object, i'm discussing it with
me, was to get me to help them dis
tribute the wccvil and share in the
profitS-that is, | was to buy 600
bales OF October cotton think
from the talk that one man has al
ready gone to Augusta with several
thousand in small boxes.
How happened to be able to
write You this information came
about in this way: | met one of the
men, whom have known for several
years, and W, had two or three
drinks together and the conversation
drltted TO cotton. | expressed a be-
lief that cotton would decline 100
points or more. Finally he said If
would give him my word as man
ne would tell me something ont Of
which could make q fortune. |
promised him. and this was the
Schcmc he disclosed to me: He gave
me mass Of details, etc, that for
IN" present are worthless. The
second man seemed afraid to trust
me, or any one. In this case the
man whom ! knew assured him | was
all .. *. Hence the confidence.
lclt IL was my duty to do some
'hihg, so ! thought | would write
you ana let YOU advise the officers
ana farmers to be on the lookout for
suspicious people. am busin css
man mere and do not want any no.
lorlety, so must make this an anOny-
nous letter. Am leaving for New
YORK tonight If you are interested
insert personal in The New York
ticrald and sign 1t Georgia in next
sunday paper. | am willing to
come and sec Won and do onvtb; N G.