The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-10-04


the action of tht Southern Cotton con-
grtss, recently held at Montgomery,
Ala, was held in this city yesterday
in the hall of the house of representa-
tives. 1t was one OF the most largely
attended conventions ever held in the
hall, and the personnel was such as
to cause many to remark that seldom
had there been seen gathered together
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 proceedings
there was perfect harmony of thought
and action and unity Of purpose was
manifested with a degree of deter
mination indicating the character of
the fight that the people Of this State
propose to make throughout for a
higher price for cotton.
For Practical Work.
The action of the convention in the
end provided machinery extending
lilO lhe NlSoIOuS prosecution VI luS
holding, warehousing and financing
movements, with the object in view
of causing substantial cessation of
the rush of cotton to market.
Action was taken on almost every
phase Of the cotton situation and con-
siderable work was cut out for this
States representatives in congress to
undertake. Along this line the plain
intimation was given by the conven-
tion that the time had come for some
kind of national legislation to be in
sisted upon in regard to the market
ing of the cotton crop, now repre-
senting nearly 81 100000.
In calling the convention to order
Commissioner Watson, who Is also
the president of the Southern Cotton
congress and a member of the ma
tional cotton campaign committee,
along with President Barrett of the
National Farmers union and Con-
gressman Heflin of Alabama, declared
that he was glad the hour had come
in South Carolina when the producer,
the business interests and the bank
ing interests of the State could meet
to discuss situation involving the
welfare of every material interest in
the State and indeed the very life
Oh every man, WOMAN anu Cnllu
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 convention for,
perhaps 10 cents cotton would stiffen
the backbone Of some people who, If
cotton were above 10 cents, were
likely to rush 1t on the market.
The conference was convened In the
hall of the house of representatives at
$3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The
meeting was called to order by e. j
Watson, commissioner of agriculture
j. Whitner Reid was named as Secre-
tary. Following the roll call of the
| delegates present permanent organ
ization was perfected and Commits
sioner Watson was named as presi-
dent.
Mr.. Barrett had asked him to say to
the convention that negotiations were
under way but had not yet been con
cluded, that he hoped, however, that
they would be completed at an early
| day. A message from Mr.. Barrett was
also conveyed to the effect that there
was every indication of a reaction In
New York almost Immediately in the
price Of cotton, and he urged the con
vention to do everything in it's power
to hold every possible bale of cotton
! off the market.
| Commissioner Watson further an
nounced that the national committee
members had about determined upor
a whirlwind campaign through the
/ Ia1t viii A,.in Nf 10,
meetings and that United States Sen
ator Smith of this State and United
States Senator John Sharp Williams Of
| Mississippi had been requested to take
| part in this campaign. This will give
five men. posted on cotton, to conduc
the meetings, the committeeman being
| Messrs Barrett, Heflin and Watson
Mr. Watson in his remarks at the
! opening of the night meeting pre-
sented number of essential facts
bearing upon the marketing and han
ding of the cotton crop.
Committees on resolutions, compoS
ed of one member from each congress
sional district, was appointed as fol
lows: w. McL. Frampton, r.. NJ. Mix
| son, Alan Johnstone, o. p. Goodwin
! w. p. Pollock, Douglas Mcintyre, r
w. Dabbs, chairman
! There were calls for United States
! Senator II. ID. Smith and in very
few moments Commissioner Watson
referring to Senator Smiths work IL
behalf of cotton in the movement tha
carried the price to 15 cents, present
ed Cotton" Smith to his people amit
the vociferous cheering of the dele
gates.
AT the conclusion of his address, as
frequently during his remarks, Sena
tor Smith was most enthusiastically
and vigorously applauded.
At the conclusion of Senator Smiths
address there were calls for Citizen
| Josh Ashley of Anderson. Mr.. Ash.