The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-14
Cotton Growers Meet to RefaIe the Lies
About Size Of lhe Crop.
Smith MAKES SPEECH
At Gathering in Interest of Better
Prices for Cotton, south Carolinian
Roundly Denounces Gamblers and
Criticises Department for Inaccu-
racy of Cotton Reports.

racy of Cotton Reports.
One thousand men from every cot
ton growing State In America met
Tuesday in Montgomery and con-
ferred to devise ways and means to
rebut the figures of the Federal cot
ton report and to secure a better
price for cotton.
There were present Congressman,
United States Senators, the commits
sioners of agriculture Or their repre-
sentatives from every Southern State.
together with hundreds of farmers,
bankers, business and professional
men whose homes are scattered
throughout the South.
While nothing further than ongani-
zation was effected officially, Tues
days meeting of the cotton growers
proved their earnestness by the ap-
pointment of four committees to be
known as the committee on resolu-
tions, marketing and financing the
cotton crop, national legislation and
statistics, estimates and conditions OF
the cotton crop.
These committees were appointed
early in the day and made to consist
of the commissioners of agriculture
of each state, three delegates from
each State and President Barrett, of
the Farmers Educational and Coop
erative Union.
One of the principal speakers OF
the day was Senator E. D. Smith, OF
South Carolina, who in scathing
terms denounced the so-called gam
blers Of Wall Street, Liverpool, New
Orleans and foreign markets, and
cried that the Southern farmer must
declare his financial independence OF
these people. He said the farmers
should demand a fair profit on his
cotton and ventured the assertion
that If the New England farmer had
such monopoly crop as the cotton
crop he would demand and receive
so cents pound for it.
Senator Smith also made an attack
upon the accuracy of the Government
cotton report; and said that the
Southern farmer had lost enough
money because Of it to establish an
insurance department; or to insure
proper figures. He declared too, that
Attorney General Wickersham want
ed to break the so-called monopoly to
boost the price of cotton but crushed
no illegal com bination to force prices
down.
When Congress meets again in De-
cember, Senator Smith said, he is go.
ing to introduce bill to require the
Secretary of Agriculture to show In
his monthly rotton census, not only
the amount of cotton in the field, but
the number of bales in warehouses
and who owned these bales
Throughout his speech, Senator
Smith was heartily cheered, and he
| SDOkG uuLll Ill IiiS uuNAsSfA
um could not be distinguished.
The Convention was called togeth'
er at noon. Capt. Reuben F. kolb
commissioner Of agriculture for Ala
sama, was made temporary chairman
He presided until Comisioner of Ag'
riculture E. j. Watson, OF Soutf
Carolina, was made permanent chair
man. The Rev. C. A. Stakely opened
the Convention with a prayer.
Addresses of welcome were made
by Capt. Kolb, Lieutenant Governor
iced, Mr.. R. B Evins, representing
Governor O'Neal, President Gunter
of the city commission, and Presiden
Kohn of the Montgomery Commercial
Club, in behalf of Alabama and the
city of Montgomery. These addresses
were responded to by State Senator
l. A. Bush, of Georgia.
The convention will be brought
to a close Wednesday night with
demonstration in honor of the Hon
Oscar w. Underwood, leader Of the
National House of Representatives
who will reach this city with a party
of good roads advocates from Bir'
mingham. 1t is thought that Sena
tor John Sharp Williams, of Missis
sippi will also be in the city by tha,
time.
S,TpJ-TIS JSN ENGINE