The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-07
ACTIVE WORK BEGUN
COTTON HOLDING MOVEMENT
STARTED AT ONCE.

STARTED AT ONCE.
Trying to Garry Out Plan Adopted
In Columbia by the Farmers and
Business Men.
"To secure 13 cents a pound for
cotton.
"To open books in every county in
the ccston belt to secure pledges
from farmers t. hold cotton.
"To reduce cotton acreage fol
1912 to not exceeding go per cent.
of arabic land held.
"To publish daily the names OF
those who intend to hold their cot
ton for higher price"
These are the features of the cam
paign for holding cotton with view
to relieving the present unsatisfa.c-
tory condition that was launched
throughout the States of the cotton
belt Thursday by the South Caro-
lima State Farmers. union. The plan
was adopted at a meeting Of the
Farmers union and business men
held in Columbia Tuesday night and
was contained in telegram address
ed TO the commissioners of agri-
culture and presidents 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, pres
ident of the State Farmers union.
Plan Proposed.
The following is the telegram sent
out Friday. "Following action of
mass meeting. South Carolina farm
ers would urge you to take immed-
late steps to push with all vigor you
possess, in every township and coun-
ty, your State the holding move
ment on following lines, similar re-
quest being made of tSate Farmers
union president, your State. Open
books each county seat for signature
Of farmers to pledge to hold stated
number bales until September l,
1912, or until the price has reached
13 cents; prosecute vigorous CAM
paign each township for holding cot
ton and getting pledges; get also
pledges TO reduce cotton acreage for
1912 to not exceeding 10 per cent.
of arabic land held; for reports each
day as to pledges filed and publish
names of signers with number OF
bales pledged. Call for not less than
two cents per bale from growers
holding cotton to be sent immediate
ly to secretary-treasurer, State un-
ion, to defray expenses quick cam
paign for pledges, publishing receipts
daily. This plan already under, way
in South Carolina and quick, and
effective retirement Of cotton seems
assured. It is absolutely necessary to
bring the individual producer into
line right now If millions of dollars
are to be saved to the cotton belt.
Plans for the future can be agreed
upon later, but feasible quick cam
paign Of this kind pushed simulta-
neously in all our States can and
will effectively stem the present dis
astrous tide in this critical moment.
I most earnestly appeal to your pat"
riotism In the name of the masses of
Southern people to act upon this
matter and act quickly. Am arrang-
ing for whirlwind campaign through
belt in holding cause for Senator
Smith, President Barrett and other
members Of national committee cre-
ated at Montgomery. Kindly wire me
Immediately If in behalf Of every ma
terial interest in the South you may
be relied upon to take the speedy &C
ton invoked"
Cotton Pledge.
The following Is the cotton pledge:
estate of South Carolina, county Of
We, the undersigned, owners OF
cotton of the 1901 crop, hereby
pledge ourselves TO withhold from
the market the number of bales en-
tered opposite our respective names
until September l, 1912, or until the
price of cotton has reached 13 gents.
and we do severally solemnly declare
that we will regard this pledge as
sacred.
We further agree not to plant, for
the crop Of 1912, more than gu per
cent. Of our arabic lands in cotton.
1--WE 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 de-
fray expenses of the holding cam
paign. Name, postofflce, R. F. D. No.
number of bales withheld.
Letter of Instructions.
The following letter was sent out
to the presidents Of the county un-
ions Friday by Secretary Reid:
"In accordance with action taken
at the mass meeting of the State
Farmers union held in Columbia
Friday evening, l am directed by
the president of the tSate union to
address you this letter, impressing
upon you the vital Importance, not
alone to the cotton producing inter-
ests of our State, but to the union
itself, OF your prompt, vigorous ant