The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-03
THE ROCK HILL PLAN"
For Reducing the Cotton Acreage for
1917, as Modified by The Execu-
tive Committee of the Southern
Cotton Congress.

Following is the official copy of
the New Orleans meeting:
Owing to the fact that sufficient
money is not in sight to put the
Rock Hill Plan," for the reduction
Of the cotton acreage for 1912, as out
lined by Mr.. j. G. Anderson of Rock
Hill, S. c., to the Executive Com
mittee Of the Southern Cotton Con-
gress. in general operation through
out the cotton growing States; and
also from the further fact that we
do not wish to do anything that may
be in violation Of the Sherman Law,
we recommend a modification of the
"Rock Hill Plan," as follows:
Let each individual cotton gro y
State, acting FOR itself, and not in 4
lusion with any other, take up this
most important matter promptly and
settle it by calling on the bankers,
farmers, mercantile and manufacture,
ing interests, for sufficient funds to
pay organization expenses, and then
organize by the selection Of a State
superintendent who shall have
entire charge of the work in the
State. and thus be responsible there
for. The Governor, Commissioner Of
Agriculture, and State Farmers Union
President should act for the State in
the capacity noted above and for
raising the necessary money.
The State Superintendent shall inn
mediately-from information received
by him from any source he deems
best--appoint a county Committee,
consisting of three persons who,
shall have actual charge of the
canvsssing in the field. This Conn
mittee should be composed Of the
best and most enthusiastic men in
the community. One of them should
be banker. the other q merchant
and the third a prominent farmer.
The said county committee should
a. once proceed to raise suficient
dsSto employ canvassers, who are
t6 6nake house-to o-house, canvass Of
the comfy. The business men and
the farmers can be depended upon to
furnish me necessary funds tor the
payment Of the canvassers, provided
the committee makes a personal ap-
peal. To ask the people through the
newspapers, or even through the mail
to subscribe money for any cause
has never been, and never will be-
very effective. The selection Of the
County Committee is the most i'm
portant part Of the work It must
be selected with greatest care and
must be composed Of men who are
thoroughly in earnest and who will
put their shoulders to the wheel and
see that a success is made of the
venture. The average county can be
covered for from 1925 to 5000, and
that amount Of money can be easily
raised by the proper efforts. Certain
ly men can be found in every county
who will do this work.
Enough canvassers should be enr
ployed to throughly cover the sale
county within two weeks; they should
make daily report to the County
Committee, and the names secured
Oh nt,JI hn
pers. Daily reports should be sent by
the County Committees to the STATE
Superintendent, who should carefully
compile them and a synopsis given
out to the press daily.
The newspapers, both daily and
weekly, can be depended upon to
help in every way in a great cause
like this, and through them the peo-
pie can be advised Of the progress Of
the work. They will gladly publish
the name Of every farmer who signs
the pledge, and this is very neces-
sary. 1t is said by some that al
though many Of the farmers will
sign the pledge, great many Of
them will not adhere to 1t. We do
not take much stock in that A large
majority Of the people are honest and
can be depended upon to keep their
agreements. The few who are dis
posed to take advantage Of the situ-
alton will be forced by public senti-
ment not to do so in this case.
IT is suggested that the names be
the planting season.
1t is earnestly recommended that
the acreage Of cotton planted in 1912
be reduced not less than 25 per cent
from the amount planted in 1911, and