Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-02-07
"THE ROCK HILL PLAN"
For Reducing 1912 Cotton Acreage.
as Modified by Committee.

Rock Hill Plan" for the reduction
Of cotton acreage for 1912, as out
lined by j. G. Anderson, Of Rock
Hill, to the executive committee of
the Southern Cotton Congress, in
general operation throughout the cot
ton growing States; and also from
the further fact that we do not wish
TO 40 anything that may be in viola
ton of the Sherman law, we recon-
mend modification Of the "Rock
Hill Plan" as follows:
Let each individual cotton growing
State, acting for itself, and not in col
lusion with any other, take up this
most important matter promptly and
settle 1t 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 State
superintendent who shall have entire
charge of the work in the State, and
thus be responsible therefor. The
Governor, Commissioner of Agricul-
ture and State Farmers Union Presi
dent should act for the State In the
capacity noted above and for raising
the necessary money.
The State superintendent shall i'm
mediately-from information receiv-
ed by him from any source he deems
best-appoint a county committee,
consisting Of three persons, who
shall have actual charge Of the can
vassing in the field. This committee
should be composed Of the best and
most enthusiastic men in the COM
munity. One of them should be a
banker, the other a merchant and the
third prominent farmer.
The said county committee should
| at once proceed to raise sufficient
funds to employ canvassers, who are
TO make house-to-house canvass Of
| the county. The business men and
the farmers can be depended upon to
furnish the necessary funds for the
payment Of the canvassers, provided
the committee makes 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
etect1Ve. The selection of the county
committee is the most important part
or the work. 1t must be selected with
greatest care and must be composed
OF men who are thoroughly in earn
est. 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 s125
to 5000, and that amount Of money
can be easily raised by the proper ef-
forts. Certainly mon can be found in
every county who will do this work.
Enough canvassers should be en-
ployed to thoroughly cover the said
county within two weeks; they
should make a daily report to the
county committee, and the names Sc
cured should be published in the local
papers. Daily reports should be sent
by the county committees to the State
superintendent, who should carefully
|
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 peop]e
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 necessary.
| 1t IS said by some that although
many or the farmers will sign the
pledge great many of them will not
adhere to 1T. We do not take much
stock In that. A largo majority of
| the people are honest and can be de-
| pended upon to keep their agree
ments. The few who are disposed to
take advantage Of the situation will
| be forced by public sentiment not TO
| do SO In this case.
1t is suggested that the names he
published a second time lust before
the planting season.
1T Is earnestly recommended that
the acreage Of cotton planted in 1912
De reduced not less than 25 per cent
from the amount planted in 1911. and
that the written pledge adopted by
the national Farmers Union be used
by the various cotton growing States
All reports sent in to the various
state superintendents must be sent
10 hon. E. j. Watson. president, by
March LIST, 1912.