Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-09-29
MEETING OF COTTON CONGRESS

MEETING OF COTTON CONGRESS
Representatives Of the Counties Ear
nestly Discuss Critical Situation.
Correspondence The Yorkvills Enquirer
Columbia, September 26.-There was
quite a lively time at the meeting OF
the state division Of the Southern Cot
ton conference held here last night.
After certain measures had been duly
considered and acted upon, there came
up a proposition calling upon the farm
ers to sell two-thirds Of their cotton
for the purpose Of paying their debts.
and hold the other third off the market.
1t was this proposition that made
things especially lively, and the sug-
gestion was finally gotten rid of by an
adjournment without vote.
The actual business Of the confer
ence is comprehended in a resolution
calling upon the coming extraordinary
session Of the general assembly to
enact statutes that will provide for the
reduction Of the acreage In 1915, and
authorize the establishment OF sys-
TEN Of state controlled warehouses.
AS a preliminary to the campaign
looking to concerted action on the part
Of all the cotton growing states in the
acreage reduction proposition, reso-
luton was adopted requesting Govern
or Blease to attend the proposed con-
ference Of governors OF the cotton
growing states. The farmers were ad-
vised to warehouse their staple and use
certificates as collateral for loans with
which to liquidate their debts as far as
possible.
President Wade Stackhouse was au-
thorized to name a committee Of two
to accompany him to the extraordinary
meeting Of the Southern Cotton Con-
gress to be held in New Orleans, be-
ginning Tuesday, and he named Hons.
John L. McLaurin Of Bennettsville and
w. F. Stevenson Of Cheraw. The un-
derstanding was that the expenses or
the trip were to be borne by the dele
gates unless the general assembly
should subsequently make the amount
good, and all three accepted on that
basis.
State Senator P. L. Hardin Of Ches-
ter, B. H. Boykin Of Kershaw and ]. L.
Lawton, Of Darlington were appointed
a committee to outline an acreage re-
duction bill as a basis Of action, at
the extra session and the idea Of pro-
curing voluntary pledges was aban-
doned.
Discussion Of the proposition refer
red to above calling upon the farmers
to sell two-thirds Of their crop for the
purpose Of paying their debts and
holding on to the balance, occupied
the closing hours Of the conference and
developed a distinct line Of division
due to diverse interests represented.
The bank and mill interests seemed
to think that the farmers should sell
their cotton at any sacrifice and pay
their obligations. The proposition was
advanced that one-third. of the crop
should be held and two-thirds sold.
Superintendent Of Education Swear
ingen in a very sensible speech pointed
out the disaster that would come OF
forcing two-thirds of the cotton crop
others favored the sale Of cotton and
the settlement of outstanding obliga-
tions.
Senator John L. McLaurin in very
forcible manner said that IL the cotton
congress had no better proposition
than that to offer the farmers, 1t was
a pity that the congress had ever been
organized. A proposition like this
would be an admission that false hopes
had been created, especially in leading
the people to believe that they could
look for relief from the Federal gov
ernment through the banks, and to now
advise the people to throw on the mar
ket the accumulation Of cotton that they
had been advised to hold would be
suicide. He had attended all the meet
ings, he said, and it appeared to him
that they were dominated by mill men
and bankers. while the interest Of the
simon pure farmer was being subordi-
mated to the interests Of the capitalist
ic class. Mr.. McAdoo, he said, is fur
nishng this 2 per cent money to aid in
the holding Of cotton, and not for the
purpose of enabling the banks to settle
their per cent obligations in New
York. If it is the purpose Of the banks
to use this 2 per cent money to settle
their own 6 per cent obligations, then
Il say that the farmers should hold
their cotton until the sheriff comes and
takes it,"
why, gentlemen" Mr.. McLaurin
went on, 'in view of the fact that we
are just on the eve Of convening an eX-
ira session of the general assembly,
called especially for the purpose Of
taking such steps as may be in our
power to relieve the situation, the
proposition amaZeS me. 1t seems like a
conspiracy to gather in for the Ameri-
can mills a two year supply Of cotton
at a one year price. The American
mills are now selling their goods on a
II cents basis for cotton, and you
know that the borrowing power of our
cotton depends solely on the price at
which it can be sold to these mills. Ii
you turn loose all this cotton for what
it will bring, the price will fall to 6
cents within ten days. So far as | am
concerned, | suppose l will be able to
take care Of myself about as well as
most people; but if this conference
passes such a resolution as this, I'll
1., % 10 4
Senator McLaurin's remarks brought
forth bitter replies from Mr.. Lawton.
OF Darlington, and Mr.. \. b. Dial of
Laurens.
Mr. Lawton said that he resented the
remarks Of Mr. McLaurin to the effect
that this is not farmers conference.
He considered that 1t was a congress OF
all classes, and he thought that now
was the time to sell cotton and pay the
accounts incurred in making the crop.
Mr.. Dial accused Mr.. McLaurin OF
making a stump speech" and said
that in advising the holding Of cotton
instead of the payment Of debts he was
preaching dishonesty. He said that in
the past debts had been paid with 81
cents cotton, and he thought the pay
ment of debts was the first duty in the
present situation.
Mr.. Stuckey, Of Lee county, replied
with some heat to Messrs. Dial and
Lawton saying that if this congress
was for no better purpose than advis-
ing the farmers to sell below the cost
of production that it was pity that 1t
had ever come into existence. From
the way these gentlemen talked. n
Stuckey said, it would seem that they
expect the farmer to bear the entire
loss while everybody else is being paid
in full.
Mr.. r. NJ. Cooper followed along the
same line as Mr.. Stuckey. He said that
il was no use to sell cotton at cents
for the purpose Of paying debts. for g.
cents would not go around. and tn"
farmer would not only lose his cotton;
but would still have his debts.