The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-09-11
LEGISLATURE CALLED
TO MEET OCTOBER 6
Blease Issues Proclamation For
Extraordinary Session.
TO HELP COTTON PLANTER
ment May he Necessary for Re
lief of Our Citizens"


fetal proclamation calling an extraor
dinary session of the Legislature to
meet in Columbia on the 9Th day of
October. The special session h;,s been
particularly called to consider the
present and future condition of the
State us result of the postration of
the cotton movement following the
European war. The formal procIGma-
ton reads as follows:
State of South Carolina.
Executive Chamber.
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, it has been made to ap-
pear to me by representations many
citizens of the State and Ly resolu-
tions of organized bodies, represent
ing the cotton growers of this State.
that n condition has arisen within the
last few weeks whereby the price of
cotton has declined 20 such an extent
that it is impossible for this staple
product of our Guate u be sold except
at a ruinous loss, and that there is
no way whereby an arrangement or
combination can be made to save the
cotton growers from being absolutely
sacrificed, and many of our citizens
of this class will become penniless
and without further means for the
payment of their debts, planting of
their crops and the support of their
families ana, further, ttat the finan-
cial condition of the country has be-
come such that at present, and in all
for sometime. that it is impossible to
obtain credit on the security of their
cotton, except at a runious and pro-
hibitive rate, If at all; that this con-
dition is widespread and throughout
the entire cotton growing sections of
the State; and 1t being made further
to appear that ii is impossible for
these working classes of our citizens
to obtain adequate means for the sup
port of their families dependent upon
their labor, and that they are unable
to borrow money on account of insu-
fficient collateral or security unless
1t be at runious rate; that such con
dition of credit as exists and lack of
condence that there will be any i'm
provement of affairs I'm the near futu
re which is creating dispair among
them; and il further appears that all
classes of our citizens are affected
by this condition, which prevails in,
the State, and possibly it appears
throughout the whole country, many
of the members of both branches Fl
the General Assembly, and represhn-
tatives of all classes of our citizens,
have urged upon me that this STATE
nary occasion, demanding such State
governmental relief as can be @ivcn
by the General Assembly within the
Constitution, and that the eXerCis" of
every legislative function should be
brought into action to afford remedy
for their distress and to relieve our
people, and especially should the
state exercise its power of borrowing
money to run the Government, with
out demanding and exacting from the
ptOplt IdAtS indt nave Dttu ltNlN lot
present year, or for the next succeed
ing year, whereby all of our citizens
and especlly our farmers and work
ingmen, should be afforded some re-
lief.
In view of representations and
of my own investigation into the con
dition of affairs, / now declare that
such an extraordinary occasion exists
I'm the state as requires and warrants
I lie exercise of the constitutional pow
ers vested in me, in convening the
General Assembly in extra session to
consider the present condition and
state of our Commonw ealth, and to
pass such laws as IL may, within the
exercise of its legislative power, as
will afford a remedy and relief TO all
citizens from the present Situation.
and which will probably continue for
some time.
Now, therefore, i, Coleman Living
ston Blease. Governor OF the state OF
South Carolina, in pursuance of thc
power conferred upon me by the Con
stitution of the state OF South caro-