Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-09-17
GOVERNOR CALLS EXTRA =
SESSION OF LEGISLATURE

Governor Blease on Thursday
issued proclamation calling the
Legislature in special session to
consider the question of enacting
measures to relieve conditions
brought about as a result of the
European war. The session is to
begin at noon on Tuesday, Oc-
tober 6.
The text of the proclamation
follows:
Whereas it has been made to
appear to me by representations
of many of the citizens of the
State and by resolutions of or
ganlzed bodies, representing the
cotton growers of this State that
a condit on has arisen within the
last few weeks, whereby the
price of cotton has declined to
such an extent that it is impos-
sible for this staple product of
our State to 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; and further that the
financial condition of the country
has become such that at present,
and in all probability will con-
tinue to be such for some time.
that it is impossible to obtain
credit on the security of their
cotton. except at ruinous and pro-
hibitlve rate. if at all; that this
condition is widespread and
throughout the entire cotton
growing section of the State:
and, it being further made to
appear that it is impossible for
the working classes of our citi-
zens to obtain adequate means
for the support OF their families.
dependent upon their labor. and
that they are unable to borrow
money on account of insufficient
collateral or security, unless it be
at ruinous rate: that such con-
dition of credit as exists and
lack of confidence that there
will be any Improvement of
affairs in the near future, which
Is creating despair among them;
and it further appears that all
classes of our citizens are af-
fected by this condition. which
prevails in the State, and possibly
lt appears throughout the whole
country.
Many of the members of both
branches of the general as
sembly, and representatives of
all classes of our citizens, have
urged upon me that this state
of affairs so existing is an extra
ordinary occasion, demanding
such state governmental relief
as can be given by the general
assembly within the constitution.
and that the exercise of every
legislative function should be
brought into action to afford a
remedy for their distress and to
relieve our people, and especially
should the State exercise it's
power of borrowing money to
run the government, without
demanding and exacting from
the people taxes that have been
levied for the present year. or
for the next succeeding wear
whereby all of our citizens, and
especially our farmers and work
ingmen. should be afforded some
relief.
In view of these representa-
tions, and of my own investiga-
tiOn into the condition of affairs.
| now declare that such an ex-
traordinary occasion exists in
the State as require and warrant
the exercise of the constitutional
power vested in me, in converting
the general assembly in extra
session, to consider the present
condition and state of our COM
monwealth. and to pass such
laws as it may, within the exer-
cises 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, /, Coleman
Livingston Blease, governor of
the State of South Carolina, in
pursuance of the power conferred