Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-10-13
CONDITIONAL ELIMINATION.
Bill To Cut Out Cotton In South Caro-
lima IL Six Other States Follow.

lima IL Six Other States FOLLOW.
Representative Mcqueen of Marlboro,
has a bill providing for the total eliml-
nation Of next years cotton crop IN
South Carolina, conditioned on the
adoption of similar measures by the
states of Texas, louisiana, MISSISSIPPI
Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina.
The text Of the bill, which is to be in
troduced today, is as follows:
Whereas, approximately 60 per cent
of the population Of the entire world
are now engaged in war, thereby caus-
ing the manufacture and consumption
of cotton to be abandoned to such an
extent that the supply OF cotton on
hand is practically sufficient for the
demand for the next two years and
consequently the price has suddenly
fallen below the cost of production and
paralyzes agriculture, commerce and
industries of this state and the other
states heretofore depending upon cot
ton as their staple money crop, and the
state is now threatened with complete
financial ruin, and
Whereas, Texas, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, and Alabama are now infested
with the cotton boil weevil-a dreadful
pest that destroys the product OF the
farmers labor and has steadily spread
eastward and threatens the immediate
invasion of Georgia, South Carolina
and North Carolina, and the only meth
cd of effective defense against said
weevil is to eradicate it by entirely
eliminating for one year the cotton
crop of the south; and
Whereas, the complete elimination
of cotton from the said cotton growing
states for one year is not only neces-
sary as the only method Of destroying
this insect and making cotton growing
again possible without the waste or It's
ravages, but is likewise necessary as
the only method Of promptly restoring
the prospective balance OF cotton pro-
duction and consumption, so as TO re-
move the present unnatural glut OF the
market and impart proper money value
to the cotton crop now on hand In TINS
state and said other cotton-growing
states, and thus to rescue the state ana
the south from financial ruin; and
Whereas, the effectiveness OF this
plan depends upon the cooperation OF
the other states named; now therefore,
in the exercise of the police power OF
this state and in order to promote the
general welfare Of all the people and
to preserve the entire financial inter-
ests of the state,
BE 1t enacted by the general assem-
bly, of the state Of South Carolina:
Section /. That it is hereby declar-
ed against the public policy OF this
state and unlawful for any person or
corporation to plant, cultivate or raise
any cotton within this state during the
year 1915, whether in his own rlght or
as agent for another or in any other re-
lation, and any person planting, Guilt
waiting or raising cotton within salo
state during said year 1915 or aiding or
abetting in said planting, cultivating or
raising of cotton shall be guilty of mis-
demeanor and upon conviction shall be
punished by fine Of 500 or imprison-
ment in the county Jail for 80 days, and
any act Of planting, cultiVating or rails
ing cotton thereafter shall be new Of
fense, subject to the same punishment,
and it shall be the duty of the sherin,
constables and policemen to destroy
any and all cotton growing in this
state during said year 1915 as COM
mon nuisance.
Sec 2. That this act shall become
operative in this state only upon the
enactment Of an act Of like purpose
and effect by each Of the following
named cottong growing states, to wit:
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
bama, Georgia and North Carolina.
Sec 3. That the enactment by said
states shall be evidenced by the filing
of certified copies Of their said acts
with the secretary Of state for this
state, and upon the filing of such acts
on behalf of all of the said states, the
governor of South Carolina shall by
proclamation announce the same and
put into operation in this state the
foregoing act forthwith.
Sec 4. That it is not the purpose
of this act to interfere with or in any
manner affect any other act that may
be passed at this session OF the general
assembly requiring reduction in the
acreage Of cotton hereafter planted in
this state, unless the other states
named herein above shall take the ac-
ton herein contemplated, but in case of
such cooperation by said states then
and in that event this act shall super
sede the act or acts for limitation or
reduction of acreage to be planted in
cotton in the year 1915, and this act
shall be of force for the year 1915 and
M lopparn