The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-12
SPECIAL SESSION CALLED.
ISSUES cox.
NENING GENERAL ASSEMBLY
IN EXTRA SESSION ON
OCTOBER SIXTH.
Sall Docs Not Restrict Relief
Measures to Ec Taken by Low
Makers "In Their Good Judgment"
constitutional Call M"dc.

Columbia, Sept. 11.--An extra sos
sion of the general assembly, to con-
Vene at noon October 6, is called by a
proclamation Of the governor issued
last night for the consideration of
matters hereinabovc stated and to pass
such laws Us in their good Judgment
may Ee necessary and proper for the
relief Of the citizens of our State"
This step is taken under authority
Of article 4, section 1G, constitution
of South Carolina, relating to the cX-
ccutivc department. which, in defining
the powers of the governor, says:
He may on extraordinary occasions
convene the general assembly in extra
session"
The text Of the proclamation fol-
lows:
Whereas it has been made to ap-
pear to me by representations of many
citizens of the State and by resolu-
items of organized bodies represent
ing the cotton growers of this State
that Il condition has arisen within the
last few weeks, whereby the price of
cotton has declined to such an extent
that it is impossible for this staple
product of our State to he sold except
way whereby any 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 pcnnilcss
and without further means for the
payment of their Cubts, planting of
their crops and the support Of their
families; and further that the finan-
cial condition of the country has be-
come such that at present, and in all
probability will continue to he such
for some time, that it is impossible
to obtain credit on the security of
| their cotton, except at Il runious and
2robil tive rate, if at all; that this
cndition is widespread and through
out the entire cotton growing section
OF the State; and, it being made fur
ther to appear that it is impossible for
the 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 in
sufficient collateral or security, unless
it be at a ruinOus rate; that such con-
ditiOn Of credit as exists and lack of
confidence that there will he any inn
prOvcmcnt of affairs in the near fu-
turc, which is creating despair among
them; and it further appears that
all classes of our citizens are affect
ed by this condition, which prevails
in the state, and possibly it appears
throughout the whole country.
Many Of the members of both
branches of the general assembly,
and representatives of all classes Of
our citizens, have urged upon me
is an cXtraordinary occasion, demand
ing 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 af-
ford Il remedy for their distress and
to relieve our people, and especially
should the state exercise its power of
borrowing money to run the govern
mcnt, without demanding and exact
ing from the people taxes that have
been levied for the present year. or
for the next succeeding year, whereby
all of our citizens, and especially our
farmers and workingmen, should be
afforded some relief.
I'm view Of these representations
and Of my own investigation into
the condition Of affairs, | now declare
that such an extra ordinary occasion
exists in the State as requires and
warrants the exercise of the conSti-
tutional power vested in me, in con-
vcning the general assembly in extra
session, to consider the present con-
dition and state of our common
wealth, and to pass such laws us it