The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-08-20
THE COTTON CONGRESS.
Hon. S. G. Mayfield Gives Interesting
Account of Meeting.

Editor of the Bamberg Herald: I
left Denmark for Washington to at
tend the Southern cotton congress
on Wednesday, the 18th. Was pres
ent at the meetings of the conven-
ton. The convention was we'll at
tended by thoughtful, earnest body
of business men. Among the hun
dreds present l did not see but one
man under the influence of intoxicat
ing liquor, but each and every one,
bankers, merchants, farmers, and
some lawyers were earnestly anxious
to do whatever could be done to main
tain the price of cotton, and to relieve
the congestion on all lines of ship
ping and transportation.
In meeting which had the hon
or of attending as one Of two
sent by the cotton associa-
ton to meet with the grain ship
pers, committee formed by the va
rious chamber of comerce Of the
United States, we met with the pres
ident, and discussed matters with
him. The main interest, however,
was the discussion before the various
heads of departments in which it was
brought out that every grain elevator
on the coast of the Atlantic, Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico or the Mississippi riv-
er was full to overflowing, and for
miles the tracks were literally coy
cred with grain for export.
The cotton association did good,
earnest work, and the whole matter
boiled down means that we urge up
on the coto ngrowers, as individuals,
the merchants, bankers, factors, fer
tilizer companies and every other
company or concern that does busi-
ness with the cotton farmer to assist
in warehousing the crop. 1t was
thought that we would make less
than fourteen million bales of cot
ton, but it was decided that we ought
at least to warehouse, and hold, sew
en- million bales, as it was better to
sell seven million bales for twelve
cents per pound, than to sell fourteen
million bales at six cents per pound.
South Carolina was well represent
ed, the president of the convention
was our commissioner, E. J. Watson,
and he did his work we'll and thor
oughly. Some of the congressman
from this State attended the con-
vention, to-wit: Mr.. Lever, chair
man of agriculture, Mr.. Byrnes, Mr..
Whaley, Mr.. Ragsdale, Mr.. Finley and
Mr.. Aiken. l do not think any 9TH
ers were present. Neither Of our
senators were present, but Senator
Hoke Smith, Of Georgia, made the
first address on the first day, fol-
lowed by Congressman Lever, chair
man of the committee on agriculture.
These were fine addresses, we'll pre-
pared by Thoughtful men. The con-
census OF opinion, boiled down, was
that we needed legislation to cover
certain points, and we so recommend
ed. and the legislation has been in
troduced and it is believed will pass
congress.
The president, though looking very
sad, gave respectful hearing to the
committe on shipping, of which, as
above stated, was member, and as
sured us that everything that could
be done by the government and It's
officials would be done. I may write
you next week. when I have time
to prepare the details of this conven-
tion.
Won't you urge upon the planters
of Bamberg county to begin consider
ing plans for holding their cotton?
It is believed that the bankers, mer-
chants and all others who have ex-
tended credit will cooperate upon
reasonable basis. so as not to sacrl-
fee the cotton crop of 1914.
Barnwell county had fine dele
cation, COL Harry D. Calhoun, Capt.
J. A. Jenkins and others. Sorry
that the writer was the only one from
Bamberg county.
AVEIEI n