Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-10-02
NO COTTON FOR 1915.
That Is the Recommendation Of the
New OrIean, Conference.

There will he nc cotton planted In
1915. If the Southern Cotton Congress,
which was in session in New Orleans.
on Tuesday and Wednesday, can nave
it's way. "
The meeting was attended by dele
gates from all the cotton growing
states, and two whole days were spent
in the discussion Of ways and means 10
meet the existing emergency. AL times
the debate developed much heat; put
finally there was a complete agreement
on what is known as the Mississippi
plan to raise no cotton during 1915.
According to the New Orleans States
Of Wednesday afternoon, all were
agreed from the beginning that the
next crop must be reduced by law; out
Texas delegates maintained that re-
duction beyond so per cent was I'M
possible.
Ex-Governor Clarke and Senator He
bron Of Mississippi, lead the fight for
total elimination and w. H. O'Neal LEAD
the Texas delegation for so per cent
reduction. When the situation began
to look like a deadlock, Senator Nc
Iaurin made a strong speech in which
nointed out how total elimination OF
next years crop would make this year
crop bring more money than the TWO
CROPS: how he had all along believed
in complete elimination Of next years
crop. but because Of the tremendous
difficulty Of getting assurance OF any
reduction at all, he had been inclined
| to compromise on a reduction or 5O per
cent, rather than lose everything.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. McLaurins
speech, Mr.. O'Neal arose to his feet,
said he had been converted to COM
plete elimination, and promised action
| from the Texas legislature within ten
days. and he hoped that Texas would
have the honor Of acting before South
Carolina. The conference evidenced It's
enthusiastic satisfaction by rising to
its feet with tumultuous cheers.
There was no more quarreling ABOUT
the extent Of next years reduction, put
delegates Immediately began contribut-
ing to fund to push the reduction
propaganda, and raised the sum Oh
| 81, 900 on the spot.
The following resolution was adopt
ed with the idea Of giving 1t the wild
est possible circulation throughout the
| south:
"Whereas, The boil weevil, wilt and
other pests and diseases have for many
years been destructive to the cotton
crop in large portions OF the cotton
producing states, and their continuous
spread now menaces the whole area
1 QeVOteQ 10 the CULTIVATION Va SoesNN.
whereas, Owing to the diminished
demand for cotton and the Increased
requirements for foodstuffs caused by
the European war the planting or cot
ton for the year 1915 can be largely
reduced or entirely eliminated without
| imposing undue hardships on the cot
ton growers or extraordinary burdens
on cotton consumers, and
Whereas, There Is imperative ne
cessity for early drastic action TO de-
stroy the boil weeHl and other cotton
pests and
Whereas, Great benefits will be de-
rived by the substitution Of other crops
for cotton during the year 1915, there
by reducing the cost Of living, bringing
to farmers the advantages ana Dene-
fits of crop diversification and restor-
ing wornout lands to their former state
Of fertility, besides greatly enhancing
the value of the cotton crop OF 1914 by
establishing an equilibrium between
supply and demand.
therefore be 1t resolved, That 1t Is
the sense Of this convention that 1t
would be greatly to the interest OF the
cotton growers as well as or every
commercial, industrial and agriculture!
interest not only Of the south, but OF
the whole country, that the planting OF
cotton be entirely eliminated or reduc-
ed to the minimum during the year
1915.
BE it further resolved, That for this
purpose the growers Of cotton, brokers,
merchants and other allied INTERESTS
in each county, including the Farmers
Union and the Southern Cotton associ-
alton, be requested to meet and organ
ize at once OF no such organization ex-
ists) in order to give immediate con-
sideration to the foregoing resolution
and especially for the purpose or sign
ing binding pledges to reduce their re-
spective planting Of cotton 30 per cent
or more, or to pledge themselves TO
omit the planting thereof entirely Tor
the year 1915.
BE 1t further resolved, That in or
der to insure that no cotton be plant
ed, or not more than so per cent dur
ing the year 1915, the said association
and organizations request the govern
ors Of the various cotton states to con-
yene the legislatures for the purpose or
passing uniform laws prohibiting the
planting Of cotton, or Of reducing the
acreage to such point as to eliminate
all future damage from boil WeeVlls
and other cotton pests as well as to
accomplish the many desirable results
above enumerated.
BE II further resolved, That this
convention recommend and advise all
cotton producers, bankers and mer-
Chants to cooperate in withholding
from sale as much cotton as possible
until II can be sold at a price that will
give fair return to the producer,
BE it further resolved, That these
resolutions, as well as proceedings OF
all meetings Of associations and organ
izations held in connection Herewith
be given the widest publicity by the
press Of the whole country"