The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-16
EXTRA SESSION OF
STATE LEGISLATURE
GOVERNOR ISSUES PROCLAIM
TON CONVEYING GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OCTOBER SIXTH.
CONSIDER COTTON PROBLEM
Call Does Not Restrict Relief Meas.
ures Taken by Law Makers.-"ln
Their Good Judment."

ures Taken by Law Makers.-"Tn
Their Good Judment."
Columbia.-An extra session of the
general assembly to convene at noon
October 6, is called by a proclamation
of the governor issued "for the con.
sideration of matters hereinabove.
stated and to pass such laws as In
their good judgment may be neces-
sary and proper for the relief of the
citizens Of our state"
Text of Proclamation.
The text Of the proclamation fol-
lows: ...
Whereas 1t has been made to ap-
pear to me by representations of many
citizens of the state and by resolu-
tons of organized bodies, represent
ing the cotton growers Of this state,
that a 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 be sold except
at a ruinous loss, and that there is no
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 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 hnan-
cial condition Of the country has be-
come such that at present, and In all
probability will continue to be such
for some time, that it is impossible
to obtain credit on the security Of
their cotton, except at a ruinous and
prohibitive rate, if at all; that this
condition is widespread and through
out the entire cotton growing section
Of the state; and, 1t being made fur
ther to appear that it Is impossible for
the working classes Of OUT citizens to
obtain adequate mean 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 arruinous rate; that such con-
dition of credit as exists and lack of
confidence that there will be any i'm
provement of affairs in the neal fu-
tube, 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 1t 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
that this state of affairs so existing is
an extraordinary 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 at.
ford a remedy for their distress and
to relieve Jul people, and especially
SHOULD the state exercise It's power of
borrowing money to run the govern
ment, 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 citizns, and especially our
farmers and workingmen, should be
afforded some relief.
I'm view of these representations,
and Of my own Investigation into
the conditions of affairs, I now declare
that such an extraordinary occasion
exists in the state as requires and
warrants the exercise of the constitu-
tional power vested in me, in conven-
ing the general assembly in extra ses-
sion, to consider the present condi-
ton, and state of our common
wealth, and to pass such laws as 1t
may, within the exercise Of its legis'
lative power, as will afford a remedy
and relief to all citizens from the
present situation, and which will prob
ably continue for some time.
"Now, therefore, I, Cole l.. Blease,
governor of the State of South Caro-
lima, in pursuance Of the power con-
ferred upon me by the constitution OF
the State of South Carolina, and on
account of the extraordinary occasion
which has occurred, and which is
contemplated by the constitution OF
this state, article 4. section is, do
hereby the general assembly
of the State of South Carolina in ex-
TIA session at IL o'clock m. on the
eth day of October, in the year OF
our Lord, 1914, at the capital, In the
City Of Columbia, for the considera-
ton of matters herinabove stated,
and to pass such laws as in their
good judgment may be necessary and
proper for the relief Of the citizens Of
our state"