The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-09
Want Law PASSED
COTTON CONGRESS WANTS over
ACREAGE PROHIBITED.
WATSON CALLS ON TEXAS

| WATSON CALLS ON TEXAS
Wires Governor Colluit Reqnestin:
That Legislature of Tha: SIaf4
Take The Lead in Its Present SECS
ion-Speaks Of CONDITION of Cotton
Growers.
Following close CT the resolution:
adopted Tuesday night by the Soutt
Carolina division of the Southern
Cotton congress, E. j. Watson, com
missioner of agriculture and presiden
of the Southern Cotton congress
Thursday issued a statement in which
he said that the crx of the cotton sit.
uation manifestly depends on re
straining the people Of the South
form planting an lover acreage" OF
another crop of cotton, and that be-
cause of the fact that the bulk of the
cotton crop is raised by negroes work
ing on their own account legal pro-
hibition against "over acreage" OF
cotton is necessity.
Mr.. Watson has also sent tele-
gram to o. B. Colquitt, governor OF
Texas, upon whom he urges the ne
cessity OF immediate action of the
legislature which is now convened in
extraordinary session to consider the
cotton situation. The telegram,
which Mr. Watson sent to Gov. Col
quit is as follows:
"All leading men in the Southeast
agree that it is vital to anything be-
ing done or that can be done to avert
disaster to the, South that extensive
reduction of acreage for 1915 shall
be required by law with strong pen
alties for violation; preferably to re-
quire that no cotton shall be planted.
Numbers Of negroes engaged in plant
ing cotton makes legal requirements
necessary.
Gas Texas Is largest State and your
legislature is in session it is consider
ed that Texas should lead in such leg
islation and do it now, resulting in
immediate stimulation Of price for
1914 crop. Best lawyers say such
action constitutional. South Caro-
lima cases can be cited. Am asked to
request you to present question to
your legislature Immediately and in
special message call on your body to
determine Texas attitude at once as
guide for sister cotton States.
Can have United States Senator
Smith to come out and present ques-
tion of imperative necessity any date
if desided, Kindly wire me today
view and probable action and~advise
as to any other action your legisla-
ture has taken. Certain over pro-
duction now apparent has greatly ag-
gravated an already almost helpless
situation, and quick and radical ac-
ton is deemed by all of us absolute
ly necessary.
Wade Stackhouse, president of the
South Carolina division of the cotton
congress. has written q letter to the
governors Of the cotton growing
States, telling them the resolution
passed in Columbia Tuesday and urg-
ing government control of the cotton
acreage as the only means that will
prevent the impending financial
ruin now apparent"
In speaking Of the cotton situation
Mr.. Watson made the following
statement:
"As president of the Southern Cot;
tor congress, 1 desire to state that
now the crux Of the whole cotton sit
uation manifestly depends on re
straining the people of the South
from planting an over acreage OF
another crop of cotton, and because
of the fact that the bulk of the crop
is raised by negroes working on their
own account who can not be restrain
ed in any other way than by law. the
national organization Is paying more
attention right now to that question
than to any other.
The South Carolina Cotton con-
gress took the first step towards Sc,
uring legal prohibition against plant
ing cotton by passing a resolution
asking the governors and legislatures
to take the matter up. Only one leg
islature is now in session, and that is
the extraordinary session called in
Texas to consider the cotton situation
All cotton troubles begin with Texas
as it is the largest cotton producing
State. If Texas will assist in taking
care of a portion of the four or fiVe
million bales produced in the Lone
Star State there will be no trouble
to make the other States follow; fol
there will be no trouble in calling the
legislatures of the other States to
gether to consider the question OF le
gal prohibition of planting.
"I am requesting Gov. Colquitt O.
Texas to Immediately present thf
question squarely to the extraordl
nary session OF the legislature meet
| ing in his State, and get them to pas
on it one way or the other. 1t VII
be waste of time and a very expen
sive proposition to get other State
to act unless it is known what Texa
is going to do. If Texas passes suci
planting prohibition law the othe
States will follow.
1.-THE best lawyers say such laV
is constitutional, and it is absolutel.
vital to anything that can be done II
any way, shape or form to have al
extensive curtailment in the acreag
planted to cotton in 1915. The acute
,ase of this necessity is apparent nov