The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-02
THE G8IIsA CONFERENCE.
rLANs To HOLD COTTON AND RE-
DUCE ACREAGE FOR 1918.
Much Interest shown I'm Dcvising
Ways of Solving Problcm-E,,ch
School District VIII bc Canvasscd-
Merchants anu Bankers tn Assist
Farmers.


srs. an other business men of sumter
city and county assembled ut the
court house yesterday for the purpose
of organizing the Sumter County
branch Of the Southern Cotton Con-
gress. and to discuss plans Tor the
holding OF the cotton crop Of Sumter
county, tot arrange for warchousing
the portion Of the cotton crop thought
necessary to be kept of Of the mar
ket. and. AZ possible. to arrange for
furnishing money through the CO.
operation Of local banks. and other
wise for enabling the farmers to hold
their cotton. to organize a systematic
campaign for reduction of the acre.
axe Of cotton during the year 1915. 80
~ to avoid over-prodution In conncc-
tion with that portion Of the 1914 cot
ton crop which will be held of of the
market. and for such other matters
which might be brought up for con-
sidcration by the meeting which would
help TO carry out the purposes of the
organization.
President Davis ID. Noise of the
Sumter Chamber Of Commerce called
the meeting to order and read the
Chamber Of Commerce call for the
meeting. end the call Of the Southern
Cotton. and the National Cotton con-
Gress for organization by counties.
President Noise then briefly outlin-
"a the necessity for organization and
cooperation.
Mr.. 4. w. Dabbs nominated Mr.. d.
ID. Noise for permanent chairman of
tho Sumter county organization and
he was unanimously elected by accla-
n'ation. Mr.. Dabbs then nominated
Managing Secretary Il. 1. Reardon, of
the Sumter Chamber OF Commerce
for permanent secrctary. Mr.. Rear
don declined on the grounds that nc
had too much already to do and that
the Chamber of Commerce having
organized the farmers, should not now
have any further connection with the
ofhciai management of a county wide
movement. except giving hearty CO.
operation and organization backing to
the movement.
DR.. r. X. Holman nominated Mr.. II.
y. Belser for permanent secretary and
he was unanimously elected by accla-
nation. He requested Secretary Rear
don to serve as temporary secretary
during this meeting.
After a lengthy discussion of the
serious conditions confronting the
farmers and tho general business in
terests Of the Southern states due 10
the present European war financial
depression. stagnation Of business, etc.
upon motion OF MIR. Belscr, as amend
cd by DIR. Nj. L. Parlcr. the follow
Ing motion prevailed by unanimous
consent.
That a committee of two I'm every
school district be appointed Cor elect
ed) to secure pledges from all farm
cis and lien merchants. In their re-
spective districts, to hold ut least one
third Of their cotton for one yea, if
necessary. and to hold all cotton Off OF
the market for the next thirty days,
and further To secure pledges to re-
duce acreage one-third for 1916, anI.
II the war continues. to reduce to ,nc /.
half.
The following resolution introduced
by Mr. r.. w. Dabbs. seconded by =.
ID. Jennings. was unanimously adopt
ed.
Resolved: That we. the bankers
farmers. and merchants Of Sumtef
county. do affirm our belief that the
value of middling cotton is IL cents
per pound.
Second: That we do urge our peo-
PIE To 40 to the extreme length OF
endurance rather than sell any cotton
Tor less than - cents and we urge all
merchants and bankers to aid their
customers to do this.
A"'u' ihht we urge our people
to borrow on their life insurance. and
On every other form Of property for
the funds Immediately needed for
picking and ginning cottoa.
Fourth: That we request our banks
60 supplement these funds with sufii-
Client money To pick and gin the cot
ton. And that we urge the merchants
Tn get extensions on their bills SO that
they may use the money from their
cash sales to deposit in the banks
10 enable them to- extend still furth-
or assistance to the farmers to harvest
the cotton.
Fifth; That we urge our people TO
warehouse this cotton ns r,s, no ,os-
nj nj L...N