The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1914-10-24
Grant Parish Farm
erS Want No
Cotton in 1915

At IL a. m. Tuesday, October 20.
Judge w. f. Blackman adjourned dis
trict court in order to give the citizens
Of Grant parish the use of the Colfax
court house in which to hold mass
meeting advertised for this hour, to
take action toward protecting the cot
ton growers, and for the purpose OF
electing delegates to attend a State
meeting to be held in the city OF Alex
andria. La, on Monday. Oct. 26. 1914.
Mr.. J. w. Duncan, chairman of the
local buy-a-hale movement. called the
mass meeting to order and stated the
object of the meeting. He called on
j. @. Long. secretary of the local buy
a-bale movement, and H. G. Goodwin
to act as secretaries of the meeting,
and requested Mr. T. H. McNeely, del
egate to the Southern Cotton Associa-
ton, to address the assembly on the
proposition on which it was desired to
take action.
Mr.. McNeely read an able paper that
thoroughly covered the ground in adj
vocacy of the proposition that no cot
ton be planted in 1916, and that the
legislature be convened to pass law
forbidding the planting of cotton in
Louisiana for the year 1915. He show
ed that the elimination Of the cotton
crop for 1915 would be worth $780,
600, 900 to Southern farmers; that they
would profit that much by raising food
crops and cattle equal to the price OF
the present cotton crop; that the en-
HANGED price fer the 1914 and 1916 cot
ton crops would be clear profit equal
to any cotton crop that could be hoped
for under present boil weevil condi-
tons: and added to that would be the
splendid benefits to be reaped from di-
versified farming. to say nothing OF
the great relief afforded by extermi-
nation of the Mexican boil weevil.
The reading of the paper was heartily
applauded and evidently well received.
The chair invited discussion of the
proposition, and said he hoped every
one present would feel free to express
his views.
In response to this invitation Capt.
C. H. Teal read circular letter from
w. B. Thompson on the cotton problem,
and expressed his views on the subject.
Considerable discussion Of the SUBJ
ject followed, being participated in by
H. L. Brian. C. W. Payne. J. W. Dun
can, j. @. Long, A. ]. O'Quinn, J. ID.
McNeely, Earl Roberts, and others.
T. H. McNeely then read the follow
ing resolutions, which on motion OF
H. G. Goodwin seconded by c. H. Teal,
were unanimously adopted, viz:
Whereas cotton planting has ceased
Tn he profitable venture in the State
of Louisiana, due to the ever lncreas'
iuv ravages of the Mexican boil weevil,
and
Whereas our soils, labor, Implements
equipment, and inclfations are best mt
ted TO cotton production, and 1t is oul
earnest desire to continue IN this occu
nation If it can be brought back to
profitable basis, and
Whereas an opportunity is now be
fore the people OF the South for TIT
complete eradication of the weevil D.
means of uniform laws to be passed b.
the various cotton growing states pro
limiting the planting of cotton during
the wear 1915, therefore be 1t
Resolved by this mass meeting o
cotton farmers of Grant parish, Lou
;siana. That it is our earnest desire
and we do hereby petition and implor
the governor of this State to call tn
iso;slature together in extraordinar,
session for the purpose of passing tn
necessary legislation dealing with TIM
subject. prohibiting by law the plant
inc ~ cotton within the bounds OF tn
State of Louisiana for the year 1915.
The resolution passed without sin
gle dissenting vote.
On motion duly seconded the cnal
then appointed the following delegs
4 tion to attend the meeting to be bel
in the city of Alexandria, La, as rel
resentatives of Grant parish. viz;
Ward One-T. H. McNeely, Jer
Smith. M. E. Swafford, j. W. Duncan
Ward Two-John Estes, L. Z. Hat
not, Warren Hoaeycutt' George fulle'
Ward Three. C. c. Fralick =
Ward Four-O. C. Watson.
Ward Five-A. H. Barrett, T. Ran
DO.
Ward Six-R. W. Richardson, lsas
McMills. /,
Ward Seventh. L. Brian, K. y
Damn. ]. E. Drewett, c. W. Payn'
Milton O'Quinn.
The secretaries were requested
furnish the Governor with copy
the resolution adopted, and to have q