The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-11
Donnelly President, Col. T. o. Smith Treasurer and
 w. D. Nesbitt Secy.
WILL MEET AGAIN
 MONDAY AFTERNOON.
Club Will Maintain Offices At Cham Der of Ccmmerce-Committ on Membership and Constitu-
 tion and Bylaws Named

The Buy-a- Bale-of- Cotton club was formally organized yesterday afternoon in the directors room of the Chamber Of Commerce by committee appointed by President r. G. Shook of the civic cham ber with authority to act in the matter. J. w. Donnelly, chairman of the organi- zation committee. was made president of the club; Col. Tom o. Smith, treasurer; W. D. Nesbitt. secretary. and w Blanks. Everett assistant secretary The club adjourned until Monday afternoon next at 8 o'clock, when it will meet again in the directors room of the Chamber of Commerce, to complete the plans of or ganization.
 A committee on the matter of forming a. constitution and bylaws for the new or ganization was named as follows: Col. Tom o. Smith, chairman; W. D. Nesbitt and Sydney J. Bowie. committee on membership was named as follows: P. G. Shook, chairman; R. A. Porter, ]. H. Frye. J. H. Doughty and Sydney J. Bowie.
 Will Maintain Offices Any citizen of Birmingham can become a member of the club by purchasing a bale of cotton at 10 cents a pound. This is the only qualification for member ship. The club will maintain offices in the Chamber of Commerce and buying committee composed of experts will han dle all the orders received for cotton through the committee.
 The membership committee yesterday appointed will solicit members for the new organization, pointing out that the purchase of bale of cotton is not only good investment from business stand point, but that it will have a tremendous effect for good in that it will tend to quiet disturbing rumors of a lost cotton crop.
 The point was stressed in yester- days meeting that only "distressed' cotton was to be bought by the club In other words. only farmers who are compelled to sell bale to live, or to meet extremely pressing obligations will be relieved through the clubs purchases. It is the intention of the club to have competent men in charge Of the buying, men who understand the situation and have q wide knowl- edge of the cotton business.
 R. A. Porter yesterday said there would be no reason for farmer to sell a bale of cotton except to meet in- debtedness that must at once be paid or to purchase the necessaries of life. Such farmers. he said would have to sell their cotton at any price and that if the Buy-a- Bale of- Cotton club pur- chased such cotton at 10 cents a pound it would have a good effect in strength ening those who could afford it to hold on to their product even at temporary sacrifice.
 Mir. Bowie said that 1t appeared that the war in Europe hardly would last for more than 60 days longer and stressed the point that it was neces- sary at the present time to hold cot ton until that time When the war closes. according to MT Bowie, cot ton exchanges will be opened and there will be demand for cotton abroad The holding of cotton until that time, he said, may mean saving to the south of $100,000,000.
 Actual Buying Next Week
 The Buya-bale- le-of-Cotton club will begin the work of actually buying cot ton next week. The membership com mittee or committee soliciting citizens to purchase bale of the staple will be at work in the meantime and it is expected that Birmingham will take considerably more than 1000 bales of cotton
 It has been pointed out that Jeff ferson county produces about 5000 bales of cotton year. The Sand moun- tain region in north Alabama produces great amount of cotton Most of the cotton farmers in north Alabama are white and it is the northern section that needs the aid of the citizens of the state. according to statements made in yesetrday's meeting.
 In south Alabama, it is said. the cot ton farmers are mostly negro tenants who have no interest in the buy-a-bale movement. because they are not directly affected. Their landlords wfl care for them perforce. In north Alabama the situation is entirely different. Here the cotton is produced by white farmers who, before the crop was made hypothecated it for the necessaries of life and for the | necessary fertilizer and seed to make the crop Their obligations must be met and are to be due on or about October | l. For this reason immediate action is l imperative, if the farmer in north Ala | bama is to be named, and. incidentally, | the people whom the farmers owe money | for supplies bought in the spring
 Suggestion From Hilton
 McLane Hilton, Jr., president of the | First National bank of Pell City, ad- | dressed the following communication to the Chamber of Commerce. and it was read in yesterdays meeting:
 Gentlemen: As a member of the Chamber of Commerce I venture to sub init proposal to the people of Birming- l ham in connection with the buy-a- bale-of- l cotton movement.
 Any citizen who desires to aid in this laudable undertaking is invited to send $50 to the First National bank of Pell City The bank will engage to buy a l bale of cotton direct from the farmer at 10 cents the pound, not more than one bale to be bought from any one farmer. We will also see to it that this relief goes where most needed.
 Cotton bought direct in this manner will be warehoused for one year free of charge. We will also pay cost of handling into warehouse and out to mill or freight station. If insurance against fire is wanted we will furnish 1t at cost. not to exceed 10 cents per bale per month.
 "If the people of the south will rally behind this movement, each absorbing