The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-09-15
DESIRE GOVERNMENT TO
AID COTTON GROWERS
Object of Bill Now Pending i'm
the House.
BY CONGRESSMAN HENRY.
Seeking To Have Federal Power Take
Care of Surplus of Several
Millions of Bales.

Washington Special to Columbia
State, Sept. 12.-Congressman
Henry of Texas, who has bill pend
ing in the house to take care OF the
cotton situation, tonight issued the
following statement regarding the
meetings which have been in prog
ress here during the past few days
by members Of the Farmers Union
and others:
Last night about 80 representa-
tlves in Congress- from the South
and other states and several other
gentlemen representing the Nation
al Farmers Union and state unions
met by agreement in the rooms of
the committee on rules for the pur-
pose of discussing the cotton situa-
tion in the South We carefully went
over all phases of the question as af-
fecting the deplOrable condition Of
the cotton producing industry in the
South. We came to the deliberate
agreement that the provisions of the
AldriCh-Nreeland act and proposed
amendments thereto would not take
care of our present situation. We
were of one accord that the United
States government must find way
to advance $3OO,OOO,OOO or $4OO,-
900, 900 of United States notes on the
surplus cotton crop of 100000 or
100000 of bales and save this
years crop and finance the needs OF
the Southern farmers. We conclud-
ed to strike straight from the shoul-
der and make the fight for taking
over, by the advancement OF such
notes, the surplus cotton crop in or
der that It might be held by the fed
eral government through these loans
until the war conditions in Europe
| have passed and the markets can be
reopened Nothing less than this
will save this years crop and pro
tect many OF the people of the South
ern states from almost absolute
ruin.
'In our meeting a resolution was
passed authorizing me as chairman
OF the conference to select COM
mittee Of 21 members, one repre-
sentative in Congress from each cot
ton state and representatives OF the
Farmers Union, merchants and bust
ness men from the South, completing
the number of 21, for the purpose
pf iuanpurotinp pnr Onpyan,opt &c
above outlined. 1t will be the duty
of this committee to present ever
phase of the case to the secretary Of
the treasury, the federal reserve
board and the President, and we are
to make suggestions to meetings Of
Southern representatives and repre-
sentatives from other states OF the
Union in regard to this matter ana
have decided to have frequent meet
ings. practically every night until our
fight has been launched and won. |
am now at work selecting the 21
names to constitute this committee
and hope to have them ready bv next
Monday. 1t is my expectation to an
nounce them on that day. Already
delegates from the National Farmers
Union and various state unions are
coming into Washington and are
pressing the propaganda as above
indicated
"Uncle Sam is the only agency i'm
the country powerful enough TO fl
nance the needs of the Southern cot
ton growers and save them from
utter ruin this year We are going
down the line with the contention
that the federal government must
advance this money, save the sur
plus cotton crop and supply the
notes for our people just as they
have done in the advancement Of fed
eral reserve notes to the great bust
ness interest and stock brokers OF
hn