The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-03
HOLD YOUR COTTON.
FARMERS UNION ADVISES HOLD
ING FOR THIRTY-FTVE
CENTS.
Cotton is Not Bringing a Price Pro-
portionatc to That OF Other Farm
Products and Manufacturers arc
Selling Cloth mt Tremendous Profit.


cotton seed was the conclusion Of
the meeting OF farmers In Columbia
yesterday when more than 100 cot
ton growers from all sections of the
State met to discuss the question Of
cotton values and to initiate a holding
movement.
Extreme shortage In the world sup
ply OF cotton. greatly increased cost of
production and the unusually high
scale OF prices obtaining for fabrics
and cottonseed products were advanc-
ed In justification Of price fixing. 1t
was emphasized that the farmers de-
siro only O. fair price for their cotton
and that the figures are proportion
ate with other raw material" and
that the cotton growers are entitled
TO a living. To emphasize that this
was no movement to procure the
Hons share" n committee drafted n
resolution. expressing unfeigned 10y
ATTY 70 tne koFerhmcnts
To acauaint the cotton growers
throughout the state as to the situ-
alton obtaining In the cotton markets.
an educational campaign" Is to be
conducted. with meetings In every
township. III. T. Morrison was in
structed TO appoint chairman I'm
each county who will direct the cam
paisn. The object OF the meetings
viii be TO inform "the people as to
the reasons for demanding 35 cents q
pound for their cotton and to explain
20 them how they can secure the mon
ey with which to keep distress cot
ton OF the market"
The meeting was held at 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon In the Office of
w. G.. Smith. State warehouse COM
missioner. Mr.. Smith explained at
the outset that the warehouse space
available In the State was adequate to
store the crop. He also emphasized
that the banks had the money on de-
poslt to make loans on cotton ware
house receipts. He explained that
farmers could borrow 80 per cent of
the price obtaining when cotton was
stored. The interest rete. he said.
was 8 per cent.
Another important fact. emphasiz-
cd by Mr.. Smith. was that the cot
ton warehouse system of South Car
olina has been linked with the bureau
OF markets OF the national depart
ment Of agriculture and that a pub
lie grader Is now connected with the
Columbia Offices. This grader gives
his services freely TO all farmers who
send their samples to Columbia. or
makes trips to places where 100 or
more bales are to be graded.
y. whitner Reid. secretary OF the
State Farmers Union. acted as secre-
tary Of the meeting and read a letter
addressed to Col. K. j. Watson. rela-
tive to the cotton convention called
for October 2 In New Orleans. Presi-
dent Morrison and three former pres
idents. II. Harris. A. j. Perritt and f..
W. Dabbs were named delegates. The
next netting OF South Carolina grow
crs has been called for October 10
ana r. III. Hyatt has asked that the
meeting be held at the Colonia Ho-
tel.
Many brief talks were made during
the meeting. Some OF these were by
Mr.. Morrison. r. w. Dabbs. j. G.. l..
white of Chester. NJ. o. Dantzler OF
orangeburg. q. L. Toole OF Aiken. w.
%. Tatum OF orangeburg and F. III.
Hyatt OF Columbia. The resolution.
demanding IS cents a pound for cot
tor was introduced by Mr.. Toole. 1t
was adopted practically unanimously
and reads:
Whereas cotton Is not selling for
anything like It's worth under the
present conditions and high prices Of
other farm products and
Whereas from all indications the
crop will be shorter than the 1916
crop and probably not less than H.
100000 bales. and
Whereas the crop OF this date Is a
great deal earlier than the crop OF
1915 and yet the ginners' report shows
the crop Is much shorter and
'Wheeras tho >heapest cotton cloth
'drillins) produced is selling for rs
cents per pound ard some percales for
$40 per pound-the cotton mills OF
tns country are making from 100 to
l6o per cent on tho present prices
and
Whereas the needs of the world
call for 2i.oOO,OoO bales. and the
worlds supply without the 1917 crop
Ia 600 900 bales short and NTH tha