The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-08
, COTTON GROWERS
LOOK TO FUTURE
Take Steps Toward Controlling the
Prices-Many in Attendance.

The State, 7th.
An enthusiastic meeting of farm
ers and business men was held IN Co.
lumbia yesterday when the plan and
scope of the South Carolina Cotton
Association and the relation of this
association to the American Cotton
Association was fully discussed. Be-
tween 600 and 700 representative
citizens from all sections of the State
were in attendance. The chief ad-
dresses were made by United States
Senator E. D. Smith, A. E. Elmore of
Spokane, Wash, representing the
wheat growers organization of the
Far Northwest, Governor Cooper
and ]. Skottowe Wannamaker, pres
ident of the association. Brief talks
were also made by A. A. Protsman,
field organizer for the association,
and B. Frank Mcleod, also member
of the State organization.
Within the next few weeks State
wide campaign for membership is to
be conducted in every county. Farm
ers who join will be assessed 25 cents
per bale on the basis of the 1917
crop. AS the membership is for three
years 10 cents bale will be collect
ed for the two succeeding years.
Meetings are to be held in each coun-
ty when strong addresses are to be
made, setting forth the program of
the association. Provision is also
made for membership of professional
and business men and bankers.
Must Have Funds.
Throughout the meeting yesterday
it was emphasized that the organiza-
ton would be futile without adequate
financial backing. Mr.. Elmore ex-
planned that the wheat and fruit
growers had combined in the West
and had assessed themselves $40 an
acre. The faith the farmers had in
their organization would be tested by
the measure of generosity with which
they came to it's financial needs.
No action was taken yesterday as
to fixing minimum price, although
somewhat strenuous effort was made
by E. w. Dabbs to have the organi-
zation go on record as estimating so
cents a pound as reasonable price.
A meeting of all the State associa-
tions in the cotton belt is to be held
about September l., at which time one
of the chief objects will be to agree
upon a minimum figure.
What was possibly the most far
reaching effort of the day was the
resolution calling on each county to
buy all cotton that would be rushed
to the market early in the fall before
a minimum price had been set. Lang
D. Jennings Of Sumter led the hight
for the adoption of this resolution,
arguing that there was always large
block of cotton which was sold at the
opening of the season, which cotton
was sufficient to meet the immediate
needs of the manufacturers, and
would thus prevent control of the
market by the growers. MIR. Jennings
made an leoquent plea for the resolu-
ton, saying that no one would stand
to lose dollar and that each county
was financially able to take care Of
the cotton hurried to the market. The
resolution was adopted.
Another resolution was adopted
calling on the president of the State
Bankers Association and the presl-
dents of the chamber Of commerce
of Columbia and Charleston to call
meeting of bankers and business men
of the State with the purpose of
forming trade acceptance corpora
ton in South Carolina. Sucn a COY
poration was formed few days ago
in Georgia with a capital Of S2,e9G,-
600. It is estimated that capital
stock of from S750,000 to s1,00o,000
would be necessary for the South
Carolina branch.
Governor Optimistic.
Governor Cooper was the first
speaker. He was wholly optimistic as
to the outlook for the cotton growers.
The brightest days were just ahead.
The success of the organization de-
pended upon the support which the
farmers gave it. Moral support was
not sufficient. They were badly mis-
taken if they thought the organiza-
tion could go forward without means.
The cotton association ought to be
the biggest thing ever started in the
4 L j e.