The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-22
Plans Formulated to Hold Cot
ton and Reduce Acreage
Throughout South.
PLEDGES TO BE OBTAINED
FROM ALL FARMERS
All Growers and Producers in
United States VIII Be Called
on to Act in Concert.

New Orleans, Feb. 18.-A program
for the reduction Of the 1919 acreage
planted TO cotton and the holding OF
the present crop for higher prices was
embodied il resolutions passed at the
closing session today Of the confer
ance of BANKERS. merchants and
farmers from all of the cotton pro-
duoing States. The salient features
Of the resolution are:
l. Reduction CT the 1919 cotton
acreage by one-thi:d as compared
with 1918.
?. y pledge not to sell any part
Of the present crop for other than
"rsmunerative prices and to hold
this crop until the demand calls for it
at such pricea.
3. Formation of State cotton acre
age reduction associations whose
business it VIII be to obtain written
pledges to carry out the first two
provisions from every cotton grove!
and cotton producer in the United
States
4. To brand any man who refuses
to cooperate as so lacking in public
spirit IS to forfeit the confidence Of
the community in which he lives"
s. A future convention of cotton
producers before which a detailed re-
bort Of the progress Of the plans out
lined above is 20 be made by every
, cotton growing State.
The resolutions which were drawn
up by committee composed Of a
! banker. farmer and merchant from
oacl, OF the cotton growing States.
headed by Former Gov Richard T.
Manning of South Carolina as chair
man. further declared that 1.-The ac-
cumuIat;on of large stocks of cotton
! in the hands Of farmers and mer-
chants of the South and the drastic
decline in the price TO figures below
waa. trade disorga.1ization. to the
scarcity Of ocean tonnage. to the re-
/ strictions OH trade imposed by foreign
snations have precipitated upon
Ethe cotton producing. mercantile apd
!;ankjng interests Of the South crisis
fraught with grave menace to the
present welfare Of the section as well
as 70 the future prosperity thereof" :"
The convention was adjourned sub
'iiect to the call Of Governor Pleasant
If Louisiana.
The resolution follows:
Resolved, first. That this. conyen-
tion hereby declares that at this
juncture a reduction of at least one
third Of the 1918 cotton acreage and
the planting of, largely increased food
crops is imperatively necessary for
the present welfare and future pros
perity Of the South, and this conven-
ton and the several farmer. mer-
chant and banker members thereof
hereby pledge themselves in their
several capacities through their own
actions and through their determined
influence to produce the desired end
Second. That this convention de-
clares that if the foregoing acreage
reduction platform is carried out,
there will be no necessity TO sell any
part of the present crop for other
convention hereby pledges itself and
its members and affiliations not to
sacrifice the present crop but to hold
The same until demand calls for il
ut such prices
Third. That the farmers mer-
chants and bankers Of the South
should organize their forces and in
Auence to the end that the acreage
reduction and holding campaign shall
be carried vigorously into every coun-
~ and every subdivision thereof in
every cotton growing State. that in
furtherance Of this intensive cam
paisn those States which are already
organized should earnestly prosecute
the work so well begun, and those
States which as yet are not organized !
should proceed at once to marshall
their forces and in so doing should |
utilize the machinery of the State
Councils Of Defense where available !
and tho Stot" and county agents of !
III" agricultural and educational de- !
p:rtnlcnts Of such States, that in all !
counties in which public organization :
meetings have not been already held, !
such meetings should be held on Sat-
uGa%. February %. for the purpose
Of ratfyins The acreage reduction and
ing tho written pledges Of all con-
c"'nn4. and II is recommended that
All! day or such days as may be ap-
pointed shall be declared a holiday
md all stores in such meeting place
be closed.
Fourth. That any man who be-
cause his reighhors and the cotton
producers generally are reducing cot
,or acreage shall for selfish ends
undertake to profit through such
General action by increasing his own
or by refusing to reduce the
-ar1n. s'lch man shall be deemed so :
lacking: in public spirit and good
as to forfeit the confidence
ma support Of the community in !
which he lives {
Fifth. That the several State or ;
in charge of the move
mont ShO111d II, tho near future nt