The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-19
columbia Meeting Recommends
Gut of One-Third in Cotton
Acreage.
FARMERS ADVISED TO HOLD
COTTON FOR 35 CENTS
Governor Harding of Federal
Reserve Bank Addresses Gen
eral Assembly.

- COIum D1a, FeO. i3."W1lu li1o1i
minds fully made up to take definite
steps to secure price for cotton in
Keeping with the cost OF production,
to adopt systematic plans for a dras-
tie reduction in cotton acreage, during
the coming year, and to suggest
means whereby the use Of CONNER
scial fertilizer might be reduced
farmers and bankers from every sec
ton of South Carolina met at Craven
Han yesterday ct noon and heard ad-
dresses by Governor R. A. cooper
Governor R. I. Manning, &: Har-
ris commissioner Of agriculture and
j. II. ClafN, president OF the farm
ers' union.
At the conclusion of the meeting.
resolutions of far reaching effect
were unanimously adopted. The
farmers feel that # these resolutions.
which are similar to those adopted
bv ottec Southern States. are followed
rreligieusly the calmity threatening
the STATE viii be averted and pros
perfty such as has not been expe-
r1enced in years will prevail.
n the preamble to the resolution.
Il is Sc. forth that the rest OF the
country is facing an era Of almost
unthinkable prosperity, but that the
South is threatened with a calamity
70. its commercial life as a result OF
the price of cotton. It is pointed cut
that there must be drastic re-,
auction in acreage as well as hold,
ing Of the present crop and the res
olutfons provide:
.sFor the systematic holding of cot
ton now on nand until it reaches 80
cents basis middling. Systematic Plans
for 33 1-3 per cent reduction in cot
toa acreage throughout the belt.
However, any man planting five acresi
or less to the horse to make no re-
duetion.
..six to seven acres, reduce one
acre to- the horse.
T..Eigft to. nine acres, reduce two
acres to the horse.
.sff....Fen to 13 acres, reduce three
acres.
aFourteen acres, reduce four ac~es
ss"Fifteen to 16 acres, red"ce tx.
s. ..ssaTenteen to IS acres, reduce six
acres.
s1:aJnder no circumstances will ar!'
farmer plant more than - acres I"
the horse.
Systematic plans. for reduction il;
the use Of commercial foT..iliza:'5-
In~the resolution adopted. .:!a GOV
erf,or; Of the State IS REQUEST: 10 SET
aside. February % as Reduction
Pledge Day" at which Tin" farmers
over the entire State are 20 H. aio-
pealed to to sign pledges FOR 10 re-
auetion Of cotton acreage oae-+siird
and the planting Of lands in food
crops instead of cotton c:ad ta' re-,
duction Of commercial fc~til::Eel, -,
per cent Of tho anloant ns"'s i"
1918 fer cotton. The 2ovoc.!o., IS
$50 aa,,c.l % oal, upe,. :l?r governor
of other States to ca!' ior :!e"ticgs
Of farmers and business lrrn 50 tha'
tI1e,racver:?c ont 80 bncoliae :2o};t;.o.i'i*'
~ scope
The committoe on ros";ll:toEa voc
commended thu. q committee oe scT'or
persons ha n2rocfa h. ti,n cc-'eTi2o.. 20
inaugurate Statew:6e caa.2a;e11 70
effect the purposes ST fact:?. A
funds were needed for this conn"a;ten
to worS effectively loans We're cai'ei
for and more than s1IoA w1s sil',-
scribed It IS n,anned 70 rcDa,' -h,ie
money at a later date
Clemson College is asked to asst
in every possible way in securing
pledges for g. reduction Of acreage.
In the resolution bankers are call
ed upon to scrutinize closely all ap-
plications for loans. and not to grant
loans for operating farms on which
there is no proof of reduction Of one
third in cotton acreage.
officials Of the South Carolina
Bankers Association are also called
upon to communicate with officials OF
similar associations in other States
asking them to adopt plans similar to
those suggested for South Carolina
bankers.
The president of the Farmers In
ion is also called upon to cooperate
in the movement and to call upon the
unions in otner States to take Exc
steps. The commissioner Of agricul-
ture Is called upon to communicate
with other commissions so that the
whole South may be affected by the
movement The assistance Of the
United States agricultural depart
ment is requested as is that Of the
State warehouse commissioner and
the chambers of commerce and
boards of trade Of the cities over the
State.
In the resolutions adopted the gov
ernar vas requested to appoint dele
gates to the New Orleans convention
which meets February HIS. 1t was
resolved that the delegates appointed
be instructed to stand for a price OF
not less than 35 cents. basis middlIng.
for cotton now on hand. one third re-
duction of the cotton acreage and SO
per cent reduction in commercial fer
tiiizer Of the amount used N 1913 |
for cotton TO be used il 1919 Oh cot
ton.
The legislature is to be requested |
to make an appropriation to defray
the expe.4se of a representative OF
cotton IN the Peace Conference. 9th