Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-02-16
SUMTER FARMERS VOTE TO REDUCE
How Sumter
VIII Reduce

The following resolutions wer
lrawn by the committee authorized b
he mass meeting of cotton growers G
sumter county Saturday for presenta
ion to the cotton states conventio
t New Orleans this week:
Whereas, it is commonly rumor-
ed that Great Britain has already
decided upon a plan Of cotton dis
tribution as an economic measure
to maintain for herself domina-
tion Of the South's staple crop,
without in any manner consult
ing the interest of the cotton pro-
ducers of the South, and,
Whereas. such restriction or en-
bargOes are unfair and detrimen-
tai to the interests of the cotton
producers. and may possibly lead
to a recurrence of the disastrous
conditions faced by the South in
1914, and,
Whereas. European spinners
and Wall street manipulators
have grown rich, manipulating and
distributing the cotton crops in
the past, while the producers bare
ly reaped living out of the
transaction, and,
Whereas. there is a present an
admitted world shortage in cotton
a large amount of the available
crop still being in the hands of
the producers who are determined
to be paid a price commensurate
with the cost of production and
in keeping with the prevailing
prices of cotton goods. and.
Whereas, the prosperity and de-
velogment of the South is largely
depending upon the proceeds from
the cotton crops, therefore be it,
Resolved, That we, cotton grow
ers of Sumter county, Georgia. in
public meeting assembled, un-
qualifedly condemn the domi-
neering practices of Great Brit
ain and the Wall street gamblers;
and we do hereby pledge our
selves to reduce the acreage in
cotton production during the year
1919 33 1870 of 1918 crop, and we
further pledge ourselves to hold
that part of 1918 crop still in
our hands for a minimum price of
35c basis middling.
This meeting most earnestly ap-
peals to Georgia senators and
congressman to demand an uncon-
ditional revocation of the present
embargo on cotton, and to demand
for the cotton producers of the
South an unrestricted world mar
ket for our cotton. Be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these
resolutions be forwarded to each
senator and representative in
congress.
Whereas, it is recognized and
admitted that the spectators and
gamblers OF the cotton exchanges
have acquired immense fortunes
out of their manipulation of the
South's principal crop-cotton-
while the producer of cotton was
frequently compelled to sell the
product of his toll and labor be-
low the actual cost of production,
and,
Whereas, it is also recognized
that some system of cooperative
marketing is essential to obtain
for the South fair value for her
cotton crop, therefore be it,
Resolved, That we cotton pro-
ducers of Sumter county, Georgia,
in meeting assembled, encourage
and pledge our support to the es-
tablishment of a COOPERATIVE
Cotton Growers Cotton Exchange
for the purpose of eliminating the
present gambling institutions
known as cotton exchanges from
commercial distribution of cot
ton.
1t is our opinion that the cot
ton producers themselves should
own and operate the commercial
machinery to distribute their cot
ton throughout the world.
Following is the form Of pledg
.dopted for the farmers to sign:
PLEDGE.