The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-22
RESOLUTIONS By :
MEETING NEE
Movement Takes Concrete Form
Hold Cotton and Reduce
Acreage.
All BUSINESS INTERESTS
OF SOUTH Fe HELP

pan to Sell Cotton Direct to
Consumer in Europe and TO
.iberate Farmers From Mid
lemen.
fost Disastrosls Calamity of It's
1xanYuercial Life Facing the Entire
south 1raead Of Unthinkabie Pros
perity Such as is Being Enjoyed by
Practically Every O.her Section OF
s.ssea:ssa @-sz--t,s.-s: $500:
Nheress the South instead Of fac
great period of almost unthink-
able prosperity that every section OF
Asnesaca IS enjoying today, and regard
3 less OF TIE fact that the shelves of
tlle word are practically empty OF
fffy goods. and ii the natural chan
Acts sof trade were opened up to cot
Tor Sf1ere would be a demand at rec
snr brari.lng prices Tor every po,lno
nf cotton sn america today; stin not
a reseit OF the reconstruction pc
sfioH f0fsoBfnS the WOftd War, puI otte
8 sIargelYste the fact that speculat tors
iiaxe taken advantage Of the recon
sffanasfion period and the fact that tht.
fnras { channels of trade for the nlov-
s;iifsuf eoTton, the SouIh's staple crop.
fas ely; closed TO hammer cotton TO
saprsce far below the cost of produc-
Heroes, TIE holding of cotton alone
not correct this evil. but in addi-
stiSii tt,,Ye.sa must be a drastic rednc-
Rsn 1tise acreage 80 -
here4s, Is SIN cotton at prevail
issg prizes for the purpose OF plant
ing anufher full crop With the hopes
} sof ,Ysakins more cotton for the prr-7
puse OF ag:ain selling it below the cost
Y aoF sp5fesduc.: :e.l would be suicidal TO
Gay the Feast: and whereas the pres
ssai1ts eoTsastion, touch every phase OF
q eoffdsgl ereiaf iife in Che sontlr.
THarefcre be ii resolved. that unit
50 cu.oo sration and action between
an iae nuss1ess interests Of the South
IS Absolutely necessary to avert the
ssiilanlif row facing our cen1nereiai
ftia definite systematic plans
Bffofsa ae put INTO ppeI:LuoH-iii s.s esEis
section OF tie cotton belt. First: For
4sss sysfen:atic holding Of cotton now
81 sDiH hand .p:itil it reaches 35 cents
basis Tffddiing. Second: systematic
pians fo:. S33 1-3 per cent reduction IL
cotton acreage throughout the belt
SsioMege,. al;y man planting five acres
81 less TO the horse to make no w re-.
sssf,GftoK
80 acres reduce one acre to the
81 as-es reduce two acres to the
s-1s acres reduce three
Acres: q
a4-ac. as reduce four acres;
- s.; I55--I6 acres. reduce FIVE acres;
y@f a cras reduce six acres;
sEndef no circun1s ae isncwlithe?c1
naer no circumstances VIII 2nv
tarmar 51dat more than IL ac.css %
fhEsaorse Third: Systematic ?'ans
fer reduction in the use Of CONNER
cfaI fertilizer.
we recommend that the present
c8ngrAss c7 the United states enact
the Smith bill covering the characf er
OF cotton deliverable upon cotton eN-
charges I'd amend SO as to include
ffnges OF same grade. We ask that
he sgoyesnor OF this State comiau-
s!nscafe Immediately with our senator's
aaia representatives, Informing them
ofthis: acfTfon.
1rDeIsp;asio,s to be Issued by
:sGsesfi,s SSsssl.T2f5 Governor
governor Of South Carolina is here
bs< earn lastl requested to at once
issue. a proclamation setting forth the
condition existing today, the absolute
necessify and irnportance OF taking
syst fenatic acton for diverting this
calamity. and alsc the vital import
saffce eof REDUCTION in cotton acreage
and to name February 2c, to be
known a: ..Reduction Pledge Day
said day to be used throughout South
sCarelfne. :..r the taking OF pledges for
the reduction Of cotton acreage one
<tf1srd and planting Of lands IN food
crops and the reduction Of comnler-
ciaI fertilizer per cent OF a1nonat
used in SIS. for cotton to be used N
1919. efor cotton.
ProcIamation by Governors Of Every
State In the Cotton Belt.
pBe # further resolved that nc
governor or South Carolina. be and IS
hereby earnestly requested to at ono
urge ,upen the governors OF each o1
Tt1eet5ther cotton growing States e
e.fs, a :rass meeting ofsthe farmers
and bus, ness men OF their states. re-
issi,testing that said call for said :1'ass "
s. meeting tie issued by governors q
safsf States in cooperation with tht
presitfen. of the State R.,nkers AS
ISOLATION. farmers Unions. Coinn1's
ssioiero oof Agriculture and the VARIOUS
commer:la1 bodies and Boards o.
Trade OF said STATE. and that sac
meeting be called for the purpose o
arranging and putting into effect sSs
tefnseele pians for drastic reduction II
cotton ac,cagc and -commcrclai lerti
tizer and ;:rranging of holding ol COZ
ton now on hand.
4Ee it further resolved. that 'h
governor OF South Carolina e't;i';9''.