Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-02-18
MUST REDUCE ACREAGE
Proceedings Of Cotton Convention In
Columbia.
PRESENT CROP IS WORTH IS Cents


After Discussion of the Situation the
Statewide Conference Takes Steps
That Look Like They Should Con-
tribute to the Desired End.
News and Courier, Friday.
Representative farmers from every
section Of South Carolina assembled In
convention last Thursday, adopted res
olutions pledgins systematic holding
movement for price of thirty five
cents a pound for cotton basis mid
ding. approved 33 1-3 per cent re-
duction in the acreage throughout the
cotton belt and urged curtailment in
the use Of commercial fertilizers. The
resolutions provide that farmers plant
ing five acres or less to the horse need
not reduce their acreage.
The convention formed what Is
known as the South Carolina cotton
association and a campaign for pledges
will be waged throughout the state, to
which campaign the assistance of the
press is asked. Farmers, both white
and negroes, will be asked to sign
pledge cards binding themselves to re-
duce their acreage SO Ia per cent and
the use Of commercial fertilizer so per
"ent. These pledge cards will be filed
with the commissioner Of agriculture.
The governor will appoint steering
committee Of eleven to take charge Of
the campaign.
Leading Farmers Present.
There were probably between three
and four hundred Of the leading farm
ars of the state at the meeting, rep
resenting every county.in the state. The
gathering was in response to the call
Of Governor Cooper, Commissioner Of
Agriculture Harris and others that
plan might be formulted to help the
present cotton situation and to stabil-
lie the cotton market. ]. H. Claffey,
Of Orangeburg. presided at the con-
vention today. Addresses were made
by Governor Cooper, Ex-Governor Man.
ming and Commissioner of Agriculture
Harris.
This afternoon the members Of the
convention went to the hall Of the
house of representatives, where they
heard an address by w. P. G. Hard
ing, governor Of the federal reserve
board.
The resolutions urged Governor
Cooper to issue proclamation desig-
mating February % as Reduction
Pledge day" throughout the state;
that day to be used in getting pledges
from the farmers to reduce their acre
age and their use Of commercial fer
.ilizers. The governor likewise will
rall on the executives of other states
TO take like action and to request them
to hold mass meetings in their states
similar to the one held here today. For
the purpose of conducting a statewide
campaign to put into effect the pur-
pose set out in the resolution Govern
or Cooper is asked to appoint a COM
mittee Of six, two bankers, two bus
mess men, two farmers, to act as a
7teering committee.
Many Agencies Asked to Cooperate.
. Clemson College and It's coordinat-
ing branches are called upon to assist
this campaign ami the president OF the
states farmers union Is called upon
officially to do everything in his power
to make the movement a success. He
is requested to communicate with the
farmers union of all other cotton
States and to impress upon them the
importance Of formulating like plans
B. Harris, commissioner Of agriculture
Is asked to communicate with the COM
missioners of agriculture Of the other
states and request them to call mass
meetings and to start holding and
reduction of acreage and fertilizer
movements. Governor Cooper and
Commissioner Irarris are requested to
ask the assistance Of the national de-
partment of agriculture in the move
ment throughout the cotton belt by
means Of it's agents, and channels OF
publicity. w. G. Smith, state ware
house commissioner. likewise Is re-
uuested to communicate with ware
house commissioners in the cotton
states and get them interested IN the
reduction movement. Chambers Of
commerce are requested to join in the
campaign.
Comics of the resolution. ) will be sent
to various organizations in the cotton
states by the state commissioner OF
agriculture. The resolutions, which
are quite lengthy, conclude with re-
quest that the federal reserve banks
of Richmond and Atlanta assist the
movement.
State Central Committee.
The state central committee which
will have charge of the financing and
propaganda of this movement to reach
every farm in the state is composed
as follows; WV. Long, Clemson COL
lege: ]. G. Mackey, Camden; w. G.
Walker, Barnwell: J. H. Claffey, Or
angeburg; ]. F. Wannamaker, st.
Matthew's; B. F. Mcleod, Charleston:
T. G. Mcleod, Bishopville; T. ]. Britt,
Mccormick. Local county committees
and township committees are also ap-
pointed. Twenty prominent farmers
have been appointed by Governor
Cooper to attend the New Orleans con-
ference.
Resolutions in Part.
The text Of the resolutions following
the preamble reads:
Therefore, be 1t resolved that united
cooperation and action in all the bus
mess interests Of the south is absolute
" necessary to avert the calamity now
facing our commercial life: that def
mite systematic plans should be put
into operation in every section OF the
cotton belt. First: The systematic
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