The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-19
r. -
STATE COTTON ].
ACREAC MEETING
Great Rally of Farmers to Be
Held in Columbia,
April 3rd.
CAMP AIGN BEING PUSHED
WITH GREAT vIGoR
plans Being Formulated tc
Change The System of Hand
ling Cotton Crop.
plans Being Formulated tt
By Harold Booker)

Lug SSOtton S1Op.
By Harold Booker)
Columbia. March IA mann
moth public rally meeting of the cot
ton farmers of the State will be held
in the hall of the house OF represen-
tatiyes in the State house on Thurs
day, April 3 at II o'clock noon at
which there will be addresses by some
Of the leading experts and speakers
on cotton in the country. This pub
.Hc meeting will last from II O'Clock
until @. From to 4 there will be
held a. special meeting Of the COM
n,ltteemen for the purpose Of re-
eeiyiag and tabulating final reports.
! At this big rally meeting will be
discussed not only the work already
touched by the ASSOCIATION but also
pans for permanently changing the
handling Of cotton. It is realized by
farmers not only from one end Of belt
TO the other, but by leading friends OF
the South in the great business CEN
ters of, the world that it is absolute
IL necessary to form plans for es-
tablishing and stabilzing a price for
cotton. It is the concenSus OF opin-
ion that minimum price, probably
SO Ia per cent above the cost or
production should be set on cotton
each season In addition to this 1t is
realized that it is absolutely essential
and necessary that the South form
plan for financing CO. On that VIII
enable it to properly finance the crop
and stabilize the price, plans to De
along the line suggested to the gen.
eraly assembly by ]. Skottowe Wan
namaker,- chairman OF the cotton as
soeiation, or similar plans.
At the meeting on April twelve
delegates viii be- elected for the pur-
pose OF representing South Carolina
at some central point where each
State in the belt will be represented
bv twelve delegates, it being. the ptlr-
pose Of this central meeting to not
only. receive reports of the work done
in each State in the cotton belt, but
in addition to discuss and formulate
plans for proper financing and bank
ing, and stabilzing the price of cot
ton throughout the belt, also plans
for the exporting and marketing Of
AT the meeting OF the central COM
rittee yesterday the time for taking
of pledges was extended to April 1.
Special follow-up. committees in each
Of. the counties will be earnestly re-
qnested to give special reports Up to
May is, giving all the names OF
pledge. signers who fail to live abso.
lutely up to their pledges.
At the meeting of representa- atives
from all States, the question Of the
exporting and marketing Of cottor
will unquestionably be given careful
consideration It is now receiving the
most careful thought Of the best bus
mess men and beyond question plans
will be formulated and adopted a
this meeting that will revolutionize
the financing, marketing and IN fac'
will entirely revolutionize the cotton
1naustry in every phase. and will re,
suit in an absolute and complete
change in the handling of cotton
which has existed for some G0-odo
years. This course is being adopted
as a. result of the work Of n1os
thoughtful, influential men in the
South. it being well stated by one OF
them that no one will ever know the
price Of cotton, the quantity OF cot
ton, the world needs. or in fact the
possibilities Of the South. until
proper banking and marketing sys-
tenn and the stabilizing Of the cotton
price has been arranged. and the
South today realizes the absolute ne
cessity Of arranging this matter her
self. AS business man Of long eX-
Derience in the manufacture of cot
ton goods, and in fact in various lines
connected with cotton from the grow
ing to the manufacturing and export
ing, I unhesitatingly state that it is
my firm conviction that the proper
solution of this matter will result IN
the saving of millions to The South.
and in fact will completely revolution
ize the entire business fabric Of the
South
Confidential reports from every
section of the cotton belt were receiv-
90 ftIu IdOQ.dICo d. SiAC 1A1SSSAAAS y ~"
terday. Cotton will be reduced 80
1-s per cent; regardless of the claim
by the bears that the rise in price
viii cause every farmer who has
signed the pledge to forget his
pledge. It is the unanimous opinion
of the organiza ton throughout the
cotton belt that the farmers are so
thoroughly organized and posted that
no price regardless Of how high it
was would induce them to violate
their solemn obligations and that
they fully realize what the winning
Of this fight means.
After the meeting yesterday Chair
man wannamaker gave out this state
ment:
Letters of confidential nature
from men of great wealth in the
North received the careful attention
of members Of the committee. it be-
ing The firm conviction Of these men