Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-07
GEORGIA FARMERS
WILL. CUT ACREAGE
AID HOLD cotton
Planters, Bankers and Bust
ness Men Gather at Macon,
Ask Wilson to Lift .Embar-
go-To Rout Spectators
BY ROGERS WINTER
(The Journals Staff Correspondent
(EX LAST MINUTE TELEGRAPH)


MACON. Ga, Feb. G.-War to the
death between the cotton producers
and the cotton spectators was
launched here today at great mass
meeting Of Georgia farmers, mer-
chants, bankers, editors, legislators
and other Influential citizens, called
for the purpose Of organizing the
whole producing industry, with all
it's affiliations and ramifications, in
a movement that aims to- embrace
the entire south, and that has for
It's object TIE establishment and
maintenance of the absolute control
of the cotton market by the men
who supply the market with cotton.
The meeting was remarkable both
in the large and representative at
tendance of prominent men from all
parts of The state, as well as in the
spirit of aroused determination that
characterized the proceedings.
- 1t was a striking demonstration
of two facts:
better position than ever before to
hold their cotton, to produce a larger
proportion of other crops and to fl
nance their operations out of their
own capital.
Second, TIL the fighting blood of
the farmers is aroused today to a
higher pitch than ever before, and
extreme measures, and go to greater
lengths. than ever before, to protect
themselves against those interests
which they regard as fundamentally
inimical and predatory.
Che Program
The program Of the mass meet
ing or conference was embodied in
four distinct measures, IS follows:
1. To reduce the acreage and yield
@H 10xy OF CT
25 per cent.
2. TO continue with unreIaXed de-
termination the holding OF cotton
new in the hands of farmers, mer-
chants, bankers, etc, until the mar
ket SIS ready to pay price covering
cost of production plus a reasonable
profit, this price ranging from so to
IS cents a pound.
8. Lifting of the blockade on
German and Austrian ports to per-
nit the free flow of cotton into those
countries. and the increase as early
facilities to transport cotton to the
foreign markets.
a. Enactment by congress of leg
is1atioH that will prohibit specula-
tive short selling Of cotton, and of
legislation that will compel the de-
livery of grades specified in future
contracts,
To The end that the cotton acreage
of Georgia shall be ,drastica11y cur
tailed in 1919. the conference urgent
ly recommended the formation in ev-
cry county in the state OF a strong
committee of influential citizens. in
e anar Hb9 W eFeha4tz and
vass the farmers in every militia
district in their respective counties.
making it their particular business
TO hold down cotton acreage in just
the same way that Liberty Bond
committees made it their particulaB
business TO sell government Securi-
ties to finance the war
A record was made of those at
tending the conference. and the state
department of agriculture will at
nee supply them with information
and data, as we'll as keeping in con-
slant touch with them to see that
the movement does not Jag in any
county.
Some Counties Organized
A number of county delegations
reported that organization had al
ready been perfected in their re-
Jackson county sent a delegation of
five prominent men. headed by John
n Holder, speaker CT the Georgia
house of representatives whose alb
sence from duty as foreman of the
grard jury they had secured by a
special resolution requesting Judge
Andrew J. Cobb to excuse him to at
tend the Macon conference. This
was a typical instance of the spirit
prevailing in many counties over
the state in advance of the confer
ence.
1t was the universal consensus of
opinion that the farmers generally
are not only willing to curtail cot
ton acreage. but are determined to
co so. Crop diversification has made
great strides. Production Of food
and forage crops has become the
general rule of progressive farmers
These products are commanding a
reader market at better prices than
ever before. and there is every pros
pect that they will continue in de-
mand. For all these reasons, there
fore, and for numerous other rea-
sons, the farmers are ready to cur
tail cotton acreage without such rad,
ical reimbursement of their farming
operations as would have been in
volved in such a procedure a, few
years ago.
Holding Cotton
AS to the cotton holding move
ment, there was an equal unanimity
of opinion. Reports from every sec
ton of the state were the same.
Speaker after speaker, addressing
the conference, stated that they are
holding large quantities of cotton
some Of them holding hundreds of
thousands Of dollars worth-and
price goes back to 9. level in keep
ing with the heavy demand ard the
short supply.
IN After Second Honey]