The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-19
Conflict Begins Between Two
Cotton Associa-
tions
SOUTHERN LEADERS
OPPOSE WORLD CONGRESS
President of American Cotton
Association Not Pleased With
Plans of Opposition

Columbia, July l5.-J. Skottowe
W'annamai;er, president OF the Amer
lean Cotton Ass@cia ton. last night is
sued a cali for a ~ citing OF the board
Of directors CT ti?e American Cotton
Association TO be held in Atlanta at
the Chamber of Conlmerce on July
80 and %. The first session Will be
held at 10 o'clock on the morning
of the 23rd.
1t is no, improbable that at this
meeting a fight will be launched on
certain features of the proposed
World Cotton Conference to be held
in New Orleans in October. The state
r,ent of Mr. Wannamaller that a very
vigorous fight will be made on the
proposition 10 organize q World Cot
ton Association to include farmers
merchants, bankers and also sp!nners.
both New England and foreign spin
ners. 1t is generally understood in
cotton circles that the effort TO form
this organization is to be made al
the World Cotton Conference.
III announcing the gall for the di-
rectors' meeting in Atlanta aext week,
Mr. Wannamaker said last night:
! :.This meeting is called for the pur-
pose of completing the plan for the
permanent organization of the Amer
ican Cotton Association. In addition
20 this. the board will consider the
plans Of the opposition. which are be-
ing put into effect throughout the
belt. THIS opposition comes from pec-
pie outside Of the South: is backed
by powerful money interests.
This opposing force has plan for
an organization of World Cotton As
sociaticn, 20 include flrners, 1ner-
chants, bankers and also spinners,
both New England and foreign spin
nerS They state that this association:
would be along the line Of 6, profit,
sharing organization and that it will
prove very benef cial both to the PRO
ducer and the manufacturers.
THE American Cotton Association
| car not seq it in this light. .She ac-
ticn Of this opposition has caused US
70 sit up and take notice Great pub
ilici.y bureaus are being employed for
the purpose Of pushing forward the
plans Of the opposition. The New Eng
| land and foreign spirners are already
| thoroughly organized and they have
always opposed the best interests Of
| the producer. and fought down the
rpice Of cotton regardless Of how low
K was. Their movement today, it is
! thought, is due to the fact that the
4 r.iof hos
brought about wonderful changes for
the better throughout the entire
South. They realize that cotton will
never again under their adminstra-
ton lie sold below the cost Of produc-
tion. The spinner also realizes that
the organization OF the american
Cotton Association means that there
the producer will get a price for his
cotton above the cost of production.
"A plan is being advocated by those
opposed to the organization Of the
american Cotton Association TO offe-
"A price this fall for next years crop
that will induce the planting OF an
enormous acreage in cotton, so as to
reesta blish the depleted surpluses of
raw cotton, so as 10 have club with
which to beat down prices. force dis
tressed cotton upon the market aid
buy at starvation prices
"The hands OF the bear manipula-
tors ard the New England and foreign
sp:nners can plainly be seen. The
men behind the American Cotton AS
sociation. who have made tremendous
sacrifices 10 form same, realize tha!
the great success accomplished has
crystal;Zed this bitter fight against
them. They realize further that any
association. including farmers. mer-
chants. bankers. New England and
foreign spinncrs and bear nIanipula-
tors would mean the oblitera1ion Of
the American Cotton Association, the
destruction Of all Of the advantages
gained would prote a calamity to the
entire South, would bind again the
shackleS Of commercial Scrfdom to the
producer. A battle royal is On. No
quarter will be asked OR given. We
can organize and manage our own az
fairs without outside interference.
..f -NcN J.lIS!tlliO tiliNt lOi 'iI,!i oDll-
acrs and bear manipulators have
been organized for the last hundred
years Why should they attempt to-
day to interfere with the orsaniZa-
ton Of the producers OF cotton. the
farmer, the merchants, and the bank
ers Of the South. The people of the !
South have shown by the hig!les:
proof human nature can give that
wherever the path OF duty and homer
may lead, however steep and rugged !
it may be, they are ready to walk in
It They do not need outside assist
arce and VIII not tolerate outside in
reference. They have won the race |
and will rot be cheated out Of the
prize The fact that State-owned T
ard State-con;rolled warehouses. a
price for cotton above the cost of pro- (!
Gnction. an arrangement whereby the
bear manipulator can not force dis
tressed cotton to be sold at starvation
prices, and the many other important!
changes now on fCot tl2t will prove
TO the South. are di:;taS:e