Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-05-21
GROWERS OF COTTON FOR
"AMERICA FIRST"

growers IN conference mere late To-
day went on record as being for
america first" against any sectional
claims, when they declared it would
be better to sacrifice every bale of
cotton rather than to sell one pound
to Germany before the peace treaty
is signed" +
The action was in opposition to a
resolution asking that export restric-
tions for cotton be removed, which
was tabled amid cheers of the dele
gates. A number of the delegates ex-
pressed fears that such a ersolution
might hamper the negotiations of the
American peace ENJOYS in Paris.
eff we never sell another bale of
cotton, 1 am against Germany re-
ceiving one pound until she signs the
peace treaty" L. D. Jennings of
South Carolina declared.
The committee engaged in working
out plans for perfecting the forma-
tion of the S1O0,OOO,OOO cotton ex-
port financing corporation reported
a subcommittee would be appointed
to meet at an early date to organize.
The sum of Sl1,750 was raised on
the floor of the convention for the
preliminary financing of the exports
corporation, and to insure its COM
plete working operation. The sub
scriptions followed an appeal made
by C. J. Haase, Memphis.
The headquarters city and State
in which the new concern will be in
corporated will be decided by the sub
committee, it was announced. Ac-
cording to a large number of dele
gates the contention for the head
quarters has narrowed down to Mem
phis and New Orleans. 1t was thought
likely the incorporation will be in
some ohter state than Louisiana.
]. S. Wannamaker of South Caro-
lima was chosen president of the
newly formed American Cotton As
sociation at convention of the MEM
bers to-day. Oother officer elected
were: John T. Scott, Houston, Texas,
first vice president and w. c. Bar
rickman of Dallas, secretary. The
treasurer will be chosen later, it was
announced.
An executive committee to work
oat details connected with the func-
tions of the association was appoint
ed as follows:
Arkansas, George L. Sands; Ala
bama, M. C. Allgood; Georgia, ]. j.
Brown; Mississippi, P. P. Garner;
Missouri, S. S. Barnes; North Caro-
lima, L. Tomilson; South Carolina, R.
N. Nixon; Tennessee, j. P. Mathews;
Texas, J. A Thompson; Oklahoma,
D. J. A. Whitehead; Louisiana, j. H.
Ardis.
In his inaugural speech Mr.. Wan
namaker charged that millers of New
England have reaped enormous divi-
dends" from their cotton products,
while the South was cleft to starve
on the crumbs it might pick up from
the industry"
''The South has a vision and will
nexer perish" he asserted. "This Sec
tion is going to be the salvation OF
the nation. Are you going to be for
the dollar OF the man? BY this l do
not mean that we should attack legit-
innate enterprise and capital, and l
know we have no sympathy for the
wave of unrest and anarchy, fostered
by foreigners from other lands.
"Prices of cotton crops in the past
have been based on slave labor. The
industry has blessed every section OF
the land except the South. Labor in
hte Southland has been so low that it
almost has been forced to steal to ex-
ist. Cotton to-day is westh 40 cents
pound. During last year it should
have been Is cents for the first six
months and 40 for the remainder of
the year"
Mr.. Wannamaker declared the New
York cotton exchange was "respon-
sible for much of the distressing con-
ditions of the cotton industry in the
South"
"The cobwebs are being raised
from our eyes," he said. "We are en-
tering on new era and it is up to us
to work out our own salvation. The
South may now see before it is the
dawn of freedom"
Shortly before adjournment the as
sociation adopted a report OF the
warehousing committee urging that
adenuate facilities be established