The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-21
Lang Jennings
Sounds Keynote
Against Sending any Cotton to
Germany Until Peace is
Signed

New Orleans. May 16.-Cotton
growers in conference here late to-
day went on record as being TOR.
America first against any sectional
claims. when they declared it woulo.
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
resolution asking that export restrlc-
tons for cotton be removed, Whlcn
was tabled amid cheers Of the dele
gates A number of delegates eA-
pressed fears that such q resolution
might hamper the negotiations OF the
American peace ENJOYS in Paris.
"If we never sell another bale OF
cotton. I 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 forn1a-
ton of the s100,000,000 cotton export
financing corporation reported a sub
committee would be appointed to
meet at an early date to organize.
The sum of S11,750 was raised OH
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 the
State in which the new concern will
be incorporated will be decided by
the subcommittee, it was announced
According to large number Of del
egates the contention for the head
quarters city has narrowed down to
Memphis and New Orleans It was
thought likely the incorporation will
be in some other State than Louisiana.
J. S. Wannamaker Of South Caro-
lima was chosen president of the
newly formed American Cotton AS
sociation at a convention of the mem
bers today. Other officers 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
out details connected with the func-
tions of the association was appointed
as follows:
Arkansas. George L. Sands; Ala
bama, NJ. c. Allgood; Georgia, j. j..
Brown; Mississippi, P. P. Garner; Mis-
souri, S. S. Barnes; North Carolina, l..
Tomlinson: South Carolina, R. NJ.
Nixon; Tennessee, ]. P. Matthews;
Texas, J. A Thompson; Oklahoma,
DR.. j. A. Whitehead; Louisiana, J.
B. Ards.
In his Inauguration speech Mr.
Wannamaker charged that nillers of
New England have reaped ''enor-
nous dividends" from their cotton
products, while the South was left
to starve on the crumbs it might pick
up from the industry
1.-The South has d vision and will
never perish he asserted. This sec
ton is going to be the salvation Of the
nation. Are you going to be for the
mean that we should attack legitimate
enterprise and capital, and I know
we have no sympathy for the wave of
unrest and anarchy, fostered by for
eigners 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 South. Labor in the
Southland has been so low that it al
most has been forced to steal to exist
Cotton today is worth 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 response
BILE 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 entering
on a new era and it is up to us TO
work out our own salvation. The
South may now see before it the dawn
Of freedom"
Shortly before adjournment the as
sociation adopted a report Of the
warehousing committee urging that
adequate facilities be established
throughout the South. They declared
it should be the duty Of the American
Cotton Associati ton to encourage the
creation of Il warehouse system in
every State as speedily as possible and
to urge governors of the cotton States
not having such system to call an
extra session Of legislatures to eX-
pedte the establi.: :hment of the svs-
tenn
The report also urged the associa-
ton to form as quickly as possible a
plan for marketing all cotton through
the state and central organizations,
and declared it necessary that the
matter be taken up with the next
United States congress to relieve the
situation of the growers Of cotton in
the South"
The conference of cotton Interests
adjourned late today The delegates
We're entertained with IL boat ride
over the Mississippi river tonight be-
fore returning to their homes.