The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-09
Reports Received at Headquar-
-ters Indicate One-Third
Curtailment
STATE WIDE CONFERENCE
LARGELY ATTENDED
South Carolina Thoroughly Or
ganized to Win the Fight.

Carolina and from all the States in
the cotton belt, made public at a
meeting of 500 cotton growers in
Craven Hall in Columbia yesterday,
clearly indicate that the farmers have
gone on a strike.
These figures show that cotton acre
age reduction, which is one of the
potent weapons; to be welded by the
farmer in his fight for share in
the bargaining process for his finish
ed product, approximately 80 per
cent. in South Carolina. A reduction
equally as far reaching is reported
from every other cotton State. In
fact several States have exceeded
South Carolina in figures thus fa1
assembled. Georgia, Texas, Oklaho-
ma Alabama, Mississippi and Virgin
ia claim TO have made 33 1-3 PEI
ssHt reduction.
The cut in fertilizer to be used un-
der cotton this year in this State was
reported by the committee to be only
55 per cent. of the amount used last
year.
Yesterday's meeting was doubtless
the most representative gathering OF
farmers, business men and bankers
ever assembled in the State and there
was not 1-discordant note in defining
the new policy, or in writing the far
mer's declaration of independence.
Universal sentiment was that if the
farmers had gone on strike, the OBJ
jectiye was not to speculate, but a
matter Of self protection. And just as
the Savior told the questioner that
the Kingdom Of Heaven lay within
the Querist, so the power to win their
ton Of the farmers or within their
sswi1l to win in the cotton crisis.
Congressman j. Thomas Hef1in of
. Alabama and w. 3. Thompson of New
Orleans were the chief speakers, but
brief and inspiring addresses We're
made by Governor Cooper. Senator e.
! D. Smith, and Congressman Lever
Y The South Carolina Cotton Associa-
ton was made a permanent ocganiza-
ton, and the central committee was
authorized to incorporate, if such pro-
cedure was deemed wise. The follow
ing delegates were elected:
To the Memphis convention April
10: J. H. Porter, Barnwen; j. P.
Matthews, Columbia; J. S. Wanna
maker, St. Matthew's; G. L. Toole,
Aiken; P. T. Gooding, Hampton; H.
Il. Woodside, Greenville; L. I.
Guion, Lugoff; e w. Dabbs, Mayes-
vifse; and J. P. Cheathan1, McCor-
mick.
To the. New Orleans convention
Nay IA: Governor Cooper; J. T. Lilies.
Orangeburg; B. Harris, Columbia; j.
Il. Claffy, Orangeburg; J. S. Wanra-
maker. st. Matthews; T. p. Cothran,
Greenville; w. L. Gray. Laurens; w.
W. Long, Clemson College; B F.. Nc
Leod, Charleston; John T. Mackey,
Camden; r. NJ. Mixson, yEilliston;
Pau Sanders, Ritter; William Clifford,
r. G. Rhett, Charleston; L. D. Jen-
nings, Sumter; Ira B. Dunlap. Rock
Hill; Douglas Mcintyre, Marion; T..
G. Mcleod, Bishopville; H. Z. Mont.
gon1ery, Kingstree; 3. II. Moss
Orangeburg, C. E. Summers, New"
berry, and A. NJ. Benbow, Bam
berg.
The meeting was called TO order
promptly at II o'clock by J. Skottowe
Wannamaker of st. Matthews, chair
man Of the central committee. After
sAetching hastily the acreage reduc.
ton report, Mr.. .Wannamaker intro
duced Congressman Lever, who IN
turn introduced Congressman >Hefiin.
In connection with the report, Mr..
WannamaRer emphasized the added
menace which labor shortage Brings
The negro has returned from the war
with different views and an intensi-
fed dissatisfaction with his environ
ment. He is no longer content to
work for pre-war wages and the hum
bic hut in which he previously lived
did not harmonic with his more
lofty Ideals. Prohibitive wages were
being demanded for labor on the
farms. which would be (; further
factor in reducing the potential crop
this year.
In introducing Congressman Henin.
Congressman Lever paid a high trib-
ute to the Alabama representatives
consistent labors in the interest CT
the cotton farmer. Mr.. Helm haG
been on the agricultural committe"
of congress IA years with Mr.. Lever
The South Carolina representative
thought Mr. Heflin probably had
made more cotton speeches than any
other man Of oilis generation. His
voice had always been raised to
champion the fight of the South Ny
Hef1in said in part:
Since August /. 1918, United States
cotton mills have consumed, up TO
February 2S. 1919. 3.3s5.oo0 bales;
and we had exported TO that date. 3
0S5, 900 bales. amounting to s.473.-
900 bales. It will take at least 3.
50G,0 900 bales to supply our mills to
August Is. 1919, and $.250.ooo bales
to supply the neutral and allied coun-
tries. This takes from the American
cotton supply 6.25o,0oo bales more.
making total of 900 bales
This is 1923, 600 bales cotton more
than we produced in 1918. The cot
ton desired by Germany and Aus
tria. which is 100000 bales. is
not included in the figures l have