The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-12-23
COTTON REDUCTION
DAY Is SET APART
GOVERNOR COOPER PROCLAIMS
MONDAY, JAN. 3, AS DATE.
Cut in Acreage Expected.
Farmers Organization Plans to
Launch Determined Campaign,
Says President Hamer.

Columbia, Dec. 15.-Governor
Cooper today set aside Monday, jan
uary 3, as Cotton Day. in South
Carolina. In doing so he issued
statement, in which he declared that
it is incumbent upon the cotton
states to take intelligent cognizance
of the situation with reference to raw
cotton and see to it that the market
does not remain glutted throughout
another season.
In calling upon South Carolinians
to devote their best thought on Janu-
ary to meeting the situation which
at present they find themselves in,
the governor was complying with
request made by the South Carolina
Division of the American Cotton as
sociation. Similar action has been
taken by the governors of other cot
ton growing states of the nation.
The proclamation issued by the
governor follows:
"The South Carolina Division of
the American Cotton Association has
requested that design the first Mon
day in January as Cotton Acreage
Reduction Day in South Carolina. I
gladly comply with this request. For
the time being the markets of the
world are not absorbing raw cotton,
and one cannot tell how long it will .
be before the staple will again bring
a profitable price to the grower. 1t
is certain that a large supply of cot
ton will be carried over from the
present crop; if in 1921 there is add
ed to this carry-over another large
yield the price will be distressingly
low. 1t is, therefore, as matter OF
economic self-presrvation, incumbent
upon the cotton states to take intelli-
gent cognizance of the situation in
reference to raw cotton and see to it
that the market does not remain
glutted throughout another season.
More Food Crops Urged.
"Our escape from the unhappy pre-
dicament in which we now find our
selves lies in the production of great
er quantities of food and feed crops.
Mere reduction of cotton acreage by
itself is not thorough solution; it is
but half of the process necessary to
liberate us from the one-crop bond
age.
"In the light of the situation, as
suggested above, proclaim the first
Monday in January, 1921, as Cotton
Acreage Reduction Day. for this
state, and I urge that upon that day
all South Carolinians devote their
best thought to the situation, and re-
solve to meet it, and to prevent a
replica of it by united intelligent ac-
ton. Therefore, I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this fifteenth day OF
December, in the year of our Lord
one thousand, nine hundred and
twenty.
(signed) "R. A. COOPER,
"Governor.'
Officials of the South Carolina Dl-
vision of the American Cotton AS
sociation are planning to launch the
most determined cotton acreage re-
duction campaign ever conducted in
the state They are setting out to
secure a reduction Of 500 in the
acreage. This is the reduction figure
that has been set for the entire South,
and every state in the belt is going
to be asked to reduce that much.
AS indicative of the sentiment OF
the farmers of South Carolina, the
farmers of York county on Tuesday
adopted resolutions asking the banks
not to lend any farmer who refuses
to cut his acreage 500 any money
for the next twelve months. 1t is ex-
pected that the banks of the whole
south will adopt this policy.
President R. C. Hamer, Of the
South Carolina Division Of the Am
erican Cotton Association, said to-
night that meetings would be held in
every county in the state on Mon
day, January 3. 1t is planned, he
said. to make this memorable day
in the history of the state.