The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-10-27
Governor Issues Proclama-
ton Asking Gins to
Stop
SLUMPING MARKET
CAUSES MOVEMENT
Organization of Cotton
Association Proceeding
Rapidly

A movement has been inaugurated
to stop the ginning of all cotton for
period of thirty days or longer if nee.
essary, to bring about stabilization
of the cotton market. So many jolts
have been given the market lately
that middIing cotton has dropped to
10 cents, and while the past week has
shown some indications of a rallying
the situation is deemed critical
enough to warrant drastic action.
Governor Parker has issued pro-
clamation calling upon Louisiana gins
to shut down for a period Of thirty
days, and will communicate with 9TH
er cotton states governors, urging
them to take the same steps.
The movement was lunched by w.
B. Thompson, as chairman of the
Louisiana division of the American
Cotton association, on the suggestion
of DR.. w. D. Haas of Alexandria and
]. w. Duncan of Grant parish. 1t took
so well, tht Mr.. Thompson has gotten
in touch with national officers Of the
association, who will get behind the
movement and letters and kilograms
from all over the south indicated that
there would be general endorsement
Saturday morning Mr.. Thompson is
sued a formal statement as chairman
of the Louisiana division, stating
briefly the reasons for the, movement
and strongly urging ginners all ovel
the south to close down for thirt!
days, or until the cotton market be
comes stabilized. This statemen
viii be sent through the mails t
every ginner in the south, and he will
be~asked to report to the chairman
OF his state division, as to his cemph
ance with the plan.
This step is the elimination OF
week of conferences in washington
between representatives of abou
thirty agricultural organizations an
the official OF the treasury department
and the federal reserve board. Will
the farmers were asking for suff
cient expansion of farm credits, t
enable them to market their crops pc;
sonably, and to meet the supply an
demand law, official Washington CAV
out a series of statements whic
served to knock a few more cents oi
the price OF cotton, and made tn
farmers realize that they would hav
to rely upon their own resources
save themselves from bankruptc.
The movement is now well under wa!
and aceentuated by the forceful pr
clamation of Governor Parker, shoul
leave no doubt in the minds of th
spectators and bears that the farmer
is going to take care of himself.
One good piece Of news coming oil
of Washington, was the launching of
twelve million dollar cotton finant
export corporation by a group
: bankers in attendance on the meetin
of the American Bankers association
and which was given the endorseme1
of the association, and of the Amer
can cotton association. This is in liz
with the plans formulated by M
Wannamaker and Governor ManniI
at the Montgomery conference, ar
wit hthe banks taking an active inte
est in the plan it is bound to go ov'
without the re-establishment Of Il
) war finance board, which the seer
tary of the treasury has definitely T
fused to revive.
Organization work of the Americs
Cotton association in Louisiana is g
ing on a pace. Clairbone paris
was the scene of much activity la
week, meetings having been held
half a dozen places; and many me-
bers having been enrolled. Under Il
:, leadership Of DR.. c. A, Gardiner al
DR.. Guilbeau, the southern part
st. Landry has become quite acti1
Webster parish win be the next see
of active work by the field orgal
ger.
Collins Cormier,. prominent citig
- po-+ porra attended t0 business