The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-12-30
Reduction in Acreage
Now Seems Assured
IcoNTINuED FROM PAGE oNE.l

IcoNTINUED FROM PAGE oNE.l
policy Of the past. In doing this, the
creditor il going to open the way to
permanent prosperity in the South, by
putting the farmer on u sound economic
basis, for he has come to know that 1t
is better to do business with pros
porous people than to fatten on the
woes and sorrows Of his fellOwman
The creditor realizes that is is better
to use his capital for constructive work
and the development Of his community
than to play tile role Of Shylock, and
wiring his due from distress and want.
If nothing else had been accomplished
by the Memphis meeting than the real
ization of this changed attitude on the
part of the creditor, 1t were well worth
while.
DIR. Bradford Knapp, who enjoys the
confidence and esteem OF everybody III
the South, has been preaching what he
calls sane !" farming for a score Of
years, and he pictured his doctrine SO
effectively In his address to the con-
vention, that when he finished he was
given rising vote Of thanks and a
pledge Of confidence. DIR. Knapp took
a prominent part In the deliberations
of the committee on acreage reduction.
and I'LL the members Of the committee
called upon him at one time or another
| to confirm or elucidate some view ex-
/ pressed. The committee went into SEES
| sion with the fixed idea of bringing
about a reduction of 30 per cent III
next year'sscrOp, but when the deliber-
ations began it was found that a bad
/ cut in average would result in very
Egreat injusttcR to many who had tried
to farm intelligently, and would not
| meet the situation where 100 per cent
/ cotton was the rule. Finally 1t was fig
ured cut that by fixing rule of only
one-third cotton on cultivated lands. II
would remove the injustice from the
man who had tried to do right and
penalize the man who had not. 1t war
u simple rule, within the understanding
of the most simple minded. and not
only met the present emergency, but
laid the foundation for sane farming
for all time to come. On the assurance
Of DIR. Knapp, with a statistical knowl
edge, that it would bring about the &c
per cent curt;lilnlent in the production
Of cotton. the committee unanimously
adopted the report, and presented 1t t.
the convention. the chairman, Mr.. W. h
Thompson, voicing the views OF tht
committee, and urging its unanimous
adoption by the convention.
/ OF course, there were few who had
not, at first reading. grasped the rea
intent Of the plan, and We're skeptica
OF any reduction plan being effectively
operated, hut they We're soon convinced
and on the vote only three person.
voted on the negative side. Then som'
one moved II rising vote and the plal
was adopted by reclamation.
A word as to the constitution Of tn,
convention. 1t was one Of the mos
representative gatherings of Southern
business men have ever seen. Their,
were more than thousand registered
and probably one-half were actual farm
ers, while the other half was dividet
between merchants and bankers. Ever!
cotton state was represented, and abb,
so. except Texas. Under other circum
stances, the absence Of the Texan
. might be regarded as significant, bu
as Il matter of fact, it was due to ;
misunderstanding, and Texas is hear
and soul with the movement. In fac
Texas has started of on her own hool
with campaign that assures a mos
material reduction In her crop, and till
campaign is being given the cordia
support Of the creditor element. Til
, bankers and merchants of Texas ar
the ones who launched the reduction
campaign there. So with Texas in,
can safely he said that the whole col
ton South N for the plan, and that
will be put over In record time.
The details of the plan comprehen
{ the utilization OF every possible agenc
in the South to make it effective. TIL
| moving spirit in Its operation is to b
the bankers associations Of each STATE
hut the American Cotton AssociatiO
i units. the Farmers Union units, an
D every other organization aiming at til
welfare of the farmers Is expected (
do It's part. The central body will b
: the Memphis committee which initiate
the convention, the members havin
been prevailed upon to accept the re.
possibility so us to launch the NOV,
!. ment properly and with the least della.
Sinews of war were provided to til
g extent Of 5000. subscribed on the foe
:. OF the convention. The state unit wi
he formed by the State Bankers ASS
e citation, to be composed Of not less tina
: three bankers and perhaps two or moi
delegates from other state organic;
tions as may participate IN the NOV