The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-25
Cotton Association
Meeting
Sumter County Farmers Agree
to Reduce Cotton Acreage
One-Third Next, Year and
To Form Corporation to
Buy Distressed Cotton

A very Important meeting OF the
sumter County branch OF the south
Carolina Cotton association was held
in the Cons, House Monday morning
lat IL o'clock and tangible plans were
made 10 cope with the present cotton
situation There were present a large
crowd OF representative farmers,
Bankers, merchants and other business
men from an sections of the county
who were eager and interested to
know Just what could be done.
The meeting was called To ocder by
Vice-chairman Thos. j. Kirven, who
Informed the audience that simii;.s
aeesmgs We're being held all over the
cotton states IN $50 towns. NJ the call
OF the American Cotton association.
The previously announced program
was carried out, Hon. j. III. Clifton
being the first speaker. His subject
was Urgency oe the situation and
need OF Immediate action TO hold cot
ton until a fair and just price can be
obtained" Mr. Clifton stated that
his is primacily q cotton section OF
the country and thatthis situation had
to be met squarely and without delay
Said there had been talk OF raising
more stock instead OF cotton. but that
10 do this required equipment which
the average fargner does not possess.
lie stated thatgthe Southern Cotton
associatl6n considerch 40 cents just
price for cotton. The, speaker assert
cd that many other similar attempts
had been made for the organization OF
the farmers which had proved futile,
but that now II was important TO act.
The object was present protection
which coulh only be accomplished by
solid organizatfon.
Mr. X. IL Belser made an interest
Ing talk in which he stated that tthe
bankers would do all within THEN!
power 10. help to accomplish the
ends that the farmers had in view Mr..
Belser gave some important statistics
showing that the people OF South Car
olina had money enough TO take care,
~ the cotton. He claims that extrav-
agsuce Is the basis for all talk of hard
.timesN In order to cooperate with the
banks the farmers should use the
warehouses; and obtain receipts for
their stored cotton. Sumter snould
follow the lead of other counties i'm
the formation OF corporations 10 take
care ~ the cotton which necessarily
will he sold.
Mr TAJ. Kirven gave a short ad-
dress I'm which he stressed the i'm
portance OF building more ware
houses He stated that warehouse
could Nbe built TO hold fifty or more
aales for q dollar bale. He said the
county now had warehouse capacity
of 1e,50O bales, but needed 5000,
MIR J.C. Dunbar gave the farmers
the good advice not to sacrifice their
rotton seed. He said NOT TO take sS5
per ton for them, for the seed could
be uSed more prohtably by mixing
them with certain fertilizers and using
hem on the land.
Mr. j. Frank Williams gave some
good ideas about cooperative market
ing OF produce. ~
Rc,rcsentatiye speakers were then
heard from all sections OF the coun-
Try who piedged their support to the
movement.
Mr.. WA. Bowman made motion
that all farmers i'm this section cut
down their cotton acreage to one third
their previous crop. A contract to
this effect Is TO he signed by each
farmer. This movement was in sup
port OF the American Cotton associa-
ton. The motion was seconded and
carried by a standing vote OF those
present.
Mr.. Belser moved that this body in
lorse the formation In this county o.
an association To purchase cotton
That the chairman of this meeting be
authorized and instructed to appoint
20 committee 90 organize such an as
sociTtlon and with sufficient capital
20 take care Of all, This motion was
also seconded and carried.
The chairman appointed the follow
ing committee To carry out the above
resolutions: .#
r. r, Belser. chairman: i. ID. Jen-
nings, s. A. Harvin. IL. w. Dabbs, Jr.,
c. A, LENNON, c, G.. Rowland, c. G.
Jackson. ....