The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-07-12
Bio Growers First To Join As
1895, 500 Pounds Arc
Pledged First Day


pounds to the acre. Two hundred and
thirty-five growers signed the contract
Many more were forced to go home
without having an opportunity to sign
on account of lack of clerks to attend
to them.
Growers from three counties in
Indiana and four in Kentucky were
among those who bound themselves by
the provisions of the fve-year contract
of the association.
Three farm organizations in Carroll
County made the day special one fof
their members, and held special meet
| ings on! proceeding days to urge them
to sign the contract Immediately. The
Farmers Union was represented by 10
per cent of It's members. Approximate
figures indicated that the percentage
| of the Farm Bureau was about the
same. The Eurekas, secret society
Of farmers, had held special meetings
to bring the benefits of the plan before
it's members.
Signing began with the arrival of the
first printed contracts from Louisville,
and continued all morning without in
terruption. By noon more than $50
growers had signed, and others were
| crOWdlng to the tables faster than
clerks could prepare the papers ior
signature
Curtis Montgomery, Client, Ky, was
the first grower to sign the contract
He is one of the largest producers Of
Carroll County, and owns about 600
acres of land suitable for raising to-
bacco. He stayed in Carrollton all
night in order to have the opportunity
to sign first.
Despite the fact that rain the night
before the meeting had made a perfect
tobacco setting season, hundreds Of
farmers dismissed the chance in order
to attend the "sign-up." BY 10 o'clock
in the morning, the square around the
courthouse, where the signing was in
progress, was crowded with farmers
and their families. A constant stream
continued to pour into the town during
the entire morning and early after
noon, as the districts more remote
from the town sent in their contin-
gents.
AT noon, after the arrival of Judge
Robert w. Bingham, Louisville, chief
speaker Of the day, and chairman Of
the organization committee Of the pre-,
posed association, a procession Of.
growers, headed by band and a group
Of growers who had Signed the COLI
tract, marched from the courthouse to
the scene OF the barbecue and burgoo
feast and the afternoon speaking. 1t
is estimated that 1000 farmers took
part In addition to these many had
gone ahead on foot and in cars.
Following the burgoo feast at 80
o'clock, Judge Bingham addressed the
crowd in one of the towns warehouses.
Ralph M. Barker, member of the or
ganization committee, in introducing
Judge Bingham, read a telegram from
III. o. Wilson, campaign secretary Of
the association being formed by Vir-
GINA and Carolina growers, expressing
congratulations and good wishes.
Prolonged applause was given Judge
Bingham's prediction that an adequate
cooperative association law would be
readily passed by the next session Ct
the Kentucky legislature.
At the conclusion of Judge Binghams
address, James G. Stone, Lexington,
member of the organization committee,
speaking as q representative of the
growers of the Bluegrass, thanked the
growers Of this section for the impetus
they had given the campaign, and as
sured them that the growers of his
section would not be slow to follow the
example. He said that without excep-
ton every man he had consulted in re-
gard to the formation of the proposed
association, had been in favor of the
movement without reserve.
Other meetings at which the con-
tract of the association Will be offered
to the growers for signatures will be
held the week Of June Ii, at Shelby.
vile. Lexington, MaysvAle, Danville,
Richmond, Cynthiana and possibly
other points. Aaron Sapiro, attorney
for twenty-five California cooperative
associations and considered to be one
of the greatest authorities on COOP
erative agriculture in the world, will
address these meetings.
The following names were an
nounced as members of the organiza-
ton committee:
Judge Bingham, Louisville: Mr..
Barker, Carrollton; Edward Bassett
Desha Breckinridge, Harry Giovanoli
Shelby Il. HARRISON, Charles N. Man
ming, William A. Mcdowell, DIR. Frank
l.. McVey, James c. Stone and Miss
Sunshine Sweeney, Lexington T. s.
Burnam, Richmond; johnson N Cam
. den and w. E. Simms, Versailles:
Samuel Clay and John T. Collins.
Paris; j. N. Kehoe, Maysville: the
Rev. John F. Knue, McQuady; N. C.
Ridgeway. Falmouth. and w. A. Glen
ents, Springfield. !
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