Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-04
FARMERS PLEDGE REDUCTION

shown by their forerathcrs during
1876 and declaring that the only
salvation Of the southern cotton far
mer was in reduction of cotton acre
age to ut least fifty per cent: :.of last
year, John r. Roddey, well known
cotton merchant and farmer of Rock
HILL delivered Il stirring tLlli in the
York county courthouse yesterday
morning to an audience of several
hundred farmcrs. The meeting was
presided over by DR.. j. B. Johnson Of
Rock Hill, president of the York
county branch of the American Cot
ton association, and was called pur-
sllant to proclamation Of Governor
Cooper setting aside January 3, as
acreage reduction day. Dr.. Johnson
pleaded witt! the farmers present to
sign picdgcs agreeing to reduce their
Acreage OF cotton to fifty per cent or
last year or a pledge that their maxi
mum cotton acreage be six acres 10
the plow.
Representative Audience.
1t was the largest gathering OF far
mcrs held in the county courthouse i'll
L loIlS WIllsc ~ SNi"ShS =. S''i
their manner that they were very
much in earnest oyer the situation,
fully cognizant of the seriousness of
conditions confronting them.
For forty years, said John 7. Rod
dey, the principal speaker at the meet
ing. you farmers have been in the
habit every year of planting cotton
and trusting in God for what you are
going to get for il without any attempt
TO help yourselves. You farmers are
the most easily nattcrcd class Of peo-
ple in the world. Almost any politi-
cian can make you believe whatever lie
pleascs.
Nothing From Politicians
You must learn that you can expect
nothing from politicians. ] ask YOU
now in all fairrcss-what has the Fed
c,ul department Of agriculture done
for your benefit in the past forty
years? What has the state govern
ment done for you in the past forty
years? | answer you-nOt thing!
You need not expect anything from
the government. Iou must learn to
help yourselves.
Your general assembly is soon tc
meet. ioW necd'not expect any benee-
licial LEGISLATION from them. The only
piece nf worth while Legislation ever
cnatced for tho farmers in South
Carolina was the state warehouse SYs-
tenn and they hrottlcd that soon after
it was inauGllratcd.
T 20 into rural districts everywhere
and see that living conditions are
much the same as they were lmmrul-
nirly after the Civil war when 7 was
a. bay. [ notice that lhOSc people VINO
have left the faImsuand moved into
the towns and cities arc in the best
condition financially. Other classes
of workers have demanded higher
wages and have received them. The
farmer has never made n demand
Never in my life time have farm pro
duets been sold on basis OF supply
and demand.
Tie speaker denounced tho New
York stuck exchange as the dlrllcs'
gambling joint on elI'th. Tho eX-
change gamblers arc much worse thar
the man who plays pokrr or othcI
games Of chance. he said: because tht
gamblers there affect, the lives ano
fortunes nf thousands Of southern FAR
mers while the poker player hurts
only himself.
Association Is Good.
Sncaking Of organization he mon
toned his early efforts for orSani-
Zation of the cotton growers IN the
late ninctics. "'Thc American Cotton
assocation." he said, sis one of the
best or~a aniZations possible for the TAR
mer, provided you keep the politicians
ont Of it. Tsut rou must look out FOR
the politicians I'LL the while.
"'rhinys won't got better iin'ess we
make them hotter" said Mr.. itoddoy
who said that the great trouble win
tho farmer in matters of co-operItl"II
AMI nrga nizaii ion is that many farmers
wont rn-opeI:ltr. Instead they take
the position. THAT ] am going to look
ont for myself and let the other felio"
do the same
Farmers Merely Existing.
There's IL difference between exist
inw and living. he said. You cotton
growers arc only existing. tic paih
hi.; respects 10 the biz land owner who
rrullircd Ills tenants to grow cotton III
ORDER that he might handle easy rents.
lie declared that il was the large land
owner. who should lend more assist
nnrr in thr present movement than
tie one horse farmer.
Go ahead and pursue the same pol
lev of plantins in 1921 that you have
hern doing and you'll have another
10000. 900 bale crop nn top OF whnt
you've got. You'll nc glad to sell II
for ; cents. Reduce your acreage ma :
lcri,:ly and you'll sell your product ~
:, higher lrilrc. If | WIS aSSiIrcI! thai
not Il. single seed Of cotton would hc
uIuntrL i'm tnr south during l?el
wn,.ldn't hesitate tn 90 out right now
and buy II hundred bales Of cotton ut
3j cents per pound.
Urges Drastic Reduction.
In conclusion he urged his hearers
to stand pat. do not believe That
there is 40 days rIn of cotton IN the
hands Of the American mills today.
Don't he too eager to let lhcm nave
it. when they cni:!c after it.
Lets trv dirustic reduction for ono
vcar. Let's develop in us Il new spirit
Of indcncnhcncc AMI new back bone.
Let's use :; little intelligence as the
other workers Of the world do.
Folluwn" the speech of Mr.. lsohdey.
President Johnson urged The farmers
present tu come forward and sign
plr,lwes agreeing that they will agree
not 10 plant exceeding nnc-third of the
lands cultivated in 19:l i'll cotton:
Numerous Sieners.
\ nmn,lr"r uf farmers; in the build
inr left the hall ut this point rather
than sign. The following signatures
were secured: }. Il. Howe. Il. G.. Bar
nctt. G.. ". Martin. ". :. Barry. w.
II. Jackscn. i. NJ. l.. Robinson. Clnud
n. JnmHn. &. NJ. Mitchell. c. II. Dick
son. !. NJ. IIartnrss. r. T.. Lee. W. H..