The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-07-22
MARKETING PLAN
TOLD At. MARION
CLARENCE POE, HAMMER, HA-
MER AND LONG SPEAK TO
FARMERS AT LARGELY AT
TENDED MEETING-MUcH EN-
THUSIASM is AROUSED.

Marion, July 21.-An enthusiastic
crowd, consisting of more than 250
leading farmers and business men of
| Marion county attended the meeting
| held in the court house today in
the interest of the Cooperative Cot
ton Marketing association, Clarence
Poe of Raleigh, N. c., the editor of
The Progressive Farmer, was pr1nci-
pal speaker of the occasion. No at
tempt was made to sign up the cot
ton growers at the conclusion of the
meeting, it being explained that COM.
mitteemen aided by the extension
force from Clemson college would be-
gin campaign for members within
the next few days. ....-...'
H. C. Hammer of Gadsden, presi..
dent of the organization committee
of the South Carolina Cooperative
Cotton Marketing association, was
the first speaker, R. ]. Blackwell,
county chairman of the cotton asso-.
citation, after few Introductory re-
marks yielded the floor to R.. G.
Hamer, president of the South, Caro-
lima division of the American Cotton
association. Mr.. Hamer introduced
Mr.. Hammer. -.
MIR. Hammer delivered carefully
prepared address in which he set
forth the present cotton situation and
outlined the remedies for this sit
uation. He stated that raw cotton
represented the main primary wealth
of the state and that a fair and just.
price for the net market value Of the
staple would make a tremendous
asset upon which to build the prog
ress and development of the agricuI-
tural, commercial and civic life of
South Carolina. He explained that
with the exception of two years end
ing September l, 1920, the cotton
growers had never received a price
commensurate with the true intrinsic
value of the staple since 1875. Rec
ords show, he declared, that the price
of cotton received by the farmers
during the 50-year period prior to the
War Between the Sections, under
slave labor conditions, was, higher
than the average price received for
the staple since that time. ..
He stated that the problem of pro-
duction of cotton had now been
solved. That no longer was the mat
ter of chief concern>but instead those
interested in cotton growing were
making a study of the marketing of
the product. He explained that cotton
was not merchandised and manufac-
tured as other products were, out was
dumped" on the market. He pointed
out that the remedy was marketing
association such as those now in op-
Grafton in California. In conclusion
Mr.. Hammer pledged his energies
and abilities to the fullest extent to
the case for which he was laboring.
Speaking steadily for nearly an
hour, often interspersing the serious
tenor of his address with humorous
stories, Mr.. Poe elected close and in
terested attention from his audience.
With intimate manner and clear con-
vincing style of oratory, he apparent
ly sold the idea of cooperative cot
ton and tobacco marketing to the
growers who heard him. Mr.. Poe
was introduced by W. W. Long, d.
rector of the extension department OF
Clemson college.
Mr.. Poe explained very elaborately
and thoroughly the difference be-
tween dumping" and merchandising.
He pointed out that the cotton grow
ars and the tobacco grower helplessly
cast his products on the market, TAX
ing whatever price was given him,
while the manufacturers of the coun
try fixed price on goods turned out
which would afford a reasonable
profit to them.