Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-03-09
CALL FARMERS TO Make CUT.
Shown that it VIII 30 Height of Fol.
ly to Grow Big Crop.
columbia State.)


as favoring reduction in cotton
acreage, according to tho Memphis
plan, and also adopted resolution
calling upon the bankers Of the
State to meet in Columbia at an
early dato and discuss the agricultu-
raj situation and outline plans for
meeting 1t. The appointment of the
committee to inform the executive
committee OF the South Carolina
Bankers Association was left in the
hands Of Bright Williamson, of Dar-
lington. The committees meeting
together yesterday were those Of
the South Carolina division Of the
Cotton Association and a number Of
associations allied with it in its ef-
forts to secure a reduction of the
cotton acreage and work for the ad-
yancement Of the interests of the
farmers and the State at large.
: The meeting was characterized by
comment on the outlook for the fu-
ture OF this State, gloomy forecasts
being made as to future conditions
unless the farmers Of South Carolina
reduce their acreage sharply and
raise more food crops. for which
some system Of marketing must be
provided.
I'VE cannot exaggerate the seri-
BUSINESS Of the situation facing the
South" said r. l. Manning, presi-
dent Of the American Products Ex-
port and Import Corporation. "All
who have the welfare of the South
at heart should insist on acreage re-
duction. II the banks should change
their policy and call for cotton to
be sold, 1t is impossible to say to
what point it would descend in its
price. The next sixty days, believe,
will tell the tale. II cotton Is sold
in any quantity, the farmers will
not be able to settle their obligations
with bankers and merchants. II
they hold on to their cotton they
will likely be able to settle their OBJ
legations. II cotton is sold it means
that moro will be planted. II 1t Is
held, the acreage will be reduced"
Bankers Hold the Key.
The bankers, the landowner, the
share cropper and the lien merchant
and the part they have to play in
acreage reduction were discussed at
length, 1t being finally brought out
by j. P. Stribling, Of Ccouee county,
that acreage r&tnC.icn is purely a
iinancja! question II the banker
furnishes the rnncy The cotton viii
bo planted said Mr. Strlblins. "lr
he refuses the money, the farmer
cannot plant cotton"
T. B. Stackhouse, of Columbia,
held that the banker was helpless,
saying that tho banks in New York
would call on the ibanks In this
State for loans, and that the banks
IN turn would be forced to call on
the producers. He held that it was
up to the landowners to bring the
reduction about. The bankers in
New York, who have dcne all that
the Southern farmers have a right
to expect, will show preference to the
farmer who cuts his acreage SO per
cent, he said. If the indications are
that the farmers are going to plant
full crop again this year, then the
bankers will call for their loans,
which will force the selling OF cotton
now being held, he argued.
Mr.. Stackhouse said that the tex
tile manufacturing plants have their
warehouses full of manufactured
products; that there is no demand
for their goods; that many Of them
have closed down, and that others
are running on part time, and that
1t would be folly for the farmer to
grow full crop under present con-
ditions. The State would be better
off, he said. IL no cotton at all were
grown.
The lien merchant was discussed
at length, and the landowner, too,
was mentioned, though 1t was finally
agreed that the banker holds in his
hands the keys to the situation, and
hence the resolution to have the
bankers meet in Columbia and dis
cuss plans for reducing acreage.
Cooper Opens Meeting.
Governor Cooper made the open
ing address at tho meeting, saying
that 1t would be little less than
criminal for the State to produce as