The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-09-27
STATEWIDE
CONVENTION
AT COLUMBIA
Farmers, Merchants, Bankers
and Other Allied Interests
Urged to Attend Cotton
Growers Conference

-
Growers Conference
a full attendance Of the State
Executive Committee Of the South
Carolina Division of the American
Cotton Association was held at
! Columbia. on Wednesday Right,
September 10th, in response to a
call by President J. 3. Johnson. OF
Rock Hill. The following inn
,ortant matters pertaining TO the
future work and activities Of the
division were taken UP and after
discussion. acted upon:
1t was unanimously voted to re-
move the headquarters of the di-
vision from Columbia TO ST. Ma
thews. and consolidate with the
Offices of the American Cotton As
sociation. Secretary I'll. c. Book
er resigned. as he had been elect
ed secretary of the South Carol.na
Cotton Growers Cooperative Mar
heting Association. Mr.. John I.
Mackey also resigned as treasurer,
and Col. Hafvie Jordan. secretary
treasurer of the American Cotton
Association was elected secretary
treasurer for the South Carolina
Division, American Cotton Asso-
citation. A statewide. educational
campaign in the interest Of the re-
habiiitation of the agricultural ana
cotton-growing industry will be &C.
tivei5. conducted from st. Matthews
and the full membership Of the
f. division maintained and increas al.
! BY unanimous action of the conf
nlittee. President J. 3. Johnson
| was authorized to issue call for
a state wide convention OF farmers,
/, merchants. bankers and all other
affiliated interests. to be held at
Columbia. Wednesday, October II.
1922. The purpose .of the meet
/ ing is to arouse renewed interest
| in the educational work of the di-
! vision: inaugurate an active CAM
Ipaigu for increasing small srai.1
acreage this fall. and thereby bring
| bout a drastic reduction in the
cotton acreage for 1928; to en-
phasize better practical methods for
boil weevn control; to urge the en-
actment of federal legislation fer
|. the appointment of a special COM
! mission to Investigate the entire
cotton growing industry: and to de-
wise financial relief measures that
j will aid in the rehabilitation Of the
agricultural industry Of the STATE
and south
Urgent letters OF invitation have
been transmitted to Hon. Wm. J..
/! Bryan and Secretary Henry c..
Wallace to attend the conference
and deliver addresses on the sub
ject matters which VIII be propes-
ed for discussion. 1t is believed
that one or both of these notable
speakers wilI:accept the. invitation
extended. a large attendance at
the conference. is most earnestly
desired. and the invitation to all in
terested is most pressing.
After a thorough discussion Of
the average cost Of growing the
1922 cotton crop. as ascertained by
the American Cotton Association:
the present shortage of cotton sup
plies and the prevailing low spot
market values offered the grow
ers, the committee unanimously
that spot cotton be
held Off the market for an aver
age Of all grades Of 80 IL cents
per pound, as a fair and reasonable
price. The cotton growers through
out the state and south, and ali
COOPERATIVE Cotton Marketing As
sociations, are urged not to sac
rihce the staple at prices less than
the cost of production plus rea-
sonable profit. 1t was the con-
census of opinion that if war starts
in Europe. the price of cotton Will
advance to very nigh figures.
Scuth-wide Campaign Endorsed.
The COMMITTEES passed 9. strong
resolution calling upon the, Amer
iSdu. SOlSOl &ASSOSAdStOh " 4iiGiS-
diately begin an active and per-
sistent souti1-wide campaign for
greater crop diversifcatien. drastic
cotton acreage reduction in 1925.
and urging upon all growers 20
stop selling cotton at present low
prices and refuse to market the
staple for less than average cost.
plus a reasonable profit to them
selves. 1t wss confidently believed
by all present at the meeting that
if strong resistance to existing low
markets is made by the growers
all over the belt. that in very
short period of time the legitimate
laws Of supply and demand viii
function. with much higher prices
prevailing in the open markets.
Strong and impressive talks on
the cotton situation We're delivered
by Chairman j. E. johnson, Rock
Hill: President J. S. Wannamaker
of the American Cotton Associa
ton. ST. Matthews: Captain ;. II.
Claffy. oranseburg; Mr. L. I.
Guion. Lusoff: Col. s. Harris. Co.
iumbia: Mr. r. c. Hamer. E.sl-
over, ana Mr.. T. L. Manning, Dill
Ion.
Twenty members of the COM