Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-15
COOP MEMBERS
EMPLOY LAWYERS
To PUSH BIC SUIT

The suit for 100000 damages
brought against the Jones Mercan-
tile company, cotton buyers Of Can
ton, Ca, alleging SANDER and libel,
has resulted in unusual develop,
ments in two counties in which that
firm does business, according to an
nouncemant by the complainant in
the case, the Georgia Cotton Grow
ers' Co-opera tive association.
These developments were the en-
ploying by groups Of association
members of counsel to assist in the
prosecution Of the case.
Members in Barlow county, act
ing independently of the board of
directors of the association, notified
headquarters that they had, on their
own responsibility. retained c. c.
Pittman, a prominent member of
the Gainesville bar and former
state senator from that district, to
assist in pressing the charges
against the mercantile company and
it's directors.
Similar action was taken in For
syth county, where q committee of
association members engaged the
law firm of Fowler & Kirby to rep
resent them against the mercan-
tile company.
Selfish Interest Seen
The following letter was sent to
headquarters in reference to the ac-
ton:
Cumming, Ga, April s., 1924.
Georgia Cotton Growers Co-opera-
tive Association,
ATLANTA; Ga.
Gentlemen:
I'VE have been reading all along
the pamphlets and newspaper ad-
vertisements that the Jones Mercan-
tile company has been putting out
against our association. We believed
all along that it was a selfish inter
est that caused them to do so, 81
it did not bother us until they came
out in some of the weekly neWspa-
pers recently and booklets charging
our management with dishonesty,
fraud, fraudulent Concealment and
bad faith in their dealings with our
members.
They also Il simulated that our
much appreciated Journal, Georgian
and Constitution, Atlanta. uaily pa
pers, had concealed the facts about
our association and were not print
ing the truth. We will always ap-
pleciate what these papers have
done for us and lal of the CO.
operatives.
Now we do not believe that any
of that stuff that the Jones Mer-
camille company has told is true, and
they calculated that it would in
jure our association in our trade
and business dealings with the COM
mercial world.
I'VE, as a body of Forsyth county
members, condemn the action of the
Jones Mercantile company, who, it
appears, are anxious to destroy our
association so they can price our
cotton in the fall, and we praise ire
action Of our association in sueing
them for 80, 900. We have gone
further tn that by employing the
firm Of Fowler & Kirby to represent
our association at this trial.
Reflection on Members
This action may not meet IA
your approval, but we have been
greatly benefited by our association
and we do not propose to have one
individual or set OF individuals to
tear up something that is of benefit
to Millions of farmers. We have en-
ployed this able law firm d we eX-
pct them TO he there I'D represent
us and our Cd brother members
in Cherokee county to the fullest
extent Of their ability.
If YOU don't approve this action
Of ours at first thought, look at it
from our point OF view We feel
like that it is disgraceful reflec-
zion on our intelligence in selecting
honest and conscientious men to
run our organization, and If we can
be Of further assistance call on us.
b. r. WOODLIFF,
Jesse L. WORRELL,
''W. A. HOLBROOK,
&C. D. GILBERT,
B. II. GILBERT.
IT J. HENDERSON.
"W. r. COUCH,
IT r. PRICE,
Committee in Charge"