The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1936-08-07
FIRST CONVENTION
UNSUCCESSFUL,
Instructed To In
vestigate Possibility Of
Calling Strike In Support
Of Right To Gin and Sell
Cotton and For $3.50
Wages.
DEMAND BETTER
SCHOOLS

NEW ORLEANS, La, Aug. l.
A campaign to raise the wages of
AIabama's cotton field workers
and win for thousands of share
choppers and share-tennants the
right to gin and sell their own cot
Ton will be inaugurated soon. Such
was the unanimous decision of the
tlrst convention of the Share
CHOPPERS Union held here this
week.
The delegates instructed the ex-
eecutlve council to conduct a sweep-
ing inquiry into the possibility of
calling strike to win a dollar a
hundred pounds for cotton pickers
and dollar and half a dav for
other farm labor and at the same
time sound out cotton producers on
the possibility of attempting to
establish their right to gin and sell
their own cotton, a right now ex-
clusively belonging to the landlords
and planters.
The executive council was order
ed Immediately to begin a drive to
collect an emergency fund of So
600 for strike relief and rally the
support of trade unions and farm
organizations in behalf of the I'M
ION If the strike materializes.
The convention, meeting secret
ly here So that the delegates would
be protected from the wrath of the
landlords. decided to push forward
the unions program for one South
wide organization of farmers.
President Harry Williams, cour-
ageous and militant Negro and
Secretary G. l.. johnson were dir
ected to address an appeal to che
Southern Tenant Farmers Union
for the creation of a Joint commit
tee to execute a united program
based on the common needs and
aims of both unions. The conven-
ton advanced the following de-
mands as the possible base of a
joint program:
A. Higher wages and better
working conditions for day la
bOrers.
B. The right of sharec0Oppers
and share-tennants to 9Th and
sell their own cotton.
C. Adequate drOuth relief for
all farmers whose crops have
Heen damaged by the severe
heat.
Struggle against foreclosures
and evictiOns.
D. A complete program for
raising the level of education in
Negro and white schools.
E. The construction of
strong, well-Organized defense
movement to protect union mem
bers from the terror of the land
lords.
The delegates declared that joint
action on the above basis was nee
essary in the face of the rapid
unionization of the Southern farm
ing people. Only a united program,
they said, could consolidate the
gains already won by both unions
and push forward to even greater
victories.
Forty regular and fraternal dele
gates from three states-Alaeama,
Misippi and Louisiana-took part
in the three day proceedings. The
ability Of the Share Choppers I'm
ion TO hold its first convention, at
tef five years of struggle in Ala
bama, proved the strength of the
organization, Secretary G. /. john
son told the delegates in his re-
port.
Johnson called the unions roll Of
honr-the names Of the sharecrop-
pers who gave their lives that the
farmers and farm workers IN Ala
hama might enjoy a little more
bread-the men who were murder
Cd bv the landlords in the many
struggles that the union has led.
The cold, merciless terror must
end. Johnson said. The union IS big
enough and strong enough now TO
come out openly and establish Ita
deal right to assemble peacefully
and organize. The union must