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jt * ? ^ T0~ CONTROL CROR State Association Held Good Meeting in Columbia. TOCOOPERATE WliHOTHFR STATES Delegates Will Be Sent to The National Convention in Macon This flonth. Columbia, Special. ? The Cotton Growers' Association of South Carolina met Wednesday night in the county court house and alter a thorough discussion of the situation determined to push the work of organizing the farmers of South Carolina so as to control the cotton crop in co-operation with the other cotton growing States. The association also decided to send a full delegation to the meeting of the national association. Thorn ohrvnt SJA formnr? nro?onf * "vie " vi v uuvuv uu iai iuui a when the meeting was called to order by the president, J. C. Wilborn. The ( secretary, J. R. Blake, was at his poot. ' Mr. Wilborn referred to the meeting of the cotton seed oil men recently held here, at which they decided to combine for the purpose of reduciag the price of seed. He said it was determined to pay $13 per ton for seed. 1 which is 19 cents per bushel, while the former price was 30 cents per bushel. j He said the only way to fight such or ganizations as this was to meet organ- ' ization with organization. Mr. Wil- ( born then addressed the meeting as 1 follows: Gentlemen of the Convention: The 1 State Convention of Cotton Growers met at Greenwood September 12th, i?ou. it was men aeciaeu auer mature deliberation to organize a state organization and officers were duly appointed for one year until September 12, 1901. It was decided to compactly organize 1 each county in this State, with a view , of getting a more accurate report of 1 ginning and marketing of the cotton, and to interchange views and informa- , tion from all the cotton States; for the j purpose of obtaining fair and just , prices for our cotton and cotton seed products. Upon my suggestion an od- , journment of the Cotton Growers' Con- : vention at Greenwood was had to nmet , In Columbia duving the Fair week at my call. Therefore, I named October ( 31st, at 8.30 p. m., as the time for the WUVt'Ubll/U LU 1UVCI, IU tiCJ \JL VV" lumbia at the county court house. Each county was invited to be fully . represented by delegations, the number of delegates not to be restricted. . All counties are urged to organize at once by electing a president, one vicepresident, secretary and treasurer, and advisory board of executive committee. The Constitution and By-Laws of the , State of Georgia have been adopted as ] far as they apply to South Carolina. PLANS. ; Bonded warehouses to be established "Wat all local markets wherever required Wby the books and members of the Asj goclation. Warehouse receipts to be issued and negotiated at nearest nans, as collateral security for money borrowers. Each producer shall control the individual sale, if he desires to dispose oi his cotton before minimum price fixed by the Association is offered by the ! buyer?he shall be at perfect liberty to do so. A fair and just price for cotton and cotton seed can be fixed and main- ' tained in the South by united concert of action, by holding back the surplus crop, if any there may be, aid marketing the crop during the twelve months of tfie year to meet the demands of the mills in all parts of the world. . Ginners throughout the cotton belts will be supplied with postal cards ad- 1 dressed to headquarters of the State j Bureau, with request that each Satur- : day night the number of bales ginucd that week will be forwarded. The secretaries of country organiza- | tions will be in close touch 'with the 1 producers, and careful estimates mad*: on existing crop conditions will be sent weekly to the State Board. The cotton growers have the cotton better in hand today than they have had for thirty years, and they are warned that they have no reason to become unduly alarmed that th.e mills are closing down to depress a fair price of cotton. You are reminded tin' when cotton sold as high as 30 cents a pound, it was manufactured. For the past three years I have labored in season and out of season, with the cotton growers to organize, in order that they might the more intelligently plant and market Iheir crop. Many of you remember the Interstate convention that I called to meet in Atlanta December, 1897, and the great disappointment we felt at tko policy of delay that was then shown. A decrease of acreage was urged, and from that day to this the individual efTort of the Intelligent cotton grower has been to raise his supplies for his farm at home, thereby decreasing the acreage. I desire to urge anew the hog and hominy plan?make the farm selfsupporting. raise cotton as the surplus < crop. Do this and we will have the greatest country Jn the world. Do this and the country.home will again have 1 its high place and regard in the minds of the youth. The country home should i be the happiest and most Independent 1 ^ place in the world. A kind providence has aided us, in demonstrating to the i most skeptical mind that we have been I raising too much cotton. We today stand in a better condition ' to manage the cotton situation than at < any time since tho war of 1860-65. We ' have assembled hero tonight to devise the best ways and means for the future handling of our cotton and cotton s?ed products on the market. A change in the manner of marketing this great money crop is absolutely demanded. The present system of sellirg gives the advantage to the buyer, end leaves the individual producer absolutely as clay in the hands of the potter. Let us agree to have a say in selling our produce. We propose to obtain within our ow.i ranks and for the fhotection of the producer corrc t statistical information in regard to the true condition of the t'UUUll I' U|J| l'l -wi IW (U(U IKIIUL, CMC period of harvesting, in order to ascertain :s nearly as possible the amount of crops to be harvested, and the secretaries of local suborpanizatlons In various townships will be kept in touch with the producer-, and weekly repo' ts | mailed to headquarters, indicating existing conditions as compared with previous years, estimating the probable amount of cotton to be harvested in su -ii neighborhoods. This method will rlso apply to cotton acreage in the spring, and the rmount of fertilizer:! .actually used under the crop, showing the condition of the growing croo. during "he p??iod of growth. Ginners ard oxpecied to aid us. FIXING PRICE. The Association being in possession of thpse facts and know ng the amount of cotton to be produced, based upon the most reliable statistics, will be in a position to fix a fair price for ra .v material delivered at ports. Before fixing the price, however, we propose to find out the true amount of American cotton required fo* consumption * A\- 1 >? ? In twelve montns, ana int* price ui i-wc finished fabric offered?with correct information of amount of cotton to be har\ested?the number of bales required for consumption by mills, the price of cotton goods, and it will be an easy r;atter to determine a fair price for the raw material. OBTAINING THE PRICE. To get a just price from the buyer of our cotton, it will be essential to furnish the supply commensurate with tfce demand. This can only be done by marketing the crop through a longer period of time and furnishing spinners with stock as needed. Here is where we seek and are entitled to the aid of the banker. Cotton properly warehoused and insured is as good security as a government bond. We now have an opportunity of becoming complete masters of the situation. There will be no surplus carried over till next year. The mills in all parts of the world are short of cotton. Never has there existed a greater demand for cotton goods. The mills must have raw cotton . which will be in our possession and If we know and demand its true value it will be paid. Tbe world is now face to face with a cotton famine, if demands keep pace with the last twelve months. The mills consumed 11,100,000 bales during the past twelve months, made up of 2,000,000 bales surplus carried over from the crop of 1898 and the 9,600,000 harvested in 1899. The latest move has been for the spinners to combine and shut down for sixty days, so as to stagnate trade and depress present prices of raw cotton. The question for you to determine is whether you. after knowing the situa lion, are prepared iu sutuu huq uenv-r and be dictated to by organizations miles away. Fellow citizens, such is not your history and ehould not be your policy, bat we should meet organization with organization. For want of organization compactly formed you are being fleeced to the great detriment of your homes and families. The cotton seed combination is another organization that should be dealt with in the same measure, by united action, and with the same force they attempt to use against us. They meet and agree to give a certain price. Let us agree that we will only soil for a certain price our cotton seed. As it is dow, the politeness of Rob Roy is not even in vogue, when they take our cotton seed. The secretary, J. R. Blake, then read the minutes of the last meeting, which were aproved. Mr. J. H. McCalla, of Abbeville, was first to address the chair. Hs. agreed with the objects of the meeting, h* did not see how anything could be don< unless the Southern farmers agreed tc control the output of cotton. Congressman A. C. Latimer said he had never seen anything practical in point anu had heard nothing practical tonight. Unless there was something definite in view it is useless to organize. Mr. R. M. Cross said there was no good in organization unless the hen law were repealed. This did not create any sensation. Mr. S. H. McGhee, of Greenville, said the farmers could not control the situation alone. They must have the cooperation of the business men and bankers and he believed even the cotton mill men would join them. They had done so in Georgia and in Greenwood a mill president is on the executive committee. The main object is to take the crop cut of the hands of the speculators. Congressman Latimer said the mi'l men could organize and leave the farmers to hold the bag. Mr. J. A. Peterkin, of Orangeburg, wanted to know what it was they wanted to organize. He said if the world wants 10,000,000 balrs and the United ~c AAAA AAA rvtViai* r?mintrinQ I Olciics nisca o,vvvv.uvv, uwvi v>?..... would raise the balance and this country would be that much worse off. We should raise all the cotton the world wants, and then organize to buy the crop. He had studied and studied and flidn't know what ought to be done. Dr. J. B. Steppe, of Spartanburg, said you could get a few men in an organisation for personal reasons, for politi?1 motives, for a little notoriety, bu* you can't get the mass of the farmor3 into it. Politics has killed every' organization the farmers have started. If you can get the farmers to raise th-*ir own supplies you will solve the problem. Then they won't have to give lions and borrow money. They won't need any bonded warehouses. The farms of this State are being cut up into small tracts and run by intelligent fnnmrs. We have an agricultural college to teach the boys to farm. The cotton mills of this State are controlled by South Carolinians, but ?. 1? * V ~ Ai%nHnUefa nrv \TnrtV? prAi'k Wlltil Ml t" lapuaiioiu 1*4/ vu the whip the Southern mill men yeip. You may talk about trusts and combinations ir. the North, but we have one here among the mill men. What we need is an intelligent agricultural clac3 who will raise cotton as a surplus rop. Mr. J. R. Blake said they had an organization and the thing to do was to perfect this organization by councies and appoint a delegation to attend the National Cotton Growers' Convention in Macon. T'ntil the organization is thoroughly perfected they are not in position to act upon any suggestion. He then offered the following rcsoUition. "Resolved, That the executive committees perfeet the organisation of the various count.es and that the chair appoint a delegation of one from each Congressional district to represent the Cotton Growers' Convention of South Carolina in the convention of the National Cotton Growers' Association, which meets it Macon on November 20th." This resolution was eventually adopted, but not until several had spoken. Mr. J. K. Thompson, of Liberty Hill, discussed at some length the situation, laying stress upon the Hen law and arguing that the need is diversified | farming. As to cottoa seed we ought to go home and urge every one that has cotton seed to t old it. He had no doubt there is a combination of oil mill men, and the way to fight it is to hold the seed. The ignorant farmers, the negroes. make the most cotton and they will take the advice of an intelligent man. Maj. W. H. Mauldin was not a farmer, but he believed in organization. He called on one of the largest planters of the second district, Col. L. W. Youmans, to give his views. There were calls for Youmans, and after some hesitation he came forward. Col. Youmans said he had wondered if it were possible to organize the cotton planters of the United States. It is acknowledged that it is mo6t difficult to organize the agricultural class ,as some one has said, "Thev are the natural Drey of every other vocation." The mill men, the oil men, the ginners and the jute men combine and the price of cotton and cotton seed goes down and that of ginning and jute goes up. Col. You-mans reviewed the situation at length, delivering what was really an address upon the world's production of colton. He told of his experience at the meeting in. Memphis when the National Cotton Growers' convention was organized, he being vice president for this State. He said the farmers west of the Mississippi did not want an organization, as they thought they could drive out of the -a a. business tne ra.rmers east 01 me .Mississippi. Unless we can get the cooperation of these western States we can accomplish practically nothing. Still he believed in organization and seconded the resolutions." Mr. D. P. Eflrd made a very practical suggestion, which was that a vote be taken on the resolutions. This was done and the resolutions adopted. The meeting then adjourned. The president, Mr. J. C. Wilborn, cvas so unwell that he gave up the chair to Mr. W. M. Rainsford of Edgefield, who presided the greater part of the session. Mr. Wilborn will appoint the committee authorized in the resolutions at a later day. The convention was composed of some of the most substantial farmers of the State, men who are scientific farmers and influential citizens, and it is not improbable that they will be able to carry out their ideas. The organization was started this summer at Greenwood and is intended- to ' bo a DernianenF^hing. Used Dvnamlte. Laurens, Special.?The attempt a month ago to exterminate by dynamite the career of Mary Bridges, colored, was repeated at 11 o'clock Saturday night. Again the explosion was terrific, the flooring, sleepers and furniture being badly torn up, and .again the intended victim escaped. :Jy some hook or orook she scented the burning fuse and a post-haste exit was ' made just in time io cs.-r.pe. Evidently it was the work of the same party but no arrest have ben made as yet. Golden Admitted to Bail. Frankfort, Ky., Special.?Attorney Sriggs, for Green Golden, indicated as accesory to the murder of William 1 Goobel, made a motion for ban for < Golden before County Judge Moore. 1 The court granted the motion and fixed Golden's bond at $5,000, which will be furnished. Golden's case was called at the last term of court, but continued. Golden is the only one of the prisoners who did noc ask a change of venue. His case will bo called at the January term. The Washington young woman who married in order to secure a trip to | the Paris Exposition had a delightful time abroad and is now ready for di-i voree, application for which has beeD duly filed in the proper court. t TERRIBLE EXPLOSION Accidental Discharge of Dynamite Caused by Shock of Blast. THE PLACE WAS BERRYSBURG /"lost of th? Men Working in the nine From North Carolina and the District of Columbia. Fhilippi, W. Va., Special.?One of the greatest calamities in the hi3tory of Barbour county occurred Saturday morairg at 1 o'clock at the_ mines of the Southern Coal and Transportation Company, at Berrysburg, six miles from this place. As a result these are dead: OIlie Marks, pitt boss. Andrew blackwell. Albent Brown. Lawrence Duncan. J*ack Adams. And seven others whose names are not obtainable. The injured axe: Will Marks, James Jackson, both of whom will die. The explosion was so great that mules were killed at the mouth of the mine and cars were blown forty feet from the tracks. One man was blown in 'two at the loins and his body thrown against a pile of lumber at the mouth of the mine. The night shift went on duty at 7 o'clock. Everything went on smoothly until about midnight, when the explosion occurred. The dead were mutilated hevond recognition .and the scene was calculated to make the strongest heart faint. The explosion was probably the result of an accidental discharge of iynamite, caused, perhaps, by the concussion of a blast. The property loss Is light. No blame can be attached to the officials of the company. The report of the explosion was so great that two men were found sixty feet from the mouth of the mine. An hour after the explosion hundreds had visited the mine. The call for relief brought every physician in Philippi to the scene. The sight was a most hor. rible one. Strewn along the main channel and about tue opening werq the arms, legs, hands and other portions of the bodies of the dead miners. Fathers and mothers were frantically hunting for sons, and as fast as a body was found they would glance and recognising it, wouio give hysterica] scroams. The hotel has been turned Into a hospitaJ and t-iose still alive when brought out were taken imere. There is a great deal of comment about the cause of the explosion. The authorities refused to discuss the matter, further than to say that it was caused by an excessive charge of powder being used. The miners insist that it was caused by fire damp. The mir.-> was recently inspected and pronounce ed to be in good condition. As the work of removing the dead goes on things look wors?. Four men have been brought out during the last hour, and the searchers are confident a dozen are in the mine yet. Most ot those brought out are mutilated bet yond description. The mines of Berrysburg have only been operated a short time. They have had a great deal of trouble. First the mines wera flooded and the men struck. Last week the stables were set on fire and twenty-six horses burned. Now cumes the explosion. Col. B. F. Berry, the millionaire mineowner, arrived here but refm-ecj to discuss the affair. Most of the men came from North Carolina and the District of Columbia. Ugly rumors have been afloat all day long about the cause of the disaster. The most charItaWe construction to place on the matter Is that it was cue to the inexperience of the mine bo/s. Ollie Marks, who lies at death's door. Prosecuting Attorney C. M. Murphy and Justice W .G. Xevs left at once for Berrysourg to hold an inquest. A messenger just returned from the mines states that the bodies of twelve men have been brought out. eight of whom were recognized. Four men are in the hospital, not expected to live till morning. Twenty men are unaccounted for. The mea were mo-xly negroes and Slavs. Capturing the Carlists. Madrid. By Cable.?An official dispatch announces that the chief ot the Oarlist band which had been operating in the Bergu district, has taken refuge in France, and that the band in the province of Alicante has been disrv>r;orl Arrests of Carlists. Darticu larly priests, continue throughout the country. The arrest cf a vicar of a church in Madrid has led to the discovery of additional compromising documents. An entire band of Carlists has been captured in the neighborhood of Jaen, capital of the province of the same name, not of Granada. Swiss Kanway Loan. New York, Special.?The Evening Post says today: "Negotiations are under way for placing a portion, of the Swiss Railway loan in this country. One or two firms have the matter under consideration, but until an agreement has been reached, New York agentB lor securing Unked SStates subscriptions will not be announced. SHOT BY HIS FRIEND. - 9 Rev. John Owen Fatally Wounded While Out Hunting. The Rev. John Owen, a well-known. Methodist preacher, was seriously and perhaps fatally shot near his home at Johnston Tuesday afternoon. The sad and terrible affair was purely accidental, and Mr. Waiter Smith, at whose hands it happened, is prostrate with grief and in danger of losing his mind. Mr. Owen is a former presiding elder of the South Carolina conference, and is now a teacher in the Johnston Institute and pastor of Harmony, Johnston and Spann's churches. He wa>3 out hunting Tuesday afternoon with Mr. Walter Smith, son of Mr. Game3well Smith. *ney had agreed :hat Mr. Owen was to 6hqot to the left and Mr. Smith to the right, away from each other. Unfortunately they walked right into a covey before it was flushed and the birds got up rather behind them. A_f ? owifk ti'k irlrt-i oKrwvf Kit j . k7Uiitu n uu icu ia/ 0uww| i/u>v turned the wrong way. He did not fully cock his gun and his thumb slipped. The contents of the barrel wore poured into the right side of his devoted pasi.or. Mr. Owen said, "Walter, you have killed me." Mr. Smith laughed and said he supposed not, but he had missed the birds. Even then he was not aware that Mr. Owen was wounded. The minister pointed to his side, and when Mr. Smith saw the blood he started for hel?, but Mr. owen stopped him, saying that he would probably , be dead In a few minutes, and he wanted Mr. Smith to 6tay with him. He atso excused Mr. Smith from all blame and begged him not to feel badly over the terrible accident Rev. Mr. Owen died from the effect of his wounds on Wednesday. New Enterprises. During fair week the Abbeville Warehouse company of Abbeville applied for a charter, with a capital stock of |6.000. The corporators are J. R. Blako, F. E. Harrison, John .Lyon ana J. u. Aicatuiiau. So did the Blue Ridge Brokerage company of Greenville, with a capital stock of $1,000. The corporators are C. W. Griffin, R. J. Cox, J. G. Landrum. The Gaffney Live Stock company, with a capital of $15,000, has also asked for a charter. W. T. Gregory of Lancaster and T. B. Clarkson of Gaffney are among the corporators. A charter has been issued to the Union Hardwood company, with a capital stock of $6,000. It is to deal in and manufacture various kinds of hardwood. S. M. Rice, Jr, Is president and treasurer. Leg Ground Off. Society Hill, Special.?A bad accident happened at the yard of the Darlington Brick company Wednesday. George Coleman, a young colored man, employed as feeder to tne mud mill, accidently stepped into une feeder and before aid was secured and the machinery thrown out of gear the rapidly revolving wheels had ground up one of the unfortunate's legs. It was only by prompt action that his body was prevented from being mangled. It was necessary to amputate the leg about midway the thigh. Penitentiary Matters. The penitentiary directors met* Friday. It was reported by -uperintendent Griffith that the reformatory in Lexington county was about ready for juvenile offenders and that it would b? in operation in a week or two. Progress on the new prison is being made, and with favorable weather it is believed that it will be completed by Jan-uary. Suicide in Jail. GalTney. Special.?Friday Miss Juliet Poole, a highly respected and well connected lady of this county was lafi hv Probate Judee CUUlUilbl^u tv JM'H - w Webster for lunacy and between 6 and 7 o'clock thi3 afternoon she committed suicide by hanging herself in her cell. She tore the waist strings from a loose wrapper she had on. tied them together and hung herself w.m them. An inquest will be held to-day. To Gov. Candler. Gov. McSweeney has sent the following telegram to the governor of Georgia: Hon. A. D. Candlor, Atlanta. Ga.: T ? T, A \ r> A veil' Watson cam jacnauu &.?u ,, are under arrest in Clarendon county, this State, suspected cf the murder ol Andrew Kennedy and assault on Deputy Sheriff Donaldson, Bullock county, Ga., October 18. They will be released on the 6th If requisition is not received. M. B. McSWEENEY. Governor. Governor McSweeney has received a number of communications in regard to the matter. A full report of tha preliminary has been forwarded. dV *it~ v rSu