The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, November 08, 1900, Image 3
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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
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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.
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