COOPERATIVE MARKETING OF COTTON 5 
chants, warehousemen, and others interested in promoting and pro- 
tecting the interests of the cotton growers. The first annual meeting 
of this association, held at Montgomery, Ala., April 13 and 14, 
1920, was attended by delegates from every cotton-producing State 
and by representatives from the United States Department of Ag- 
f riculture, State colleges of agriculture, State departments of agr icul- 
' ture, and leading men in the cotton ‘industry. At this meeting a 
committee of 24 men was appointed to work out and. recommend 
plans for the establishment of cooperative marketing among cotton 
producers. This committee reported in September, 1920 : at a sec- 
ond meeting in Montgomery, when resolutions were adopted to the 
effect that the plan submitted be put into effect throughout the Cot- 
ton Belt. The plan, which involved the formation of local associa- 
tions and their subsequent federation, was published and given wide 
publicity, but failed to arouse the action recommended. 
CONTEMPORARY ORGANIZATIONS * 
OKLAHOMA COTTON GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION 
The Oklahoma branch of the American Cotton Association had 
91 delegates at the meeting at Montgomery, Ala., April, 1920. ‘These 
delegates returned home enthusiastic about the possibilities of coop- 
crative marketing and much impressed with the idea of organizing 
an association modeled along the lines of certain dried- fruit or- 
ganizations in California. 
They did not wait for the report of the American Cotton Asso- 
ciation’s Committee on Cooperative Marketing, but at a meeting, 
ess 10 and 11, appointed a special committee of their own to draft 
a cooperative- -marketing plan. The plan submitted by this commit- 
tee of six contemplated local organizations to class, warehouse, and 
' sell cotton, eventually combining into county and then federating 
into a state-wide association. Like the plan later submitted by the 
committee of the American Cotton Association, this report did not 
arouse enthusiasm. ‘The special committee then planned a state- 
wide organization such as had been outlined in an outstanding 
address at the general meeting at Montgomery. This plan, w hen 
_ worked out, was approved at a meeting June i, 1920. At a subse- 
quent mass meeting, attended by delegates from 32 counties, the 
scheme of organization and the proposed long-term marketing con- 
tract were explained in detail and approved. At the same meeting 
a permanent organization committee was formed. 
The organization committee immediately began an educational 
campaign ‘to acquaint the people of the State with the plans and pur- 
poses of the proposed association. Indorsements were obtained from 
influential organizations of the State, including the Grange, the 
Farmers’ Union, and the State bankers’ association. It was pro- 
posed that an extensive publicity campaign be conducted, but inas- 
much as this involved an estimated cost of $50,000 it was abandoned. 
In fact, financing actual organization activities was an early problem 
of the committee. 
a a © 
1 Wide indebtedness is acknowledged for facts and suggestions incorporated in this and 
Subsequent chapters, particularly to the associations and the American Cotton Growers’ 
Exchange. Figures given in both tables and text were obtained from either the associa- 
tions or the exchange. Charts were furnished by the exchange and the North Carolina 
association, and photographs by the Oklahoma and Texas associations. 
