At the meeting of gum naval stores producers held at JecKksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, March 18, 1936, at which Judge Harley Langdale of Valdosta was elected Chairman and C. Chappell of Cordele was elected Secretary, the American Turpentine Farmers Association Co-operative was organized, by-laws were adopted, officers elected, temporary Board of Directors elected, membership entrance fees and annual dues determined, end voting privileges decided upon. Lo was. estimated thet approximately 200 producers were present. Telegrams and letters from a number of producers who were unable to attend, due to pressure of business or illness, ie toed, before the meeting, all of which expressed the desire that an organization of producers be formed if there was any possibility of such, Letters or telegrams were received from Wakulla Turpentine Compan Tallahassee, Florida, Messrs. J. R. P DE F) 2 end J, B, Miller, Inc., Baconton, Georgia, Almeda Turpentine Company, Varnville, South Carolina, J. B. Davis, Albany, Georgia, Re As Green, Starke, Florida, J. Leonard Rountree, Summit, Georgia, all regretting the fact that they or representatives of their companies were unable to attend, end most of them urging the formation of an association, A-large number of those present stated that producers in their sections were very desirous of some form of association through which it would be possible to secure governmental aid. Ample opportunity was given bo all present to express their sentiments regarding @ producers! association, and it was very apparent that there was an unanimous recognition of the need of an organization, so that producers could act or speak as &@ unit, and the desire to immediately organize prevailed. When the vote was put before the house as to whether an association should be formed, no dissenting yoices were heard among the producers. The one or two differences of opinion that arose were not regarding whether the organization should be formed, but merely as to the form of association, the method of formation, membership dues, and voting power. The original association of the American Turpentine Farmers Association Co-operative was formed in 1932 and a charter ranted for a period of fifty years, and it was decided by the meeting, at the paceeok ae of Judge Langdale, to adopt the name of the former association and accept the use of its charter which was offered by Judge Langdale as a director of the original orgenizeation. While the American Turpentine Farmers Association Co= operative as formed in 1932, with headquarters in Jacksonville, was organized for the expressed purpose of buying and selling turpentine and rosin through loans from the sovernment to insure orderly nipekoyi as of same, this is not the purpose of the new association just at this time, end no provision is made for puch en undertaking in the by-laws which were adopted at Wednesday's meetinge Valdosta, Georgia, was selected by vote as headquarters for the newly formed association, and only one or two dissnting voices were heard to this, which were later withdrawn. Chairman Langdale outlined conditions leading up to the necessity of having an association, end solicited suggestions and plans for same from those present. He brought out the fact that the success or failure of the efforts of a comm bee visiting Washington for the purpose of securing aid for the naval stores industry depended entirely upon the percentage of production the association represents. Mr. O. T. MeIntosh, President of the Southern States Naval. Stores Company, Savannah, who is also a large producer, was present at the meeting, and pointed out that it was essential that an association of this kind have as nearly 100 percent membership as possible, that in dealing with the government the association's conmittee should be in position to state that they represent the entire industry and not 75 percent. Me, McIntosh was of the belief, however, that an esscctetion with a rather elaborate set-up would not appeal to the majority of producers, and that membership dues of $5.00 plus 5 cents per unit on production would greatly reduce the possibility of securing a large membership, claiming that not more than one-half of the producers would be willing to sign up under that plan. iir. MeIntosh made it clear that he was not opposed to a co-operative organization for doing anything that the producers wanted done, but was of the opinion that only a simple form of association would meet with any measure of success at this time. Mr. Le Me Autrey, of Valdosta, Georgia, stated that he felt that all of the naval stores organizations which had been formed in the past had done more or less good, and that the big trouble with the whole proposition all the way through had bien pelfiehe ness and petty jealousies among the producers over the belt, and urged that these be thrown into the discard. i es. W. S. Booth, Manor, Georgia, E. A. McColskey, Lake City, Florida, V. G. Phillips, Tallehassee, Florida, R. S. Reynolds, Bainbridge, Georgia, James Fowler, Soperton, Georgia, and H. M, Wilson, of Jacksonville, voiced their senti- ments regarding an association, and all were heartily in favor of united action, Mr, C, A. Tompkins, of Jacksonville, felt that the Smoot- Hawley Tarriff Bill of 1930 had done more to depress the naval stores industry than anything else, through hampering exports or this commodity, and urged that steps be taken to lower the American tariff schedules, and promote general foreign trade thereby. Two hundred copies of the by-laws of the original American Turpentine Farmers Association Co-operative were distributed among those present, and each paragraph was read by the secretary and then discussed, approved, or revised individually, after which they were voted upon as a whole and adopted, The most important revision was the elimination of the part alluding to or providing for co-operative marketing of the products of its members in order to insure orderly marketing of same. There was a lengthy discussion regarding this particular matter, some being of the opinion that the provision for orderly and co-operative marketing should be retained, inasmuch as such @ a thing may be undertaken at some future date. However, the majority believed thet such a clause would be confusing, and thereby prevent the association from becoming largely representative of the producing interests, as many producers still have a bad taste in their mouths from their connection with the former co=moperative marketing association, and the following provision was stricken out<'"To assist its members in orderly marketing of the products of its members; to buy and sell the products of its members, and to create agencies therefor; to buy and sell supplies co-operatively for the penefit of its members or to create agencies for such purposes; to create agencies for warehousing the products of its members, and for financing the production of such products, and to finance said agencies." S The by-laws as amended and adopted provide for research, improvenents in the production and marketing of gum turpentine and rosin and their by-products, advertising the products of its members, co-operation with state and federal agencies in the planting, conservation. and growing of slash pine and other resinous trees; to cultivate the spirit of co-operation among its members; to stabilize the industry, to appear in behalf of its members before trade, federal, s tate, legislative, education and commercial bodies, and to negotiate with such agencies on behalf of its members. The annual meeting of the association shall be held on the third Wednesday in April of each year. The Board of Directors, consisting of nine producers, shall meet at least quarterly, and the executive committee, consisting of not less than three nor more than five from among the Board of Directors, shall have charge of the operations of the association subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and the provisions of the by-laws, and shall meet at least monthly. Membership fees were discussed at length and the following was agreed upon: membership entrance fees for naval stores processors (producers with stills) shall be ()5.00 plus annuel dues of 5 cents per unit of production; and entrance fees for gum producers (producers without stills) shall be $1.00. The byckaon provide that members shall have the right to withdraw from membership on March 31, 1937, and on March 3ist in any year thereafter, if the association fails in its purposes and they do not desire to continue a member of same. Every member of the association shall have one vote for each unit of naval stores produced, and not one vote for every hundred units, or fraction thereof, as in previous organizations. A Board of Directors to serve for sixty days was elected by producers from various sections, each district selecting its representatives on the Board. rt is proposed to hold a similar meeting in Valdosta, Georgia, in sixty days, at which time e Board of Directors will be elected to serve for the remainder of 1936 or longer, the hope being entertained that within a comparatively short time, at least sixty days, the association will have enlisted the support of a large number of producers, and that the entire membership should have the privilege of selecting its Board of Directors. The temporary directors are: GEORGIA (First District) J. B. Davis, Albany, Georgia, H. Langdale, Valdosta, Georgia, Je Ee Dyal, Baxley, Georgia, James Fowler, Soperton, Georgia FLORIDA AND ALABAMA (Second District) C. P. Kelly, Madison, Florida, Geo. W. Hall, Putnem Hall, Florida, M, C,. Stallworth, Mobile, Alabama MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA AND TEXAS(Third District) Re. M. Newton, W Mi NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA (Fourth District) W. L. Rhodes, Estill, South Carolina A large number of membership agreements was distributed among those in attendance. Printed in large letters above the signature line was the following: DO NOT SIGN WITHOUT READING, Some little time was spent in reading and discussing the membership agreement, with no discord in evidence, after which a number were signed and entrance fees paid. The applications for membership were passed upon by Messrs. Langdale and L. M. Autrey, of Valdosta, who had served on the Board of Directors of the former association. Judge Langdale urged that each member become a committee on one to immediately visit producers in their respective neigh- borhoods to secure applications for membership, in the hope that the organization might be made representative of at least 90 per cent of the total production within a short time. Various members pledged themselves to cover certain territories adjacent to them. Application blanks were to be signed and mailed to the association's headquarters at Valdosta. Meeting adjourned to meet again in Valdosta on call of the Directorse Savanah, deodstns, March 19th, 1936, At the icine of gum naval stores producers held at Jacks onyille, Plas, on idenaetliy, Mareh rein, the American Turpentine Varmers Association Cooperative was organ- ized, Or revi ved; by-laws were adopted, officers elected, temporary Board of Directors elected, membership entrance fees and annua 1 duss abteratin, voting prvileges decided upon, (ana most | important of all at this wutbliclas Wiel) committee appointed to visit valiiagtes in an endeavor to induce the C.0.C. to withhold from markets all turpentine and rosin now in the Government's hands until January 1, 1937, and to secure governmental assistance in the way of reducing prouction during 1936 by eliminating certain number of crops for which the pro-/ : ional would pervave sermain cash considerations } This meeting, which was under the able disietion of Judge carta Langdale, of Valdosta, Ga., seems to have set a precedent regarding accomplishments. There were approximately two hundred producers in attendance, but some disappointment was @xpressed as to this number. However, several of those present stated their belief that among the producers who did not attend the thought that everyone else ig going to the meeting and I won't be missed" was generally prevalent, and that their ab- sence did not signify any lack of desire to cooperate in the way of becoming members of cand mm association that might be formed. a ha Telegrams and letters from 4 nantes of producers who were unable to attend due to pressure of business or illness were read before the meeting, all of which expressed the desire that an organization of producers be formed if. there was any possibility of such. Petters or telegrams were received from Wakulla Turpentine Co., Tallahassee, Fla., Messrs. J, 8. & J. 3, Willer, Ine., Baconton, Ga., Almeda Turpentine Co., Varmville, S. C., J. B. Davis, Albany, Ga., R. A. Green, Starke, Fla., J. Leonard Rountree, Sumit, Ga., all regretting the fact that they or x representativetof their compannics were unable to nt sena, and most of them-urging the formation of an association. A large number of those present stated that producers in their sections were very desirous of some form of association thr ough * fe which it would be possible to secure governmental aid. Ample opportunity was given to all present to express their sentiments a regarding a producers association, and it was very apparent that there was an unanimous 5 od (2) recognition of the need of an organization so that producers could act or speak as ao unit, and the desire to immediately organize prevailed. When the vote was put before the house as to whether an association should be formed no dissenting voices were heard among the pro- ducers. The one or two differences of opinion that arose were not regarding whether the organization should be formed, but merely as to the form of association, the method of formation, membership dues, and voting power. : The original association of the American Torpentine Farmers Association Cooperative was formed in 1952 and a charter granted for a period of fifty years, and it was decided by the meeting, at the suggestion of Judge Langdale, to adept the name of the fomner association and accept the use of its charter which was offered by Judge Langdale as a director of the original organization. 7 While the American Turpentine Farmers Association Cooperative as formed in 1952, with headquartere in Jacksonville, was organized for the expressed purpose of buying and selling turpentine and rosin throvgh loans from the government to insure orderly marke t~ ing of some, this is not the purpose of the new association just at this time, and th no provision is made for such an undertaking in the by-laws which were adopted at Wednesday's mestinge : Fadge langlale was elected chairman of the meeting, and it was largely cy | Mr. Langdale's untiring efforts that pated in of the association was possible. He was assisted by Mr. , C. Chappell, of Cordele, who was elected Secretary of the meeting, \ doth of whom displayed unusual ability in handling the work which was before them. ee Valdosta, Ga., was selected by vote as headquarters for the ae formed association, and onely one or two dissenting voices were heard to this which were later withdrawn. Chairman Langdale outlined conditions leading up to the necessity of having an association, and solicited suggestions and plans for same from those present. He brought out the fact that the suecess or failure of the efforts of a committees visiting Washington for the purpose of sequring aid for the naval stores industry depended entirely upon the percentage of preduction the association represents. (3) Chairman Langdale's remarks in part were; We are all familiar with the fact that the C.C.C. has quite a bit of turpentine and rosin on hand which it has taken in under loans. Some of the loans have already been declared due on account of the cooperage being in need of repair, and all of them mature on the Slst of thie month. The fact that the government has these stocks on hand, of course, has a depressing effect on the market in view of the fact that up until this time we have not been able to get them to make any definite encouraging announcement as to how and when they will be placed on the market. In addition, the recent agricultural bill was passed by Congress appropriating five hundred million dollars for agriculture. then I was im Washington on a committee recently officials of the Agricultural Department told us in so many words that under proper contract we would be entitled to benefits under this bill. I don't know what this organization can accomplish, wut I think we are facing the moet serious crisis we have ever faced on account of thie general information over the country thet the crop has been increased, or will be imereased, this year, and in view of the fact that these stocks are in existence and Really yl efinite policy announced by the government as to when or how they will be sold. Conswners are buying from hand to mouthe Although it appears from best information obtainable that rosin is really in a good statis tical position it is the uncertainty of the handling of these stocks that is causing people to stay out of the market, and thereby holding down or lowering the prices of that Gommodi ty. It looks to me like the prospects are that unless some definite policy comes from the C.0.C., and some other steps taken to curtail the production for 1936 we are facing possibly #35.00 a wiit for our production im 1956. TI believe if we had the cooperation of 95 percent of all the producers in the United States we could handle this situation in Washington, that we can make a contract with them, and get on appropriation to take out of production probably three or four thousand crepe. According to the best figures available last year we had about 18,000 crops in operation that produced about 526,000 wits. I have been told that the crop this year is going to be increased by 2,000 crops, but I do not know if that is true, I , dont think it will amount to that mch. At amy rate, if we make a 600,000 unit crop this year it would probably be too much. Bat if we could take a couple thousand crops out of production, and at the same time get the government officials to cooperate in the handling . (4) of the stocks in the hands of the C.0.0,, there is no reason why we should not get $60 a unit for our turpentine and rosin this year. If we don't have an organization we camot get anywhere, and it looks to me like we will get $36 a unit. Now, it is a question as to whether the producers arw satisfied to sit down and get 435 or whether they will do everything | possible to increase the prices when they have a possibility of getting $60 a mit. of course | if this organization is not going to be pepresentative of the total production the thing to do is to quit and go hom right now, but if there is any hope in our breasts that we can ever do anything for the turpentine producers now is the time to do it. Mr, O. T, MeIntosh, president of the Southern States Navel Stores Co., Savannah, who is also a large producer, was present at the meeting, and pointed out that it Was essential that an association of this kind have as nearly 100% membership as possible, that in dealing with the government the association's committee should be in position to state that they represent the entire industry and not 75 percent. Ke was of the belief, hovever, that an association with & rather elaborate set-up would not appeal to the majority of pro~ | ducers, and that membership dues of $5.00 plus 5 cente per unit on produetion would greatly reduce the possibility of securing a large membership, laiming that not more than one-half | of the producers would be willing to sign up under that plan. Mr. MoIntosh made it Clear that he wad not opposed to a cooperative organization for doing anything that the producers wanted done, but was of the opinion that only a simple form of association would met with any measure of success at this time. ! Mr, Le Me. Autrey, of Valdosta, Ga., pe: that he felt that all of . the naval stores organizations which had been formed in the past had done more or less good, and that the big trouble with the whole proposition all the way through had been selfishness and petty jealousies among the producers over the belt, and urged that these be thrown into the discard. Messrs. W. S. Booth, Manor, Ga., B. A. WeColskey, Lake City, Fla., R, S. Reynolds, Bainbridge, Ga., Ve G Phillips, Tallahassee, Vla.,/James Fowler, Soperton, Ga., and H. M. Wilson, of Jacksonville, voiced their sentiments regarding an association, and all were heartily in favor of wnited action. Mr. C. 4, Tompkins, cf Jacksonville, felt that the Smoot-Hawley tariff Riad Cth (5) bill of 1930 had done more to depress the naval stores industry than anything els, through thx hampering exports of thsecommodity, and urged that steps be taken to lower the American tariff schedules, and promote general foreign trade thereby. fwo hundred cfopies of the by-laws of the original American Turpentine Farmers Association Cooperative were distributed among those present, ani each paragrash was read by the secretary and then discussed, ppproved, or revised individually, after which they were voted upon as a whole and adopted, The most important revision was the elimination of the part alluding to or providing for cooperative marketing ku of the products of its members in order to insure orderly marketing of same. There was a lengthy discussion regarding this particular matter, some being of the opinion that the provision for orderly am cooperative marketing should be retained inasmuch as such a thing may be undertaken at some future date. However, the major- ity believed that such a clause would be confusing and thereby prevent the aseociation from becoming largely representative of the producing interests, as many producers still have a bad taste in their mouths from their connection with the former cooperative marketing asso~ Ciation, and the following provision was stricken out: Yo assist its members in orderly marketing of the products of its members; to buy and sell the products of its members, and to create agencies therefor; to buy and sell vein ites eo-operatively for the benefit of ite members or to create agencies for such purposes; to create agencies for warehousing the products of its members, and for financing the production of such products, and to finance Said agencies. The by~laws as amended and adopted provide for research, improvements in the production and marketing of gum turpentine and rosin and their by-products, advertising the products of its members, cooperation with state and federal agencies in the planting, conservation and growing of slash pine and other resinous trees; to cultivate the spirit of cooperation among its members; to stabilize the industry, to appear in behalf of its members before trade, federal, state, legislative, education and commercial bodies, and $0 negotiate with such agencies on behalf of ite members, The annual meeting of the association shall be held on the third Wednesday in April of each year. The Board of Directors, consisting of nine producers, shall (6) meet at least quarterly, and the executive committee, consisting of not less than three nor more than five from among the Board of Directors, shall have charge of the operations of the estos jiation subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and the provisions of the by~ laws, and shall meet at least monthly. , Membership fees were discussed at length and the following was agreed upon: membership entrance fees for naval stores gprakueaxaxtprat processors (producers with stills) shall ve $5.00 plus annual dues of 5 cents per unit of production; and entrance fees for gum producers (producers without stills) shall be $1.00. fhe by-lawe provide that members shall have the rigit to withdraw from membership on March Slst, 1937, and om March Slet in any year thereafter, if the association fails in its purposes ani they do not desire to continue a member of same. Every member of the association shall have one vote for each unit of naval stores produced, and not one ferx@axr vote for every hundred units, or fraction thereof, as in previous organizations. A Board of Directors to serve for sixty days was elected by producers from various sections, each district selecting its representatives on the Board. It is proposed to hold o similar meting in Valdosta, Gae; tate eee nachna ie pbk wal time a parmanent Board of Directors will be elected to serve for the bemainder of 1936 or longer, the hope being entertained that within a comparatively short time, at least sixty days, the association will have enlisted the support of a large number of producers, and that the entire membership should have the privilege of selecting its Board of Directors. The temporary directors are: GEORGIA ( First District ) J. B. Davis, Albany, Ga., H. Langdale, James Fowler, Soperton, Ga. FLORIDA AND ALABANA ( Second District ) C. P. Kelly, Madison, Fila., Geo. W. Hall, Putnam Hall, Fla., M. C. MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA & TEXAS { Third District ) R. M. Newton, Wiggins, Mies. HORTH & SOUTH CAROLINA ( Bourth District ) W. L. Rhodes, Estill, S. Cc. 4 large number of membership agreements was distributed among those (7) in attendance. Printed in large letters above the signature line was the following: DO NOP SIGN WITHOUT READING, Some little time was spent in reading and discussing the mm- : betship agreement, with no discord in evidence, after which a number were signed and entrance fees paid. The applications for membership were passed upon by Messrs. Langdale and Le M. Autrey, of Valdosta, who had served sa the Board of Directors of the fourm former association. Judge Langdale urged that each member becom: a committee of ome to immediately visit producers in their respective neighborhoods to secure applications for moubership, in the hope that the organization might be mde representative of at least ninety percent of we total production within a short time. Various members vhohenh themselves to cover certain tereiteries adjacent to them. Application blanks are to be signed and mailed to the association's ins are inoue at Valdenta. { O/ ie Jones Jordan Jordan Kayton Kelly Kennedy Vv Kircher Kirsopp OO Kyle Langdale v Little vLiefeld Lockwood Myra Scott Se Ee Re Be de Ee ie ies H. Lindsey Je We Je Me G. We Claudia Le De Le Be OQ. Sy Me Norman M. W. Ce big Be Cy Ss We He We Re da Oe Seery Ea Be C. Me Ra e Joseph C, We Be Pe Harley Je Ce igen Re ae Be Atlanta Glen St. Mary Fla Tallahassee Otter Creek Glennwood Sereven Sneads Vilas Putnam Hall