The Atlanta constitution., 1896-07-06
TEXTILE MEN TALK
Closed Door Meeting Of tho Southern
Manufacturers Association.
TO CURTAIL THE PRODUCTION
For the Sake Of Labor the ASSOCIATION
Took No Radical Action-What
They Did.

Barred in behind the heavy doors OF the
Aragon the members of the Southern TX
tile Manufacturers Association met Moi-
dav I'm called session for the purpose OF
considering the best method of curtalilhS
production. ..
The meeting was not very largely at
tended but over Il hundred ana hity hliiio
were represented and what acuon was
taken will govern all members OF the as
sociat;on. Among those present We're;
President ]. H. McAden. Charlotte' >. r.
Hanson. Macon: d. A. Tompkins, Grlifn'
Ga; w. ]. Kincaid. Griffin, Ca; George a.
Mebaue Ashevile: G. NJ. Williams, 90
lumbus. Ga, William A. Robinson Satan-
nah. Ga: j. T. Goodwin. Admission, AiL.'
a. \. Maginnis. New Orleans ana W. -
Northngton Prattville Ala
Members of the association began to ar
rive early Yesterday morning ana were
gathered in the corridors of the dliierehI
hotels discussing the situation and theorlz-
ing upon the best method OF soiNlh5 '"o
difficult problem that faces the AIiieI ian
manufacturers The meeting was held be-
hind closed doors. No one except author-
lied members of the organization was per
mitted in the hall and the details OF the
session so far as they concerned the
amount of goods now on hand were kept
strictly quiet.
The textile manufacturers were cahed lo'
the single purpose of considering the pres
ent oyer-stocked condition OF the market.
A circular letter had been issued to all of
the manufacturers of the south. This call
was signed by $. Odenheimer. New orleans,
La: George A. Mcbaue, Asheville, y. G.;
r. f. Larned. Natchcz, Miss; W. L. Ma
ginnis. New Orleans, La; James }. HOOK
er, Covington. Ky; w. j. hlncald, Griihn'
Ga: T. Friedman, Tuscaloosa Ala; j. W.
Tullis. Eufaula, Ala; J. T. Hanson. Ma
con. Ga.
No other feature except the question of
curtailment was to be taken up by the
members OF the association when they
came together yesterday and the work
was finished up in a few hours.
Following were the resolutions passed:
Whereas, 1t is the sense Of The South
ern Textile Manufacturers Association. in
convention assembled at Atlanta, Ca, TINS
29th day of June. 1896, that The depression
i'm business justifies an immediate shutting
down of all textile mills for at least sixty
'iVhercas. Such action would work a
serious hardship on the workmen employed
by the mills; therefore, be it
Resolved That so far as pracucahle'
southern mills should curtail tneir pIouuc-
ton - per cent during the next hlhcly
days, shutting down at such time ana ior
such periods as Will best suit conditions
governing different mills
Were for Shutting Down.
1t was seen early in the day that a strong
tal1tnl, concerted action in the matter OF
shutting down They argued that the
condition of the market now required rad
icaI action and that in order to advance
prices and bring about normal condition
ii would be necessary for all the miils IN
the association 20 agree to shut down at
the same time for a limited period l ms
met stringent opposition. Inc IhaJoIiity
were in favor OF taking more conservative
action They called attention TO the fact
that some of the mills which h3d SOFA
ahead on export orders could not ablGe py
such an action and thar there We're various
other hiudrauceS in the way. Ihe QueS-
tion of abOr was also a valiant objection:
Such action it was pointed our, Woull
bring dire distress upon the l3hOr.nS class
III was this view of the case which iiualiy
influenced those who We're present IneE
knew also that the shutdown meant as
organization Of forces and that was an oo-
lection to be considered.
The meeting was conducted similar 10
that of the ArkNriEnt Club. held IN boS-
TON on June 18th This organization CON
silerod the curtailmCat of the production
of cotton goods and resolutions as Follows
were passed.
.5rnat tine troasurers of the cotton manu-
fqCturcs OF the ArltWrigut cub are lL IdFor
~ stopping tine production of cotton goods
for four weeks during the summer as
far as practicable"
The business of the association was con
Quoted In a similar manner Yesterday. IL
was stated that the reason FOR holding the
session behind closed doors was due To the
fact that the textile men did not care 70
thcv now have on hand. The meeting was
called to order at / 30 o'clock, by the pres
ilruf Mr. r. ~. Martin. Of TINS c.tXs VINO
has been greatly instrumental in tfe or
ganiZati0u acted as secretary. = ne mem
bers left last night for their homes.