The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-10

The debate IN the meeting OF the cot
ton mill owners in Charlotte showed some
diversity of opinion as to what should be
immediate curtailment, others wished to
postpone curtailment until next June. 1t
developed that some of the larger mills in
the Piedmont section of South Carolina,
who were not represented, will not cur
tail. A telegram from Greenville quotes
cotton mill president as saying:
Practically all of the mills have cotton
and certainly they have enough to run
for several months at least We are not
inclined to take part in &c Charlotte
conference because we are asot short on
the staple" Mr.. A. a. Thompson said
that curtailment to be valuable must be
general, and it ought to embrace the
English as well as the American mills
Mr.. W. c. Heath president of the Ameri-
can Cotton Manufacturers Association,
said it Cooked strange for employees or
manufacturers to meet to put down the
they would have met to put it up and
he said he didn't think there would
hardly be harmony in the matter of cur
tailment because some mills have cotton
to last them until July, some for four
months, and some not more than enough
to last month" He thought it would
be unwise to attempt any curtailment
before July or August. Unless some
forfeit is put up the agreement to cur
tail will be only rope of sand. Mr.. w.
A. Erwin said at present prices cotton
mills cannot operate at profit and New
England mills ought to be asked to CO.
operate He disclaimed any purpose to
depress the farmer or put down the price
of cotton or any wish to take any action
that would be hurtful to the farm hands
and mill operatives. Mr.. George B. Hiss
agreed that it would be necessary to re-
quire a forfeiture if any agreement to
curtail is entered into. Mr.. F. B. Gordon,
Of Columbus, Ga, talked sound horse sense
when, after favoring action looking to
some curtailment until conditions are i'm
proved, he said: eve can't depress the
price of cotton; we must increase the
price of goods Because Of the limited
labor, the boil weevil and other evils
small crops of cotton may be expected.
The staple is on a high plane and viii
remain there for several years. What
is the result of the meeting, beyond the
calling of the meeting at Washington?
The Charlotte Observer quotes a manu-
facturer as saying:
''It will result in good, I think, though,
as you see, nothing definite was done. 1t
is always helpful when as big a body OF
men as this gets together for a confer
ence It is an open question as to whether
there will be concerted action in the way
of curtailment, but l know this: AS mat
ters stand every manufacturer can con-
tinue to do as he pleases.''
In the discussion much was said about
Brown, Sully and the other spectators
who were held responsible for the troubles
of the mills. Mr.. w. A. Erwin, of Dur
ham. said: "The man l am after is the
gambler in cotton these internal gamblers
that scarry on their business in the United
States. If a few men can get together
and corner cotton and fix the price, can't
we fix living price on our goods, not an
unreasonable one and tear from these
gamblers in cotton what they want to
make?"
Mr. W. C. Heath didn't think anything
could be done by pitching into the specu-
lators and he said:
Now, 1 have nothing to say against
stock gamblers. If ] had / would criti-
else two-thirds of the men here. l am
tired of this criticism of the speculator.
The individual has a right to do as he
pleases. We need not curtail now. July
or August is early enough. If we just
decide to curtail that is enough. 1t will
goods &
For heavens sake let's stop cussing
Brown and Sully and Frank Hayne. Every
bale they bought was bale that was
Sold and l see the faces of plenty of men
here who SOLD. (Laughter.) Let Brown
and the rest alone. They've got the coon
and gone on, so / say let em alone
The cotton mills that make yarns can
continue at present prices, having small
margin of profit, but the manufacturers
of yarns and other goods cannot spin
with profit. The problem is very seri-
Gus one to them and the wisest men are
putting their heads together to devise the
best means to better conditions. The
whole country is interested. for the cot
ton mill industry is one Of the most i'm
portant in the country 1t vitality in
terests farmers and operatives The
mill men must put UP the price of cotton
goods to the consumer. That is not as
easy as it sounds when many mills find
1t difficult now to sell their product at
prevailing low prices-prces below the