Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-09
A HOLD Up"
Curtai|ment in Cotton Mills
Seems Very..ProbabIe.
The General Sentiment Both North
and South, FavorsIt.
Resolution Adopted in That Line at
Resolution Adopted in That Line at
Charlotte, N. c., Meeting.

= Charlotte, N. c., Dec. SIN response
to call by a committee representing
the North Carolina Manufacturers
Association over 100 cotton manufact-
lrers, representing 1892 spindles and
SO65 looms, located throughout the
Southern states met here, today, and
started a plan for the curtailment of
the production of cotton goods by the
mills of the entire country A COM
mittee OF Is was named to meet a SIM
liar committee from other sections to
effect an agreement to decrease pro-
duction throughout the United States.
Alfred A. Shompson of the Raleigh
Gotten mills, made a motion that the
necessity for national curtailment be
considered the sense of the meeting.
Mr.. Thompson suggested that a meet
ing should be held in Washington at
which representatives of manufacture
crs from all parts of the world might
discuss this great question on a COM
mon ground. He took occasion to pre-
dict large cotton crop for next year
The Thompson motion was referred
to a committee of three which after
q half hours elaboration made the fol-
lowing reports, which was adopted with
only one dissenting vote:
"Resolved-That with the view of
serving national curtailment, which
I'VE think absolutely necessary to the
cotton industry. we recommend that q
committee of IS from the North Caro-
lima Association be appointed by the
Chair to meet in Washington City, at
as early date as can be agreed upon
with like committees from other
states.
THAT the other Southern states, the
Middle and New England states be in
vited by the chairman of this meeting
to appoint similar committees, which
when they meet in Washington as a
joint committee will formulate a plan
that will bring about curtailment
throughout the United States.
And that this joint committee i'm
mediately call national meeting of
manufacturers at such place and date
as they can agree upon"
After reading of the motion there was
an interesting discussion. w. c. Heath
OF Monroe, N. c.. president of the
American Cotton Manufacturers Asso-
citation, said that he did not think it
would do any good to attempt to cur
tail unless a forfeit was put up. He
thought that Immediately following the
meeting there should be held in the
different Southern states meetings of
manufacturers at which committees
could he appointed and the sentiment
of the bodies could be expressed at a
meeting to be held co-jointly with the
New England or Northern people. He
said the meeting would be unwise to
put itself in a position where it seemed
to try to depress the price of cotton
Curtailment, he said. is all right but
not now. Curtailment should not begin
before July or August when the proper
care could be taken of the operatives.
Mr.. Heath criticised the censure of cot
ton spectators. He knew, he said,
that two-thirds of the men before him
did what was termed gambling in the
cotton market.
President Gordon of the Georgia Cot
ton Manufacturers Association, said
that he favored the plan under consid
Grafton and believed that curtailment
was the only solution. He thought the
price of cotton would remain high. 1t
remained for the manufacturers to
regulate the price of their goods.
At the afternoon session the COM
mittee was named. consisting of Is
manufacturers of North Carolina.