The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-12-11

Charlotte. Y. c.. December SIN
response to call by a committee rep
resenting the North Carolina Manu-
facturers' Association, over q hundred
cotton manufacturers, representing
244,392 spindles and S,O65 looms To-
Gated throughout the Southern States,
met here today and inaugurated
plan for the curtailment of the pro-
ductiOn of cotton goods by the mills
of the entire country. A committee
of fifteen was named. to meet a sim
liar committee from other sections
and agree to decrease production
throughout the United States. Even
before the meeting was convened it
was evident that the one purpose of
the session would be to curtail pro-
ductiOn. or to make an effort in that
direction by joint resolution.
Alfred \. Thompson, Of the Raleigh
cotton mills, made a motion that the
necessity for national curtailment be
considered the sense of the meeting.
Mr.. Thompson suggested that Il meet
ing should be held in Washington, at
which Representatives of manufacture
discuss this great question on a COM
mon ground. He took occasion to
predict large cotton crop for next
year.
The Thompson motion was referred
to a committee of three, which, after
a half hours deliberatiOn made the
following report. which was adopted
with but one dissenting vote:
Resolved. That with the view of
+s1i ioh
we think absolutely necessary to the
cotton Industry, we recommend that
a committee of fifteen from the North
Carolina Association be appointed by
the chair to meet in Washington City,
at as early date as can be agreed
upon with like committees from 9TH
er States.
THAT the other States. the middle
and New England States be invited by
point similar committees, which when
they meet in Washington as a joint
committee, will formulate q plan that
will bring about curtailment through
out the United States.
And that this joint committee i'm
mediately call a national meeting of
manufacturers at such place and date
as they can agree upon.
After the reading of the motion
there was an Interesting discussion.
w. c.. Heath, of Monroe, n. c., presi-
dent of the American Cotton Manufac-
turerS' Association stated that he did
not think it would do any good to at
tempt to curtail. unless n forfeit was
put up that would be binding upon all
men concerned. He thought that i'm
mediately following the meeting there
should be held in the different South
ern States. meetings of manufacture
erS, at which committees could be ap-
pointed and the sentiment of the
bodies could be expressed at q meet
ing to be held conformity with the
New England or Northern people. He
said the meeting would be unwise to
put itself in Il position where it SEEM
ed to try to depress the price OF cot
ton. Curtailment 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 criti-
cized the tendency that sought to de-
mand the Spectators fffe. He was
tired of hearing this censure of Brown
and Sully and Frank Hayne. He
knew that two-thirds of the men be-
fore him did what was termed gamb-
ling in the cotton market.
President Gordon, of the Georgia
Cotton Manufacturers Association. in
response to call for a speech, said
that he favored the plan under con-
sderatiOn and believed that Curtail-
ment was the only solution. He thought
the price of cotton would remain
high. 1t remained for the manufaC-
turers to regulate the price of their
goods.
At the afternoon session the follow
ing were named on the committee:
W. 4. Erwin. Durham. \. c.: A. A.
Thompson. Raleigh. n. c.: J. w. Can
non and ]. NJ. Odell, Concord, \. c.;
W. c. Heath. Monroe. president OF
the American Cotton Manufacturers
Association: F. Holt, Burlington, n
c.: W. II. Williamson, Raleigh, \. c.;
w. H. Watkins, Ramseur. y. c.; c,
W. Johnson. Charlotte: W. L. Holt
Fayetteville. \. c.; B. F. Mebane
Spray. y. c.: Caesar Cone. Green's
| boro. n. c.; S. B. Tanner. Henrietta
| y. c.: J. II. MCAden. Charlotte; F
4 TiIIinC KINGS Mountain y. @.