The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-09
4 National CurtaHnent is Deem- ed Now to Be a
 Necessity
1 REPORT IS DELIVERED
 ON PLAN OF PROCEDURE
Committees From the Various States Will Be Appointed to Meet In Wash ington at the Earliest Pos
 sible Date.

Charlotte, N. C., December S-In re- sponse to call by a committee repre- senting the North Carolina Manufactu- rers' association more than hundred cotton manufacturers, representing 244,S92 spindles, and SO65 looms, throughout the southern states, met here today and in- augurated plan for the curtailment of the production of cotton goods by the mills of the entire country. A committee of fifteen was named to meet a similar committee from other sections and agrs> to decrease production throughout the United States.
 Even before the meeting it was evil dent that the one purpose of the session would be to curtail production, or to make an effort in. that direction by a joint res- olution.
 Alfred A. Thompson, of the Raleigh cotton mills, moved that the necessity for national curtament be considered the sense of the meeting. MT. Thompson sug- gested that meeting should be held in Washington at which representatives of manufacturers from all parts of the world might discuss the question on a common ground He took occasion to predict a large cotton crop for next year.
 The motion was referred to committee of three which, after a half hours delib- eration, made the following report, which was adopted with but one dissenting vote.
 The Report.
 Resolved, That with the view of secur- ing the national curtailment, which we think absolutely necessary to the cotton ip1t etrU 4nror recommend that a commit tee of fifteen from the North Carolina associ- aton be appointed by the chair to meet in Washington city at as early date as can be agreed upon with like committees from each state.
 Also that other states the middle and New England states, be invited by the chairman of this meeing to appoint sim liar 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 call 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., president of the American Cotton Manufacturers association. stated that he did not think it would do any good to attempt to cur tail unless a forfeit was put up that would be binding upon all men concerned in the matter. He thought that imme- diately following the meeting, there should be held in the different southern states meetings of manufacturers at which committees could be appointed and the sentiment of the bodies could be ex- pressed at a meeting to be held conjointly with the New England or northern peo- ple He said the meeting would be unwise to put itself in position where 1t seemed to try to depress the price of cotton.
 Not Ready for curtaiment.
 Curtailment should not begin before July or August when the proper care could be taken of the operatives MT. Heath criticized the tendency that sought to damn the speculators He knew that two-thirds of the men before him prac- ticed what was termed gambling in the cotton market.
 President Gordon of the Georgia Cot ton Manufacturers association. in re- sponse to call for speech. said that he favored the plan under consideration, and believed that curtailment was the only solution. He thought the prices of cotton would remain high It remained for the manufacturers to regulate the price of their goods.
 At the afternoon session the following were named on the committee
 w. A. Erwin, Durham, N. C.; A. A. Thompson, Raleigh; J. W. Cannon and J. M. Odell, Concord; w. c. Heath, Mon roe president of the American Cotton Manufacturers association; E. Holt, Bur lington N. C.; w. H. Williamson, Ral- eigh; W. H. Watkins, Ramseur, N. C.; c, w. Johnson, Charlotte; w. l.. Holt, Fayetteville N. C.; P. F. Mebane Spray, N. C.; Caesar Cone, Greensboro, N. C.; s. 7. Tanner, Henrietta, N. C.; J. H. McAden, Charlotte; F. Dilling, Kings Mountain, N. c.