New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-12
COTTON MANUFACTURERS MEET.
Serious Condition of Their Industry Dis
cussed-Secretary Cortelyou Talks to Them.

Washington. May 1.-THE American Cotton Manu-
facturers Association began its eighth annual ses-
sion the Arlington Hotel to-day. About two
hundred members were present. ". c. Heath
presided. President Roosevelt is to receive the
members at the White House tomorrow after
noon.
President Heath IN hts address said that the most
serious condition confronting the cotton manu-
facturers is the high price of cotton. combined
with the small returns for the manufactured prod
uct The manufacturers are largely responsible
for this condition. he said. When the price of raw
cotton began to up recently they had told their
customers that the increase due to speculation
and manipulation. This. he asserted not the
case. The high price of cotton due solely
TO the law Of supply and demand. The scarcity of
farm laborers in the South due 10 the migration of
the negro to the cities IS of the serious condi
lions TO be met. The immigration Of Italian and
other foreign farm labor will have to be
couraged. he said.
Mr.. Heath asserted that while the right Of labor
to organize was not questioned. neither should the
right OF capital to combine he questioned. The
power of labor organizations he said was being
put TO dangerous uses. 1t was menaCng individual
rights. and was even asking the government to fix
the hours of labor These developments he said.
threatened the very principles Of the government
Secretary Cortelyou. who followed Mr.. Heath.
conveyed the good wishes of President Roosevelt to
the association, and spoke in part follows:
Up to this time the cotton manufacturers Of the
United States have been occupied almost
Gl1Syey IN suppii5yaanE the demands Of the home
manufactured in the United States in 1900 over
and only S25ogOV0 worth We're sent to other coun-
tries. With the progress which American manu-
to transform raw cotton into the manufactured
tries having iower priced Labor feel constrained
to congratulate you upon the opportunities which
await you in extending your industry TO other
lands, while maintaining your control over the
with our country so favorably situated in all
the essentials OF cotton production and 'nanufact-
industrous fntegent and bent pad woT pT eT
l believe that may confidently expect that the
prosecute still more vigorously the work OF trans
d a b the raw material into ITS 1shed state
share in the opportunities Of an enlarged industry.
the commercial organizations Of the country for
cooperation and support In the work that has
in the broad field that Congress has assigned to
but results viii be meagre unless the interests
the department Of practical service and Of in
creasing usefulness TO the people Of this country
service to it. and if You viii be good enough 10
promptly and effectively whatever may be possible
to advance your interests.
If there was more Of the spirit, OF fraternity
do away with the last vestige Of sectional feeling
Comparative 5udEent and oeration Of the nights a
and feelings Of others there is a common ground
ganzation Of this character he not alone that OF
commercial supremacy but also or the supremacy
Of good fellowship and fraternity among the peo-
pie Of all sections. Actuated by that spirit and
controlled by such high impulses. the American
people can press unfaIteringly to a greater and
more glorious destiny.
Papers read at the afternoon session on
Forests and Water Powers by r II. Newell. Of
the United States Geological Survey; Conditions
Of the Cotton Industry" by A. II. Lave, OF Fitch
burg Mass: THE Cost OF Waste" by David Clark
OF Charlotte, n. c.. and Rope Transmission Of
Power" by Frederick s. Green. OF New-York. In
the evening W. D. A. Ryan. Of Lynn Mass. spoke
on Light and Illuminating Engineering" To-
morrow n paper THE Effects Of Speculation on
the Cotton Manufacturer will be read by Theodore
H Price. of New-York.