Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-11
COTTON MAKERS MEET
Secretary Cortelyou Delivers
an Address.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
SESSIONS TODAY AT THE AIRING
TON HOTEL. :
Papers Of Interest to Manufacturers
Read This Morning-To Meet
President Tomorrow.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

The eighth annual convention Of the
American Cotton Manufacturers Associa-
ton was called to order at 1890 this morn
ing in the banquet hall at the Arlington
Hotel, about 200 delegates being present
| President w. c. Heath of Monroe, N. c.,
who was in the chair, first introduced Rev.
| F. ]. Prettyman of the Mount Vernon
| Methodist Episcopal Church South, who de-
| livered the invocation. The annual adj
dress of President Heath was then read by
that official Mr.. Heath. spoke of the honor
he felt in being called upon to administer
| the office of president of the association,
| and said that this was the most acute
/ period in the history of the cotton industry
| of the country. He noted the era of good
| feeling which obtained among commercial
men throughout the country, and said that
| it was due to the close intercourse brought
about by such organizations that of the
| cotton manufacturers of America: He re-
viewed the growth of this organization
| from the original Cotton Spinners Associa-
| ton to the consolidation. which is today
represented by this national commercial
| body.
I'm speculation a disregard for the laws
| of supply and demand" he said, means
| ultimate disaster One Wall street man is
| reported to have said that cotton stands by
| itself; another denies this. and insists that
| on the exchanges. There will be an in
| creased acreage this year in the south, but
| you must bear in mind that increased
acreage does not mean increased produc-
ton.
Negro labor is now almost impossible to
| obtain. and the south will not be able to
increase its production until we import
Italian or other foreign labor which Will
replace the negroes, who are focking from
the plantations of the south to the cities
of the south and of the north.
1.-THE efforts of this and every other coun-
try to increase the cotton crops indicate
plainly the value of this great staple.
Why, therefore. should we seek to depress
the price of commodity which seeks, by
the old law of supply and demand, to rise
above the tide?
Equality of opportunity is great prin-
ciple of American civilization he SAID.
land a uniform labor law would not De
fair to all sections OF this country where
conditions vary more strongly than In any
other"
Secretary Cortelyou, upon being intro
duced to the convention. said, In part:
Mr.. Cortelyou's Address.
Mr. President ladies and gentlemen-I am
very glad to have the opportunity to JOIN
with those who welcome you to this beau
tiful city for the eighth annual convention
of your association.
Progress is a good word to conjure with
in these days I like to strike that par
ticular note in speaking to such an organ
iZation as this This is an era Of marvel
Gus progress and development. l doubt
whether we begin to realize how much
is going on about us. We live In time
of combination and organization Many
things have to be done on a large scale.
Much of the detail work of great under
takings must be- set off by itself and al
! lotted to. the care and supervision oftthoses
best fitted to handle 1t, and the Inevitable
tendency has been to bring together In as
sociations and organizations those who are
working with a common AIM Inc last
few years have witnessed a surprising in
crease in the number of national associa-
tions having to do with various phases of
our commercial and Industrial development
A few weeks ago / had the pleasure Of
speaking to the National Wholesale Lumber
Dealers Association Shortly thereafter
was called upon to address the New. Eng
land Manufacturing Jewellers and Silver
smiths Association.
Congratulations Of President Roosevelt
/ desire to convey to you the cordial con-
CALCULATIONS and good wishes Of the Presi-
dent of the United States. He knows many
of you personally, and it has been source
of much satisfaction to him that he could
arrange to receive at the White House to-
morrow the members of your association
and the ladies accompanying them.
l shall not attempt to speak upon any of
the technical features of Your industry
For many of you these are life work
You have made them the subject of intelli-
gent and careful study.
| have read with great deal of interest
the forecast of the program for this con-
vention. Along with the good-fellowship
that Is bound to be developed in such a
gathering will come much practical ben
eht to the industry you represent. The
rules governing your convention are brief
and TO the point; there are many organiza-
tons that might profit by the brevity and
directness of your order of exercises
There is air of buSinaSS a nd
shall try to catch the spirit of the occa-
sion by combining my remarks to few gen.
erai observations on certain aspects of the
cotton industry and particularly regarding
the possibilities which await the cotton
manufacturers of the United States.
Producer and Manufacturer.
Whatever affects the producer of cotton
Is naturally of concern to the manufac-
turer. Here again we have a number of
internal problems which the producer is
called upon to solve. He must apply him
self to the question of increasing produc-
tivity by extending and adjusting his acre
age. by improving his methods of cultiva-
ton. by eliminating wastefuness in the va
rious stages of cultivation, harvesting and
marketing. and by placing the whole pro-
cess OF cotton production upon the syste-
matte basis demanded by modern business
Ihis country produces three-fOurths of
the cotton Of the world 1t has a much
larger available coal supply than any
other country. 1t has shown itself capa-
BILE OF producing the most ingenious and
most successful machinery. It's transpor-
tation facilities and It's opportunities for
supplying its products in the manufactured
form are unsurpassed. Cotton manufac-
lures are required by a larger number of
people than perhaps any other single arti-
Gle OF manufacture Only one other great
class of Standardization and steel
compares favorably in value with them.
They form an important part of the re-
quirements of the worlds population The
demand for them Is we'll night universal.
Home Consumption.