The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-13
DEADLOCK AMONG WEEV|L FIGHTERS Bad TangIe Develops on Pef-
 mancnt Organization GOV, BLANCHARD SPEAKS Ringing Speeches Are Made Setting Forth the Great Danger That Is
 Threatened By the
 Boil Weevl.
GOV, BLANCHARD SPEAKS


 ing almost hopelessly deadlocked in a parliamentary tangle over the question of permanent gaaizauon, the first ses- sion of the National Cotton convention today finally adjourned until o'clock tonight without selecting permanent of ficers.
 More than 400 delegates representing every cotton-g growing state in the south. assembled at the Grand opera house at o clock this afternoon for four days meeting to discuss the boil weevil situa- ton, and devise if possible ways and means for the eradication or control of the pest. The session was largely pre- llminary. temporary organization being effected by the nomination and election of Hon. William G. Bolton of Rapids La, as temporary chairman, and Prof. J. H. Connell of Dallas Tex. as tenn porary secretary.
 The convention was called to order by Judge J. c. Pugh, chairman of the exec utive committee. who voiced the purposes of the gathering in a ringing speech. Judge Pugh said that the delegates had been called together to considera ques- tion of vital importance to the welfare of the south, and, indeed, to that of the nation. He feared the gravity of the situation, and said it had not been fully realized by the people. The cotton fields of Texas and a part of Louisiana had been invaded by an insect sweeping in it's destruction, and if this convention could not map out a practical plan to check or exterminate this pest the cotton crop of the United States would soon become so involved as to cause a most serious dis aster to the producer and the commercial interest which this industry supports.
 Entire Cotton Belt Threatened.
 The entire cotton belt Is threatened by the boil weevil, he said and unless de- cislve, prompt and energetic measures are taken to arrest its progress, the weevil will, in the course of time, destroy one of the greatest money crops of the na- tion. Judge Pugh continued.
 ITO me there Ere two phases Of the problem for this convention to consider.
 '1. Can we arrange to go out of cotton for one year in the area at present in fested, and thus get rid of the entire weevil menace?
 ''2. In the event an extermination of the pest Is impossible by any method that can be suggested let us then adopt some recommendation that will meet the issue in the very best way and see that these recommendations are enforced by legisla- ton if necessary throughout the length and breadth of the infested area"
 Temporary Chairman Bolton in a brief address made an earnest plea to the dele gates for action. Mir. Bolton then read the following telegram from Secretary of Ag- riculture Wilson at Washington:
 "Hon. J. c. Pugh, Shreveport, La:
 ''Dr. Howard, entomologist of this de- partment who has had wide experience in boil weevil work in Texas, goes to repre- sent me at the Shreveport convention 1 would be with you if my duties here did not imperatively keep me in the city. 1 hope your deliberations will be instruc- tive helpful and conservative. I go be- fore the house committee on agriculture today to urge the appropriation of large amount of money to deal with the boil weevil in the southern states, particular ly Louisiana and Texas, for the coming year"
 The reading of the message was greet ed with an outburst of applause.
 Governor Blanchard Speaks. Governor Blanchard of Louisiana next welcomed the delegates to the state. He said:
 "The question that has brought you here to hold this great convention is not one affecting merely the cotton growing region of the south. It affects intimately and directly the whole country. If the cotton crop of the south is to be de- stroyed by this pest-if the growth of cotton as commercial product in the south is to cease as the result of the in- vason of this insect-it will prove a worldwide calamity. It will affect ruinously large commercial interests; 1t will affect disastrously every commercial interest and every line of trade the world over. More perhaps, than any other single product of the soil, cotton per- meates and adjusts and regulates the balance of the worlds trade.
 Its culture and harvesting, it's prepa- ration for the market, it's transportation to market, it's marketing, its manufacture and the sale of it's fabrics give employ ment to millions of people in our own country. Its transportation abroad gives employment to many thousands of ship building and seafaring men, and it's man ufacture into cloth in foreign lands. and the sale of such manufactures. give em- ployment to millions of men and women there
 "As a merchantable product it is we'll nigh indispensable to the worlds trade. But more than this. The continued growth of cotton in these southern states seems absolutely indispensable to the convenience and comfort. aye! even al- most to the existence itself of the people of the world In the far greater part the people of the world depend on cotton ldDilCS Wlln WHltH lD 1lVtiit tlitlnStiNtS.
 Their reliance Is on the southern states of the great American republic for that which clothes them, for here in the south we have the practical monopoly of the growth of the cotton plant.
 Great effort and vast expenditures of treasure have been made to develop it's growth in other regions of the world 8 surface. but without success.
 "The cotton in the world grown outside of the United States has scarcely an ap- preciable effect on the cotton market. The eyes of all are on the south's cotton. What Is the American crop going to be? What the price it will likely bring? These are the questions men ask of one another the world over
 Is cIothIer of the World.
 "The south. gentlemen of the conven- tion, is the clothier of the world. Let it's crop of cotton fail for three years con secutively and the people of the world will go in rags and nakedness. Suppose, now as threatened by this pest of the boil weevil it fails permanently; and what will the people do for clothing? (continued on Second Paae.)