Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-02-22
POSSIBILITIES OF INTRODUCING aMERlcAN
COTTON IN CHINA AND SOUTH AMERICA.
SPEECH OF SENATOR M'LAUR|N.
South Is Capable Of Producing Necessary Cot.
ton to Cioihe the World.
New Orleans Sunday States. !

looking to an enlargement of our
trade in cotton products iu foreign
countries, which were expressed so
ably by that gentleman and which
were crystalized in the resolutions
which were adopted by the Southern
Inter. State Cotton Convention unaui-
ipously.
These resolutions might truthfully
be said to offer the only permanent
solution of the cotton problem. They
were embodied in the following let
ter which was sent to the President
of the United States:
New Orleans, Januarv 26, 1906.
To His Excellency, the Presiden.
of the United States: Dear Sir-I
am instructed by the convention of
Cotton Growers, assembled i'm the
city of New Orleans, La, to transmit
for your consideration the following
resolution:
"Whereas, the present markets for
American cotton products are not
sufficient to dispose of the present
crop; and
"Whereas, we believe the con-
sumption of cotton can be greatly
increased in the markets of the
world; and
"Whereas, such increase will re-
result in untold good to the cotton
growing States, reducing the surplus,
thereby creating greater demand
and necessarily higher prices for our
cotton. Therefore, be it
"Resolved, That a special com nit
Tee be appointed by this convention
TO confer with the President of the
United States, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture and the manufacturers of
cotton goods to obtain suoh con-
certed action as will enlarge our
trade in cotton products in foreign
countries"
1 have the honor to inform YOU
that, pursuant to the above resolu-
tlon, the chairman of the convention
appointed Hon. j. l.. McLaurin, of the
State of South Carolina; Hon. John
NJ. Parker, of the State of Louisiana,
and f.. A. Ashcroft, of the State of
Alabama, on this committee, have
the honor to be, respectfully,
(Signed) Harvie Jordan,
President Southern Interstate Cot
ton Convention.
j. III. Whyte, Secretary.
Senator McLaurin, in his speech
before the cotton convention, amonpI
others, made these pertinent remarks
concerning the possibilities of intro
ducing American cotton in China
and South America:
'lt was my good fortune to see
good deal of Minister WI when he
represented China. He was a won
derfully intelligent man, graduate
of the English university, and the
more ne saw of this country the more
. ne was impressed with the possibilities
of the South in extending its cotton
trade in China. | went with him
once on Southern trip and visited
some of our great cotton mills, and
explained to him the method of the
culture and manufacture of cotton.
lie seemed particularly struck with
the small profits to the cotton grower.
took great pains to explain our
oVerproduction theory, and he replied
Iaick az flash: IF my people wore
cotton like they do here and every
Chinaman added one inch to the
length of his shirt tail, it would con
sumo the cotton crop of the South
New Orleans is the natural center of
the cotton industry. If the Ameri
cln-Asiatic Association of New York
could in 1897 and 1898 relieve us of
our surplus by finding markets in
North China, why couldn't South
ern Asiatic association in New Or
leans in 1905 find a market in other
portions of the Empire, that would
be speedily felt in increased demand
and higher prices in 1906 and 1907 ?