The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-25
Cotton Convention Gets Down TO
Business al Once
ALL FRICTION is AVOIDED
w. D. Nesbitt Submits Report of Com
mittee on Permanent Organization
Which Is Adopted-Hundreds
of Delegates Present.

New Orleans. January 4.-By unani-
nous vote at the close of the its first ses-
sion today the southern interstate cotton
convention, by general agreement the
largest and most representative that has
gathered in the south. declared that re-
duction of acreage and commercial fer
tilizers is the paramount question to be
considered at the convention and it must
be settled before any other business Is
undertaken Eleven hundred and thirty
Ave delegates, representing the thirteen
cotton growing states and territories had
registered when the convention was called
to order. Even that number did not rep
resent the full strength Of the convention
The forenoon and early afternoon were
devoted to the compromising of all diff
ficulties that existed as to organization
the central idea being that the work of
the convention should go to the country
with the stamp of harmony and prac-
tical unanimity. The result was that
former Congressman Catchings' name
was withdrawn and all opposition to Har-
vie Jordans selection ended. Washington
Artillery hall, seating two thousand peo-
Pile. was crowded to the doors when the
Southern Cotton Growers, AR Jordan
called 1t to order. He said in part:
Jordan Makes Suggestion.
1--WE are all agreed upon four general
propositions
u. We must tie up and take care of the
surplus of this crop and remove 1t from
the markets of the country until next
fall and hold the balance of the crop abb
solutely In our possession until prices ad-
vance to normal conditions
20. We must reduce the cotton acreage
and use of commercial fertilizers under
at least % per cent under that of 1904.
'3. We must arrange for general sys-
tenn of bonded warehouses under local
control of the people throughout the
south.
"a. We must at once proceed to organize
the producers OF the south In every cot
ton growing county on business basis
to carry into operation a permanent sys-
tenn of relief and protection for the
future"
Judge f. B. Perkins of Dallas nom
mated former Lieutenant Governor Jester
of Texas for temporary chairman and he
was unanimously elected. Concluding a
brief but effective address Governor Jes-
ter said:
1.-TWO reforms must be inaugurated by
the southern farmers: Diversihcationn OF
crops that will reduce the production of
cotton and better facilities for the stor-
age of cotton that will give lower insur-
anee and interest and better protection"
Lovett Named as Secretary.
j. A. B. Lovett of Blountsville, Ala,
Richard Cheatham of Mississippi and j.
L af Non n.laa ali nfaH
secretaries.
The question of representation imme-
diately arising Governor Vardaman
moved that every properly accredited del
egate should be entitled to a seat on the
floor and a voice in the convention, and
though the motion provoked considerable
debate it finally prevailed.
On motion of D. A. Brown of North Caro-
olina, a committee on permanent organ
ization of one delegate from each state
was named and pending its report well
coming addresses by Mayor Behrman and
President Sanders of the Progressive
union, were listened to. There were re-
sponses by Walter Clarke, of Clarkesdale,
Miss and J. Pope Brown chairman OF
the Georgia railroad commission Mr.
Brown said it was the number of bales
which regulated the price of cotton. and
the present price would not advance I'M
til 1t was known that the production this
year was to be curtailed. Eight million
bales would be an ample crop to raise this
year with the 100000 of surplus held
on to- it would give precisely the crop the
bears desire. He believed the South could
whip in the present fight but there must
be harmony to make victory possible and
perfect sincerity in abiding by the action
of the convention. IT was entirely proper
that every delegate should present his
proposition and make his fight, but when
the work was finished all ought to come
together and fight to common end.
Nesbitt Presents Report.
w. D. Nesbitt OF Birmingham, Ala,
presented the report OF the committee on
permanent organization. 1t provided for
Harvie Jordan as president for a vice.
president from each state and for three
secretaries named by the temporary or
eanization. 1t fixed the representation
on the basis Of one vote for every 100000
bales Of cotton raised during 19O3-04, as
follows;
Alabama. 10; Arkansas. 8; Florida, /:
S~~~~-~-----~>----~--- ----~->--->--~~~-~->>--~>----
Continued on Eiahth Page)