The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-27

New orleans, January 25.-Firmly be-
lieving it to be the most important step
in the solution Of the cotton problem,
the southern Interstate Cotton conven-
ton without dissenting vote today de-
clared in favor of a 25 per cent. reduc-
ton in acreage, and an equal reduction
in the use of commercial fertilizer and
backed that action up with the adoption
of comprehensive plan to secure the
support of every farmer big and little
majority of the delegates were present
when the report was received and act
ed upon.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
| sion. former Senator McLaurin, of
South Carolina, spoke along the lines
of national protection for the cotton
grower, saying that heretofore the cot
| ton planter had been sacrificed to the
| doctrine of free raw materials.
reference to President Roosevelts
| friendIiness provoked a favorable dem
cnstration on the part Of the Audience.
| Former Lieutenant Governor Jester
of Texas. from the committee on hold
| ing and financing the balance of the
| present crop" presented a report set
ting forth that each state and territorial
| station seemed amply able to finance
it's present holdings. The committee be-
| lieved that the cotton now in the
hands of the producers should remain
on the farm or stored in local ware
houses protected against weather and
fire and said that the banks and COM
mission men evinced a Witness to aid
| in marketing the balance Of the crop
so as to hold in check any disposition
| 10 rush cotton unduly and break the
market. Belief was expressed that tie
| plan in reducing the acreage and reduc
| ton in fertilizers will solve the cotton
| problem.
| After the convention had voted an in
vtation to Captain Richmond Pearson
| Hobson to speak, r. H. jenkins OF Tex
as was recognized to read the report
Of the committee on acreage which the
| convention had voted to be of para
| mount Importance.
| The report follows:
|. '"The Hon. Harvie Jordan, Chairman
| Interstate Cotton Growers Convention:
I'VE, your committee on acreage anu
| the use of fertilizers. de recommend
that acreage planted in cotton in 1865
shall be % per cent. less than in 1904,
and that there shall be reduction of
% per cent in the use of commercial
fertilizers in growing cotton.
! I'VE recommend the following plan
for the accomplishment of the said re-
duction:
First, that the vice president of this
association for each state shall call a
meeting of all persons interested III
cotton on the 18th day of February,
1905 in the county seat of each cou1l-
ty not already organized on the plan
hereinafter set out. at which meeting
There shall be elected county chair
man for each school district or other
small political subdivision Of the
county.
Second, that there shall be held II
each school district or other small po-
litical subdivisions of the county on the
18th day Of February 1905. at l O'clock
D. M. a meeting of all citizens Of said
district Or other small political subdi-
vision who are interested in the grow
ing of cotton, which meeting snail
elect committee of three on member
ship.
Third, at said precinct meeting the
fan mers and landowners present shall
be asked to sign the following agree
ment:
1--WE, the undersigned farmers or
land owners living in (School districJ.
fBeat), (Precinct), number -, Coun-
ty of -, State Of --, hereoy
pledge ourselves to reduce the acreage
planted by us in cotton and to reduce
our consumption of fertilizer in grow
ing cotton as shown by the statements
set opposite our names
| Fourth, that said committee on
acreage and membership shall imnle-
diately canvass said district and ask
all farmers and land owners In said
district who do not attend said meet
ing, to sign said pledge and said COM
! mittee shall return said pledge to tn :
chairman of said precinct
Fifth. said precinct chairman shall
preserve said pledges and they shall
Immediately report to the county char
| man showing the total number OF
acres planted IN cotton in said precinct
!. in 1904 and the total number to De
planted in 1906, the total amount o.
l forfif;1o- r,cod in ornvytrlv rot ton In Sd id