New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-01-28
THE COTTON CONVENTION.

Yesterday the great Cotton Con
vention assembled ut Washington
Artillery Hall and organized b,
electing Hon. Harvie Jordan, o
Georgia, President of the Southern
Cotton Growers Association, Per
manent Chairman. As might have
been expected, the opening day wa:
given entirely to welcoming ad
dresses aud the work Of organiza
ton, and the real labor of the Con
vention will begin with to-day s
session.
The great number OF delegates
attending from all parts of the cot
ton growing section of the United
States nttests the deep interest that
is felt wherever cotton is grown
in the work of the Convention and
its probable results upon the inn
mediate future Of the cotton indus
try. Although there was keen
rivalry to secure the permanent
craftsmanship of the Convention,
there was no lack of harmony, aud
there appears to be Il unanimous
desire on the part of all the dele
gates TO accept the beet plans sng
gested for bettering the cotton sit
uation without regard to individual
interests or ambitions, which is,
of course, the only proper course
to pursue.
The great risk attending so large
a Convention, composed of dele
gates gathered together without
previous organization or under
standing, is that the main purpose
may be somewhat obscured by the
suggestion of outside matters.
Thus it has been proposed that the
Convention should go on record as
opposed to trading in future con
tracts, and ask both State Legisla-
lures and the National Government
to prohibit such trading. To even
consider such question would be
departing from the true purpose of
the Convention, which is to devise
ways and means of overcoming the
situation created by the overpro-
duction of cotton in 1904, and re-
storing prices which have dropped
below the cost of production TO q
paying basis. As this is an object
OF sufficient Importance to absorb
all the time the Convention has at
its disposal, it would be detracting
from the true purpose Of the gath
ering to give any time to any other
object, no matter how important in
itself.
Although there are many con.
flicting opinions as how best to ac-
complish the purposes in view, it
seems to be very generally agreed
that the Convention should secnre
a full and binding agreement to re.
ince the acreage devoted to the cot
ton crop Of 1906 at least % per
cent. and to hold back as great q
portion of the surplus Of the crop
Of 1904 MS possible. How best to
accomplish this dual purposes ap.
pears to be the legitimate and prop. |
Or work Of the Convention. Plans
10 bring about the widest possible
agreement to curtail acreage to the
,xtent decided on is, of course, a
proper subject for deliberation. |
How to assist farmers in holding
back all of their crop still unsold
hat cannot be disposed of to adj
raatage, is another proper subject
Tor discussion.
It is safe to assume that the great
of the speeches made
before the Convention will deal
With the proposition to curtail acre
lge and hold back the surplus, aud |
Is these subjects are vital and the
legitimate work of the gathering,
Ill suggestions looking to the most |
practical methods of accomplishing |
hese two great aims must be con-
,idered germane and timely.
New Orleans, as the largest city |
II the South and the greatest |
cotton market, has natur-
lily a vital interest in the Conven-
ion, and her merchants aud bank
RS will, Of course, take an active
part in the deliberations, but this
'act of being vitality interested will |
lot deter the local CONNER
'ial community from extending
very possible courtesy and hospit- |
.lity to tire many hundreds of
,isitiug delegates, all Of whom be-
ng from the South, are practically
lomefolk, united with us in sym
,athy, as we'll as in business inter-
'sts and enterprise.
As a grave problem affecting the
prosperity Of the whole South is the
'aison d'etre Of the Convention, of
,ourse the bulk Of the delegates
ime will, and should, be given up
o the work Of the meeting, and no
cheme OF entertainment should be
permitted to interfere with that
lnty. AT the same time, abundant
opportunity can be found to devote
o social amenities, and our citizens
an be counted on TO see that every
,ody enjoys the visit here.--Pica-
,unp