The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
Plans to Be Further Per-
fected This Week.
j. A. BROWNS VIEWS
The Executive Committee Will Meet in
Atlanta On Tuesday--.Farmers
Show as Much Judgment as
Men of Other Call
lngS.

| EX-State Senator Joseph y. Brown,
OF Columbus county, who was chosen
At New Orleans as North Cardinals
| member Of the executive committee Of
the Southern Cotton Association will
go to Atlanta on Monday TO attend an
important meeting Of the committee.
1t is called for perfecting the organi-
| zation so that it may be in touch with
every cotton grower in the South and
men of every calling in the South who
are Interested in securing fair prices
| for cotton.
Mr.. Brown was seen yesterday and
| said:
| THE most important thing TO my
| mind is the immediate thorough or
| ganization of every cotton ginner,
| banker, business man. editors. teach
| ers. manufacturers and professional
| men. When the farmers have hereto
| fore begun to organize they thought
| they must exclude men of all other
! Ceilings to accomplish their purpose
| They now see that To win they must
| have the cooperation Of all Southern
/ people of all caiIingS and trades. They
| are entitled to this cooperation is the
| success Of all in the South defends
upon the success of the cotton in
| dustrv.
| The best way to obtain a thorough
organization is by systematic agitation
on the part of all who are interested.
i One year ago the European Spinners
were holding meetings and trying TO
discover new fields IL which cotton
| could be grown: claiming that the
farming lands of the South had de-
Perforated and owing TO labor condi-
tons the South would be practically
unable to produce enough cotton to
/ supply the worlds demand for the
staple. This was followed by an aSt-
tation for an increased acreage in cot
! tom in the South. This agita ton re-
suited in the largest CROP ever pro-
duccd. As soon az the crop was pro-
dcced bear interests began an a&ita-
ton which resulted in 4 reduction of
ut laast two cents 4 pound in the p.ict
nj tie present crop. We see that aGi-
tation increased the production and
reduced the price. Agitation can by
the same token decrease production
and increase the price
we hear it continually reiterated
that the farmer is not capable Of or
ganizing or protecting his own in
tercsts. The facts shaW he is rs capa-
bic of it as any other people. one
year ago many cotton manufacturers,
convinced that cotton could never
again go below ten cents, loaded up
on cotton at that figure. His iudg-
mcnt was no more sound that the
farmer who held his cotton when it
fell belod nine cents. If the banker
and business man of the South wishes
to protect bis own interest he mus;
urge reduction of the crop at least
- per cent and assist in carrying the
present holding until cotton reaches
a point that will at least give the cot
ton grower modest profit.
'.If the South can demonstrate it's
ability to organize and control the
size aud price of the crop there will
he no trouble in organizing a ware
house system that will take care Of any
surplus in the crop that may occur
in the future.
1T is almost the universal opinion
Of thinking men of the South that
fifteen cent cotton works Is much
harm to the business interests Of this
country at large as six cent cotton
either extreme being dangerous. HigA
prices decrease demand and unduly
stimulates production. The ideal con-
dition is a staple price of about ten
cents. That price can be maintained
year in and year out by proper or
2aniZ3 ton. On this basis the pros
poets of the spinner and the cotton
grower would both be helped. Spin
ners do not know under past specula-
tive conditions. the jobber does not
know when to buy goods the farmer
does not know when to sell and these
fluctuations and speculations have de-
mcralizing effect on everybody inter-
ected in cotton.
THE work of organization is Of
such magnitude that the executive
committee is trying to proceed eau
;ousy so that it may wisely perfect
its plans; may realize the danger in
taking any step that would materially
advance the price of cotton until there
ia a certainty of the reduction of acre
iape. realizing that an overproduction
III 1905 would be disastrous TO every
interest of the country. Every effort
should be directed to bringing about a
reduction of the cotton crop. There is
no doubt about the South's ability to
hold the present surplus votton crop,
but il would be worse than folly to
hold this and produce another surplus
Should the South produce another
crop of twelve TO thirteen million
bales it will require five years to re-
cover from its effects.
II talked with representative men
at New Orleans from all the cotton
States especially from Texas, Louis
lana and Mississippi, and found that
they are already thoroughly organic
cd They will certainly reduce the
atlantic States are in line for this re-
duction. If any section should fail
to respond to the appeals for reduc-
ton their failure will be known
throughout the whole country, and
our organization expects to be able
to convince every individual cotton
farmer that it is to his interest to re-
duce his acreage at least twenty-five
per cent.
Dctails OF Organization.
A call for organization has been
made for the cotton producers. ner-
chants. bankers. manufacturers and
members of the different professions
Of each voting precinct, or political
subdivision Tor by whatever name
called) of each county or parish in
each cotton growing State or Territory.
to meet on the 18th day of February.
1905. for the purpose of organizing
and electing officers, and after so or
GaniZin@ shall elect three the county
ar parish association to be held on the
18th day of February at the parish or
county seat.
Each county or paJiSl shall con-