The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-15
Monthly Meeting of COun-
 ty Association.
COMMITTEE IS RAISED
Will Form Scheme to Present
 to New Orleans Meeting.
President M. B. Houghton Would In- yoke the Aid of the State in Tax
 ing Cotton Exchanses-No-
 tice of Coming Convention.

The Montgomery County Agricultu- rai Association at its first meeting of the year yesterday found itself face to xace with problem of greater emer- gency than has confronted that body since it's existence began.
 The farmers of this County have weff measured the crisis of the cotton situation. They plead guilty of ''cot- ton mania" practiced during 1904 and are fully awake to the need of reduc- Ing the acreage of that staple during the current year.
 The members of the Agricultural Association were not slow to confess to their going cotton-crazy last year. They frankly admitted that the doc- Urine of diversified crops has been bad E 1y neglected in the whole State. At the same time that the one-crop idea is deplored, plans are making and are discussed to meet the exigencies of the cotton situation as it now stands.
 Many Attended Meeting.
 The attendance at the regular monthly meeting of the Agricultural Association which was held at noon yesterday in the rooms of the Com mercial and Industrial Association was the largest in many months. Farm CTS particularly cotton growers. from every section of the County were pres ent. Every one manifested keen in- terest nj all the discussions of the speakers. elfiu9
 The farmers are looking to the com ing convention in New Orleans as the moet important gathering for the well fare of cotton in the last decade. That so much hope is placed in that meet ing was proved by the action of the Association yesterday, which was based on q recognition of the assem- bled influence, brains and determina tion of all who will flock to the Cres- cent City on January 24, 25 and 26.
 What is done at New Orleans" said President M. B. Houghton of the As- sociation,. twill be published in every part of the civilized world"
 In view of the universal confidence reposed sin the New Orleans Conven- ton. theTAgricultural Association yes- terday named committee which is to frame plan of restoring better cot ton prices and present the same to a called meeting of the body next Sat- urday, This plan, if adopted, will be placed in the hands of delegation to be elected by the, Committee with in- strHctions to carry 1t before the New Orleans Convention with the endorse ment that its wisdom is trusted by the Agricultural Association of Montgom- cry County.
 The Committee to recommend a plan next Saturday was named in a resolu- tion of J w. Bullock and consists of ehe i9liewipg members: M. B. Houghton. W. D. Westcott, J. c. Adams. Jesse Walters, M. c. Scott and T. E. EdSon.
 This Committee is not to act inde- pendently of the Association. but was directed in the resolution of Mir. Bull lock to consider carefully what is known as the ''Witherspoon" plan adopted by the Board of Trade of Me rtdian.h Miss. This and others of the most popular plans so far advanced in the South are to be considered by the Committee before 1t makes recom- mendations. next Saturday.
 If 8 canvass of the members present yesterday had been taken on a single plan that of President NJ. B. Tough ton, of the Association. would have re- ceived "a majority vote. It was the belief. however. of the more conserva- tive members. among them President Houghton himself, that the merltorious methods available should all receive consideration before the Committee re- ported any recommendation.
 Plans to Hold Cotton.
 When President Houghton read his plan to the Association 1t appeared to receive almost unanimous sanction and several cotton growers so struck with what they termed the practicable fea- tares'' insisted on a hasty adoption of it. After much argument which GOV cred all the points in the plan. 1t was given u4nN to the Committee for spe- cial confederation.
 The conceptions of President Tough ton abandonsa voluntary plans for re- lieving the cotton situation. He would "unlimber.' so to speak, the li- censing power of the Legislature of every cotton growing State. The au- thor does not attempt to solve the problem of this years cotton prices. be- IievinR that to pull the heecy staple out of the mire in the next few months depends upon a general refusal of holders to part with it until a reason able price shall prevail"
 Distrusting the cooperative talents of cotton handlers the country over. on which most plans are rested. MT Houghton resorts to the statute books even if 1t requires the calling of ex-