The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-22
USE LESS COTTON,
OR PRODUCE MORE
To Prevent Scarcity of
Raw Staple.
TIE Mill MEM MEE1
THE MILL MEN MEET
Report On International Congress OF
Spinners. Did Americans Intend tu
Defraud European Buyers? CO.
Operation and Friendly Con-
ference Desired.
(By the Associated Press,)

Atlantic City, N. j., Sept. 20
Governor Stokes today opened the
New England Cotton Manufacturers
Convention with a speech of welcome,
during which he defended the attitude
of the State of New Jersey towards
trusts His remarks were applauded.
Response was made by Herbert b..
Walsley, of Newbedford, Mass, an ex-
president of the association. Presi-
dent James b. Mccall, of Pawtucket.
r. l.. IN his annual report said
Cotton manufacturing has Jagged
behind other branches OF commerce
i'm the recovery from the depression or
1903. The extreme fluctuations IN
the price of raw cotton and the con-
sequent disturbance of values OF man.
ufactured goods tend to destroy the
confidence of buyers and to encourage
them to continue an indefinite policy.
For the year just closed the total ex-
ports of cotton amounted to over
forty-nine million dollars in compare
son with twenty-five million the pre-
ceding year. There has also been a
growing trade with JapaE, the Philip
pine Islands. Cuba and sveral coun-
tries of South America"
The president also said that the
Southern Cotton Growers Association
has done excellent work in exposing
the dishonesty of officials in the
bureau of statistics of the Agricultural
Department. He said estimates of
the acreage and condition issued by
the government should he both capa-
bile and honest.
AT tonight's session the report of
Samuel ). Dale, upon the international
congress of Cotton Spinners was read
and excited deep attention.
Mr.. Dale said the origin of the
congress was the temporary scarcity
of American cotton last year, which
gave spectators an opportunity OF
cornering what little poor cotton was
left on the market He detailed his
enthusiastic welcome upon his arrival
in Manchester and said the main pur-
pose of the International organization
is to prevent Il scarcity of raw cot
ton
This of course. can he accom-
plished in only two ways" he said
by using less or by producing more.
The first method. which means short
time. although the one to which the
delegates unquestionably place their
main reliance was conspicuous by its
absence from the programme and was
not made prominent in the discussions
i mere was however, no HllSldhlHS the
spirit of the congress. The mem
bers were united, and they were in
dead earnest in their determination
To meet higher prices for American
cotton with organized short time.
AT the discussion of the second
method colonial cotton seemed to be
the hope of European cotton mills
liberation from the present depend
cnce on the American or -.
lat one session of the congress the
baling of cotton came UP for discus
sion and bitter complaints were made
of the way in which American cotton
is received in Europe. In this con-
gress, which represented purchasers OF
American cotton to the value of $780,
900. 900 per year. there was not man
who could say one word in favor OF
American baling. Later in the week
the Manchester Ship Canal Company
placed a tug at my disposal to visit
the canal and docks. and / then had
good opportunity to see the condi-
ton of the cotton as it was received
there"
Mr.. Dale said the markings were
Unintelligible and gave rise to sus-
picion that there was an intention &c
defraud European buyers. He con-
ti1ued:
Few bales were intact. They va
ried from one tie to none on bales
of all sizes. ragged and dirty, the
fieecy staple bulging out and scatter
ed i'm all directions. In most cases
the bale was partially wrapped in hall
a dozen kinds of bagging, much OF
which apparently had been used many
times before. In few cases did tho
bagging completely cover the cotton.
1.-THE losses by such methods are