Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-27
EHSS ACRRAGR;
LRSS PERfItIzERS
Keynote to Control of Cot
ton Prices.

Il
ton Prices.
PROCEEDINGS OF NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION.
A Great Meeting Of Representatives
Of Southern lnterests-Harvie Jor.
dan Chosen Chairman and Every
body Sincerely Loyal to the Great
Purpose in View.
By unanimous vote at the close Of
its first session last Tuesday, the
Southern Interstate Cotton convention,
by general agreement the largest and
most representative that has gather
ed In the south, declared that reduction
Of acreage and commercial fertilizers
Is the paramount question to be con-
sidered at the convention, and 1t must
be settled before any other business
| was undertaken. Eleven hundred and
thirty-five delegates, representing the
thirteen cotton growing states and ter
ritories, had registered when the con-
vention was called to order. Even
that number did not represent the full
strength Of the convention.
The forenoon and early afternoon
were devoted to the compromising Of
all differences that existed as to or
ganization, the central idea being that
the work Of the convention should go
to the country with the stamp Of har-
| mony and practical unanimity. The
result was that Former Congressman
Catching's name was withdrawn and
all opposition to Harvie Jordan's Sc
lection ended.
Washington Artillery hall. seating
1000 people. was crowded to the doors
when the convention met. AS presi-
dent Of the Southern Cotton Growers
convention, Mr.. Jordan called 1t to or
der. He said In part:
I'VE are all agreed upon four gen.
eral propositions:
81. We must tie up and take care
Of the surplus Of this crop and remove
1t from the markets Of the country un-
til next fall, and hold the balance of
the crop absolutely In our possession
until the price advances to normal
conditions.
"2. We must reduce the cotton acre
age and use Of commercial fertilizers
under cotton at least % per cent under
that Of 1904.
az. We must arrange for a general
system of bonded warehouses under
local control of the people throughout
the south.
-. We must at once proceed to or
ganize the producers Of the south In
every cotton growing county on bus
mess basis to carry into operation a
permanent system Of relief and protec-
tion for the future" -
Judge E. B. Perkins Of Dallas nom
mated Former Lieut.. Gov. Jester Of
Texas for temporary chairman and he
was unanimously elected. Concluding
brief but effective address. Gov. Jes-
ter said:
Two reforms must be inaugurated
by the southern farmers:
"Diversification Of crops that Will
reduce the production Of cotton and
better facilities for the storage OF cot
ton that will give lower insurance and
interest and better protection"
J. A. B. Lovett Of Huntsville, Ala,
Richard Cheatman Of Mississippi and
J. H. Whyte of New Orleans were
elected secretaries.
The question of representation i'm
mediately arising Gov. Vardaman
moved that every properly accredited
delegate should be entitled to a seat
on the floor and a voice In the conven-
ton and though the motion provoked
considerable discussion it finally pre-
vailed.
On motion Of ]. A. Brown Of North
Carolina a committee on permanent
organization of one delegate from each
state was named and pending its re-
port welcoming addresses by Mayor
Behrman and President Sanders Of the
Progressive union were listened to.
There were responses by Walter Clark
Of Clarkesdale. Miss. and ]. Pope
Brown. chairman Of the Georgia rail-
road commission.
Mr.. Brown said 1t was the number
Of bales which regulated the price OF
cotton and the present price would not
advance until 1t was known that the
production this year was to be curtail-
ed. Eight million bales would be an
ample crop to raise this year. With
the 400O,O00 of surplus held on to, 1t
would give precisely the crop the bears
desire. He believed the south could
whip in the present fight.
w. D. Nesbitt Of Alabama presented
the report of the committee on perma-
nent organization. 1t provided for
Harvie Jordan as president, for vice
president from each state and for the
three secretaries named by the tenn
porary organization. 1t fixed the rep
resentation on the basis OF one vote
for every 100000 bales Of cotton raised
during 10000, as follows: Alabama
10: Arkansas 8: Florida 1; Georgia IA;
Louisiana 9: Mississippi IA; North
Carolina 6: South Carolina 9: Tennes-
see 8: Texas 26; Oklahoma 2: Missouri
l, and Indian Territory 8.
These committees were provided
for:
Reduction Of cotton acreage and use
of commercial fertilizers with one far
mer one banker and one merchant
from each state.
Permanent organization Of farmers
with three farmers, one r1erch"Nt ana