The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-02-24
PROMISES TO Az
President Roosevelt Tells Cotton Grow
ers Committee He Will Do All He
Can for 1hem

Washington, Eel. 22-President Roose-
Welt today received ii committee headed
by ex-senator McLnurin, appointed by
the recent southern Interstate cotton
convention at New Orleans, to urge the
creation of a commission TO extend the
foreign markets for cotton products.
The president assured the committee
that he would do all he could to fac'li-
tate the movement.
In his address TO the president, Sen-
ator McLaurin said in part:
Senator McLaurin's Address.
Mr.. President: We are here To ex-
press regret that the recommendation
IN you last annual message for the
appointment of IA commission TO study
and report on the resources of the great
oriental markets as a field for American
trade ard enterprise has not received
the attention which il deserved from
congress.
We beg that the recommendation be
renewed in a special message to CON
gress and we do so as the spokesnaeN H
the southern interstate cotton conven-
tion, held in New Orlenas last month,
which unanimously adopted u resolu-
ton directing This committee to submit
the question of how to enlarge the mar
kets for our cotton products TO your at
tention.
Manufacturers and Producers.
The interest of no two classes arc
more closely allied, nor SO mutually de-
pendent as the cotton producers and
cotton manufacturers. One cannot long
thrive at the expense of the other.
There is some middle ground where the
entire cotton industry will find a sta
BILE basis and where labor with the
manufactures and producer Will find n
just remuneration for its efforts.
Mr.. President. the fun value of a
raw material is only obtained when
manufactured nearest the point where
that raw material is produced. We are
producing far more food and clothing
material than we need for home con-
sumption, n we must either curtatl
production or find outside markets for
the surplus. the latter. we believe. can
be done with profit and justice TO all
and With injury to one
We believe that the south is not aft
flicted with o"verproduction In its cot
ton industry. but chat snnder proper
methods of distribution there is Il mar
ket for all that we can produce.
China as a Market.
Take as an example China, whici.
imported In 1903 cotton manufactures
of the Nalue of $50, 600 900, to which the
contribution of the United States
amounted to only IS. 500, 900. or d little
over one-tenth. For the calendar year
1904 there was a considerable improve
ment, the amount of our exports of
cotton cloth TO China reaching sl4,-
000, 600. During the last six months of
the year the value of these exports
was $40, 000. 900. and if this standard
could be maintained, az it seems likely
10 be. the figures for the present year
would obviously be as much in excess
of those of 1904 as the latter exceeded
1903. 1t may seem that a trade which
grows at the rate of 90 per cent. per
annunl is not much i'm need of special
encouragement o. promotion. But.
rapidly as the demand for American
cottons is growing in China. that de-
mand still represents an insignificant
Fraction of the consuming capacity of
the vast population of the empire. Even
at the present rate of export we are
sending u little more than the equiv-
alent Of n yard of our cotton fabrics
to every inhabitant in China: II the
consumption of cotton cloth per head
of the Chinese population was equal
TO that of the United States there
would not be cotton enough grown in
the world to Supply il.