The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-28

Boston. Mass, April 26.-In open
ing the annual meeting of the New
England Cotton Manufacturers Asso-
citation here today President Herbert
+. Walsmley expressed the opinion
that the present outlook in the cotton
trade was decidedly hopeful and en-
coura aging. He thought that the keen
competition which now exists TO a
greater degree than ever before would
become more and more intensified.
President Walmsiey condemned as
unreasonable the attitude of operatives
when they DISTRACTED progress by re-
sorting 10 strikes with the object or
forcing manufacturers To abandon ap-
proved machinery or methods designed
to improve the product, and decrease
the cost of production. He believed
that improved machinery was impera
tive to the success of the cotton indus
try in New England.
The president said it was necessary
to exercise the strictest economy and
the highest degree of efficiency in every
detail in order to compete with the
successful mills of the Southern States.
The associations medal for excel
lence in papers on the condition OF tine
cotton Industry in the South was
awarded TO Henry G. Kittridge, of Bos
ton. editor Of The Textile American.
Theodore III. Price. of New York. ad-
dressed the convention
Mr.. Price, in discussing the relat
ship between the planter and the man
ufacturer; Its Unnecessary Antago-
nisms," expressed the opinion that
large proportion of the agricultural
population of Arkansas in agreeing not
TO sell cotton below a specified price,
or in limiting production was under the
antitrust law of the state guilty OF a
conspiracy to defraud."
Il call attention to the law" said
Mr.. Price, las it emphasizes the ia
consistency of Southern protest against
trust exactiOns while the South is to-
day largely engaged in a futile endea-
yor to create one of the most oppres-
sive trusts with which the worlds
progress was ever threatened. That
this attempt will fail is foregone con-
clusion. That the widely advertised
agreement to hold cotton for ten cents
has already come to naught is evil
denced by the quantity of cotton being
shipped daily at seven cents and
half"
Mr.. Price thought it possible that the
South, which now possessed practical
monopoly of the civilized worlds cot
ton production, might have TO meet
African competition before many years
"MonopOlies,. it is well to bear i'm
mind" continued the speaker, have
only been successful and permanent
when controlled by a policy, the object
of which has been to expand consump-
ton through a reduction In the cost of
production. The South, in the fancied
| security Of its monopoly OF cotton pro-
duction, has been endeavoring TO in
crease its profits by advancing the
price of its product
"As man Of Southern parenta ge
and close student of economic pro-
gression, l have been greatly at a loss
to understand the persistence of the
South in the advocacy OF this economl-
| cal suicide. / can only conclude that
| 1t is In great measure Ii survival OF
the same spirit that led to a war for
the maintenance OF slavery. 1t re-
quired war that cost more than the
entire value of the slaves in dispute TO
dissipate the former fallacy, and from
| the intensity Of feeling which has been
aroused throughout the South because
of decline In cotton to Z cents a
| pound an economic struggle, which has
cost the South dearly this year and
promises to cost 1t still more dearly
next year. has been precipitated. 1:
is well to remind our Southern friends
that combination in behalf of exorbi.
tant profits has always provoked coun-
ter combination on the part OF those
whom it was sought to mulct"