The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-22
MONTGOMERY FARMERS PLAN TO HOLD COTTON

cotton? If there Is an overproduction, every farmer who produces any cotton, however much or little, contributes to that overproduction, not in proportion to his acreage or the blows run, but in proportion to the number of bales pro- duced, which can be easily and unmis- l takably ascertained from the ginner. and that being true, would it not be just and fair that each farmers share be measured by the number of bales he contributes to that overpr0duc ton, which Is in proportion to the number | of bales he produces. +--a-
 i've are told that the world requires
 so much cotton, and that son October l., | 19o4--not four months ago-practicafly all the cotton produced during the cen | turies preceding had been spun, and it being a necessity, and having, In the last decade ranged in price from 5 to IT cents, it is reasonable to suppose | that there would have been no appre- ciable difference in the consumption if
 the price had remained stable at 10 cents.
 Production of Lands.
 "Why has it not remained stable? To say nothing of speculation in cotton, as l said before, lands vary and the cost of producing varies accordingly. Some AhiuS VIII PIOu0Ec 6 uhLc anu Ahoio tO the acre. while others require four acres and more to make a bale. The | cost in the one case being half, or less, than that in the other, and for that reason the, cost of production has not figured in connection with its sale. Fur | thermore, many farmers have been lcompelled. by force of circumstances, | while others have been guided. not by the true conditions obtaining, informa- ti6n of which they have regarded in the main with suspicion and probably l with reason, but by their faith in the rise or fall of the quotations, and have sold or held accordingly, the result of which there has been no systematic marketing and the stableness of price has been thereby affected.
 "Ali things considered-poor land, | fertilizers, stock, labor, etc-10 cents Is | considered fair price for cotton where one can find a ready market for it, and as the only legitimate grounds upon which such an organization as that con- 1 templated could be founded would be that of protection, any scheme that should have for its object the sale of cotton at a price in excess of what | would be reasonable would be wrong. One Great Corporation.
 q assume that if all who produce cotton should place their entire crop in the hands of a corporation with or" ders to sell only at ten cents, spinners
 would buy the amount needed for the worlds consumption at that price, and the remaining would be worth as much when needed. I also assume that if | all producers would place half their cotton in the hands of a corporation with orders to sell for ten cents, by producers at little less than ten cents. f- .;ss s5sl
 My plan then contemplates the retir-
 ment of at least enough cotton from the
 market that the remaining may not be more than the demand. and to do that II would suggest the formation of q stock company OF corporation with headquarters at the most desirable point and with branch offices. if found necessary; tho election of members of a. board of control to consist of one mena- Der for each county producing from two to ten thousand bales: two for counties from ten to twenty-five thou
 sand; three for counties from twenty five to fifty thousand. and four for counties producing more; the securing of contracts in which landlords con tract for themselves. and tenants when possible to subscribe in cotton tat the | rate of $5 per bale for every bale produced to be held in trust by the corporation until 10 1-2 cents Is req Iized therefor, the delivery of the cot ton at station or landing properly
 housed; the sampling by expert cotton
 men," Met With Much Favor. MT. Seymour's plan met with much
 favor by members of the Association.
 and it was voted that it be given to
 the Alabama delegation to be taken to the New Orleans Convention. President Houghton was authorized to enroll as large a delegation as pos
 sible from this county. to accompany
 Commissioner of Agriculture R. R. Poole.
 The delegation will also transmit to
 the proper Committee of the New Or
 Houghton. This plan, which was
 heartily endorsed at the last regular
 meeting of the Association, contem- plates a use of the States licensing
 power to tax cotton ginners $1 per bale for every bale ginned, to tax cotton seed oil mills and other hand lers of the staple. The revenue would
 be held by the State and advances made to the farmers at low rates of inter- est, to procure cheaper insurance. warehouse accommodations and lower commission rates enabling direct busi- ness to be done with the owners of spindles.
 It is anticipated that so many plans
 would be introduced in the New Or leans Convention that no action could
 be taken. Hence, 1t is believed that
 the bulk of suggestions will be put in the hands of special committee
 which will be instructed to choose the few most feasible to be considered in Convention.
 There is every indication that Ala hama will have A large representation
 at the Convention. Commissioner of Agriculture Poole. has been assured of a large attendance. He will leave
 Montgomery himself, for New Orleans next Tuesday night, after the opening of the Interstate Cane Growers As