Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-21
PRESIDENT RECEIVES
Delegates From the Cotton Growers
Convention in Washington.

Washington, Feb. 2O.-PreSident
Roosevelt, today, received a committee
appointed by the recent southern state
cotton convention at New Orleans to
urge the creation of Il commission to
extend the foreign markets for cotton
products. The delegation consisted of
about Il dozen members, headed by
former Senator McLHurin Of South
Carolina. The committee urged i'm
Mediate steps looking to congressional
action for this purpose in behalf Of the
cotton interests. The president dis
| cussed the question with the deleSa-
ton ana said he would take il up with
the mon who represent the cotton belt
in Congress. lie assured the COM
mittce that he would do al lie could to
facilitate the movement.
Senator McLaurin who introduced
The committee spoke as follows:
Mr. President: We are herr. To express
regret that the recommendation III your
| last annual message for the appointments
Of ii commission to study ana report on
| the resources of The great Oriental mar
| liets for Il field for American trade and
enterprise has not received the attention
which il deserved from Congress.
| We beg that the recommendation be re-
| ncwed in special message to Congress;
and We do so as the Spokcsmcn OF the
| Southern interstate cotton convention
held in New Orleans. La, last month,
| which unanimously adopted Il resolution
| dill, 'ilinS this committee to submit the
| question of how to enlarge The lnarkct ;
| fer our cotton products to your attention.
| The int rests Of no TWO GLASSES are more
| closely allied. nor 50 mutually depend
| tnt as the cotton producers ana cotton
manufacturers. one cannot long thrive al
| the expense OF the D.h-r. There is some
| middi" ground where the entire cot ton
| industry will find 4 stable basis ana
| whore labor With the manufacturer and
| producer VIII tina Il just remuneration for
| its efforts.
| Mr.. President the fun value Of Il raw
| material is only obtained when manu-
| iucturcd nearest the point where that raw
| material is produced.
| We are producing far more food and
| clothing material tran We need Tor home
| consumption, ana We must either Curtail
| production or f!ud outside market; Tor the
i,Urp JSc, the latter We believe can bc done
With prOlt and Justice to all, and with
INJURY To none
We believe that the South is inflicted
with 0Verproduc;iom in its industry. but
| under proper methods of distribution there
| Il Il market tor all that can produce.
| ~ the present rate OF export We are send
ing tnt little more than the equivalent Of
| one yard OF our cotton fabrics to every
Inha'ltant in China: il the consumption
of cotton cloth for the Chinese population
MAJ equal 10 that Of the United States
ther" would not be cotton enough grown
in the world to supply it.
You. MI. President. nave done your ut
most 10 preserve the boundleSS POSSIBLE
| ties Of his market for American com
| mcrcc ana industry 10y your Steadf;,st and
| HpSolUtc adhesion to the policy of the omen
| door-of equality Of commercial opportu-
| nifty for all nations in the FAR east The
| question seems pertinent. why cannot the
! exporters ana manufactu crS OF the Unit
| 81 States d. the resi-. without further aid
| Ur cooperation from their government =,
| 4 fplIuI no l.
| liar conditions which surround tho intro
| ductiOn Of foreign goods into the interior
of China. II is the testimony OF all who
| have studied the subject from actual OBJ
| : rVatiOn. that Chinese probabilities are
| lmmcasUrahlc; that foreign trade has
| merely scratched Tho surface Of them, ard
| that the great ma iOrity OF the Chinese are
| familiar neither with foreigners nor Tor
| eiEn products.
That a careful study by competent men
| of the new conditions which mark the
| dawn! Of new day in China would bring
out the facts Of the highest value to the
| manufacturers and merchants of the Uni
- safes. particularly to those engaged
| in the production and distribution OF cot
ten fabrics. DOGS not admit of question.
| Central and South Amer ica Use,! s.; Opo. :
$40 81 orr goods last year. They being. olr
| nearby ncghhors. our tradc with them
should he largely increased
From correspondence based on consular
| reports. il will h" seen that the Mcditcr-
| ranean. Red Sea and Persian gulf regions
ar" cl1moring for our goods and for rea-
sons removable cannot obtain them.
w " believe this ma rkct can he 50 daVel-
orcd that they will become large and reg
uldr users of our goods.
| We therefore respectfully request that
YOU obtain authority from Congress to an
point to begin this work al once. a spe-
| cial commission to take steps for the ex-
tension of the export markets for cotton
America. the Persian gulf. the Mediter-
| rancan and Rel Sea regions.
The committee later conferred with Sec