The news & observer., 1905-08-26
Great Interest in the
Ashevi|Ie Meeting.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Southern Cotton Association Will Meel
in the City Among the Clouds Sep
tember 6. to Fix Price on the
Present Crop of Cotton. Farm
ers Will Stand by Decision.

Everybody interested in cotton is
meeting of the Southern Cotton Asso-
citation which will be held in AshevilIe,
September 9Th At this meeting the
minimum price of the present crop of
cotton will be fixed, and what this
price will be is the all engaging ques-
tion. 1t is the purpose of the associa-
ton to make this price fair to the con-
sumersNndjust to the farmers. This
VIII be based upon a report carefully
prepared on the condition OF the crop
up to August 25th, and the estimated
percentage of the yield as compared
with the crop of 1904. Every cotton
farmer in the South will be called on
to stand by the action of the associa-
ton in upholding the price that shall
be agreed upon.
Cotton is now selling for more than
ten cents. One lot yesterday brought
nearly eleven cents, and as there is no
disputing the fact that the yield is
greatly less this year than i'll many
years past, there is strong bellef
among the producers of the staple that
they can get from the spinnerS price
that will be fairly profitable to them
selves. yet not unjust to the splnnerS
1t was said that large numbers of cot
ton growers must sell their crop for
more than ten cents to enable them
to realize a profit, as recent heavy
rains throughout almost the entire
South have deVasted many farms. In
South Carolina. Georgia. Louisiana,
Mississippi and Texas large cotton
plantations have suffered to an enor-
nous extent because of the humid
weather. Several State associations,
branches of the Southern Cotton Asso-
citation. have pledged their support and
allegiance to the mother association
and declare that they will stand by the
decision of the association at its Ashe-
vile meeting.
Above Ten Cents.
President Harvie Jordan in state
nlent Just issued, says that he has re-
ceived numerous requests from differ
ent sections of the South TO put the
minimum price above ten cents. lie
saws the action of the executive COM
mittee in this matter Will depend on
the conditions which confront the
South's cotton producers. What these
conditions are, Prof. Jordan does not
state. But he says he has abundant
assurance that the Southern planters
will hold to the price so fixed as they
had to the price fixed at the New Or
leans convention.
Price of Cotton Seed.
1t is possible that the executive COM
mittee may also fix the price Of cotton
seed Sea Island cotton. 1t is reported
that cotton seed is about one-sixth OF
the cotton crop. and in several States
cotton seed is not being sold FOR less
than thirty cents bushel. or one cent
a pound There is considerable agi-
tation for fixed price of twenty cents
for Sea Island cotton.
Association Organ.
Steps will soon be taken for the es,
tablishment of a national organ fo1
the association. The need of an eXpon-
ent in the wav of a paper is fet to be
imperative. The executive committee
will be urged to make provision for the
immediate Establishment of paper.
Gotten at II IL Cents.
Several officials of the Southern Cot
ton Association have been reservin5
their opinions as to the price the asso-
citation fix, and now some of them
have declared that the price will soon
reach IL IL cents. This recent avowal
is taekn as an indication OF the stand
the association will take at AsheVllle,
and many confidently believe that the
price dSle0Q upon viii nv W NAANOA
IL cents.
May Assess Counties.
Several other matters that may go
beforetheasSociatio ton at its ASheVllle
meeting are plans for assessments an1
field organizers. The association may
be greatly strengthened by being or
ganized more thoroughly, and res
olution may he adopted recommending
to the State association system OF
assessing each member of the assocla-
ton one cent per bale on all cotton
raised in such counties for the purpose
of raising funds to promote the objects
and purnoses of the association.
Spinners and Growers.
An official speaking for the Cotton