The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-09


! fluctuations Of the market, he con-
tended, are quite as disturbing and un-
profitable to the grower as to the
spinner. He voiced what he said was
the unanimous sentiment Of the South
which promises TO eliminate the gam
bier from the cotton market, to reduce
the marketing expenses, to expedite
the delivery Of cotton to the spinner,
and to give reasonable stability to the
market price. He declared that the
South was so completely able to sup
ply the world with cotton that with a
proper understanding with the man
ufacturers there would be no necessity
for conducting experiments in Africa
and elsewhere. Direct relations be-
tween the growers and manufacturers
was strongly urged.
President McColl declared that the
prosperity Of the grower was a mat
ter of interest to the manufacturer
who would like to be able to eliminate
the speculative element. He inquired,
however, if the plan of constructing
warehouses and giving contracts would
do anything toward eliminating spec
ulation and also if, after storing the
cotton in the warehouses, the product
for any reason went up, would the
growers be willing to deliver it at the
regulation price they had fixexd.
Several growers insisted that they
would live up to their contracts, and
Mr.. MacColl said he had no doubt Of
that, but wanted to know what would
be done after the contracts expired.
He thought, though, that as in all
probability the period of the con-
tracts would be about year it would
be sufficient to kill speculation in the
meantime.
The Mills Proposition.
In the discussion which followed the
proposition was laid down by the spin
ners and manufacturers that if the
farmers and business interests Of the
South will build warehouses, store cot
ton, finance it and put the product in
charge of expert cotton men to handle
it and practically be the medium OF
buying and selling between the manu-
facturer and producer, they will do
business on that basis.
Mr.. Jordan called upon his asso-
eiates to get at the proposition on
business basis. He said they had now
suuare!y before them the attitude of
the spinners and manufacturers, and
he advised the growers to go ahead
and build warehouses, store their cot
ton and get rid Of the cotton damage
and then to finance that cotton and
sell it as the world needs it for con-
sumption.
He maintained that there was but
one way to get the cooperation Of the
spinners on the proposition. The spin
ners were not going to commit them
selves to it or break up their present
system of buying cotton unless the
farmers and business interests OF the
South provide better facilities for
handling and marketing the crop up
on a business basis. When that is
done they would, he said. have direct
trade with the spinner.
Important Report.
The report Of the committee on
baling, ginning and handling Of
American cotton was received and
adopted unanimously. The report rec
commended the following:
l. That all bales be made standard
dimensions.
2. That light weight new burlaps be
used for bagging; or, if conditions jus
tify, that cotton canvas be used.
3. That 10 ties be used on all bales,
with the Egyptian style Of buckles
preferred.
4. THAI all cotton should be bought
and sold net weight
5. That a committee be appointed
whose duty it shall be to have cot
ton baled as above, and to submit the
same for practical test to consumers.
Barren of Results.
WASHINGTON. Nav 3.-Without