The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-12
Hundreds Are Attending Con-
 Vsntion in New Orleans
LABOR QUESTION DISCUSSED
Many Contend That the Negroes of the South Are Sufficient to Raise the Crop That the World
 Will Demand.

New Orleans, January 1i-Nith a large representative attendance from all the cotton growing states, the Southern Cot ton Growers association opened a three days session in Odd Fellows hall today The association was organized in this city just one year ago, when cotton was selling at cents. It's officers point to the reduction of acreage and fertiliz- CTS. the increase in the price of cotton to 12 cents. the disclosure of the scandal in the crop reporting department of the government and the improved condition of the farmers as tangible results of the work it has done during the year.
 Negro Delegation Present
 Odd Fellows hall was elahorately dec orated and crowded when President Jor- dan called the convention to order, many local cotton men minging with the yis- iting delegates A feature that attracted attetion was the presence of negro dele eation from Hinds county, Mississippi. Secretary Woods of sile Mississippi asso- ciatlon said they were regular delegates and entitled to seats.
 President Jordan was given an ovation when he ascended the platform. 1he invocation was offered by the Rev. pr. Beverly Warner and the ex-President John M. Parker of the New Orleans cot- ton exchange. delivered the address or welcome. He said in part:
 "The speculator Is the greatest enemy the farmer has. To him it matters not so long as he Is on the winning side ana the evidence of the past hVe months shows some do not hesitate 10 resort to dishonest methods to obtain inside in- formation by which to milk the puphc and demorallze business Your speculator friend of today worms himself into your confidence and tomorrow tries to thfottle vou. Keep away from him. Don't get mixed up with hlu He Is no friend Of tho farmer Don't kill the golden goose ny putting up prices so high. We will soon have active competition from other countries" ,.,
 W. L, Foster. member of the Louisiana railroad commission. and a large cotton planter, responded.
 When MT Foster concluded President Jordan was greeted with storm or ap- plause that lasted for several minutes. When it subslded he delivered an address on the southern farmer
 President Jordan Speaks.
 President Jordan began his address with congratulations to the assoclatlon on its record during the first year OF It's existence He reviewed at some length the objects of the associate" ana US accomplishments Ii came Into eNlstehce' be said. facing fourteen million bale crop with five million bales unsold, ana the price at cents a pound In the race of these conditions. the association hau sounded the slogan for 10 cent cotton, had demanded reduction in acreage ana had begun a fight for the maintenance of prices falr and equitable 10 the pio,
 f. dishonest practices in the bureau or cot ton statistics in the department of agri- culture at Washington. and the ilsht made by the association for purlty eheIe' He then discussed the reasons for the demand made by the association Tor II cent cotton.
 Could Pay 12 Gents.
 "It has been ascertained by investiga- tion" he said, "and has not yer been denied that at the prevailing prices oi inc manufactured products this season. spinners could easily have paid lz cents for the entire crop to the growers anu declared good dividends on their invest nents On this basis a crop Of ten hii- lion bales should have brought the pro dueers seDO000OO If we demand and re- ceive 1b cents for the balance ot the unsold portion of the crop, basis middnng at interior points. we will still be un- able to average the whole crop at lz cents A pound due to the unwarrantea 10" prices at which more than one-nail the crop has been sold. The proposi,ion to hold the balance of the crop ae maximum figure of 15 cents therefore IS hasad upon sound. conservative reasoning and Is Justified by all conditions sur rounding the present legitimate laws or demand and supply.
 .fvyhen our cotton sold at cents nound a few years ago, the price oi piiht cloths was cents yard, or 1ouFteeh cents a pound for the manufacturers plou- uct, leaving cents between the purehas- ing price of the raw proouct ant, anu to selling price of the finished faofie !" rav inc cost of manufacture and declare diy,dends on the investment. Print cloths arc now selling at 334 cents Yafd, UT 2elA cents a pound. At an average priee of 12 cents a pound for the raw cot'on. the manufacturer today has a margin or 14L4 cents against cents re" year ago. or net difference al the present time of 5I4 cents pound, or s26.2o paie'
 Consumption Is Enormous.
 .yrba consumption Of American cotton T.. a,.o~r,ons and will continue unabated for many months to come Ihere are 5 oO0 GOO more spndles in active opera tion now than was the case one year a oO The enfife Huiuniuh AiiNN7t' world is enjoying an era of unprecedented nrosnerIty. with the entire output of their mills sold many months ahead The pres ant cron will not exceed ten millions, cou,oercial bales The crop has been practically all picked and ginned. fhe greater portion of the stocks of American cotton. l.G0NW0 bales. carried over sep taphet l. l905 already has been consumed. Consnmption is going on at the rate or one million bales a month. The whole civiltzed world is listening day and night to the hum of busy splndles. There cannot be a surplus from the present short crop ,
 ~The policy of the planters during the next three months will largely de- ternine their ability to maintain far ana protitabe prices for the crop to be pro- d,,eed in 1906 Diversification must ever he the watehword and protective policy of the southern cotton producer, Every cotton farm in the south must be made self-sustaining, through raising each year an abundant food supply. The area d.. ho rom