The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-12

New Orleans, January 11-With a
large and representative attendance
from the cotton growing states, the
Southern Cotton Growers Association.
opened a three days session here to-
day.
The hall was crowded when Presi-
dent Jordan called the convention to
order. A feature that attracted at
tention was the presence of q negro
delegation from Kinds county, Missis-
sippi, Secretary Woods, of the Mis-
sissippi association said they were
regular delegates and entitled to seats.
President Jordan was given an Ova-
ton when he ascended the platform
The invocation was offered by Rev.
DR.. Beverly Warner. Ex-President
John NJ. Parker, of the New Orleans
Cotton exchange, delivered an address
Of welcome, in which he said the spec
ulator is the greatest enemy the farm
er has. He cOunselled the farmer to
not ''kill the golden goose by putting
up prices SO high as we will soon have
a close competition from other coun-
tries.
W. l.. Foster, member of the Lou
isiana railroad commission and large
cotton planter, responded. When Mr.
Foster concluded, President Jordan
delivered his address on the Southern
Farmer.
President Jordan began with re-
viewing at some length the objects of
the association and it's accomplish
ments. He referred to the discovery
of dishonest practices in the bureau of
cotton statistics, in the department Of
agriculture at Washington, and the
fight made by the association for puri-
ty there. He then discussed the rea-
sons for the demand made by the as
SOciatiOn-eleven cents for cotton
1T has been ascertained by investi-
CATION" he said, land has not yet been
denied, that at the prevailing prices of
the manufactured products, this sea-
son. spinners could easily have paid
twelve cents for the entire crop to the
growers, and declared good dividends
on their investments. On this basis a
crop of ten million bales should have
brought the producers 100000. .OO0
If we demand and receive fifteen cents
for the balance of the unsold portion
of the crop, basis middling, at inte-
rior points, we will still be unable to
average the whole crop at twelve cents
pound, due to the unwarranted low
prices at which more than one half
of the crop has been sold. The propo-
sitiOn to hold the balance of the crop
at maximum figure of fifteen cents
is. therefore, based upon conservative
reasoning and is justified by all con-
ditiOns surrounding the present legiu-
mate laws of demand and supply.
The consumption Of American cot
ton is enormous and will continue un-
abated for many months. There are
five million more spindles in active
operation now than was the case q
year ago. The entire spinning indus
| try Of the world is enjoying an era of
unprecedented prosperity, with the en-
tire output Of their mills sold many
| months ahead. The present crop will
! not exceed ten million commercial
bales. The crop has been practically
all picked and ginned. Consumption
/. is going on at the rate of one million
bales month
months will largely determine their
ability TO maintain fair and profitable
prices for the crop to be produced i'm
| 1906 Diversification must ever be the
watchword and protective policy OF
the southern cotton producer and
every cotton farm must be made self.
sustaining, through raising each year
an abundant food supply. The area
planted in cotton each year must be
confined within such bounds as viii
bring production oof the staple within
the limits Of legitimate consumption.
The proper solution of marketing
our cotton crop lies in moving the cror
slowly. 50 as TO regulate the supply Il
meet the legitimate demands Of tn,
spinners. To do this, adequate stor
age facilities must be provided. Witt