The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-03
COTTON MEETING
HAS ADJOURNED
ON BALlNo MAKES A
REPORT AT AFTERNOON sES-
sIoN-coNFERENcE MAY MEET
AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

Washington. May 2.--tspecial AFTER
denounelng the government crop reports
and moro particularly the reports of the
department of agriculture, and passing a
| resolution advocating that the statistical
cotton year should run from August
to August /, instead of from September
/ to September /, the International Cot
ton conference adjourned today to reas-
senblo newt year. should It be deemed
advisable by the various organizations to
do so. 1t was found that the delegates
were not clothed with sufficient authority
to affect n permanent organization
When the subject of governmental crop
reports came up. President McColl spoke
in commentator of the bureau work, but
felt that some radical changes in the
methods of the agricultural department
should be made, President Jordan of the
Southern Cotton association also com
mended some features of the government
reports. but numerous other delegates
strongly condemned them. D. A. Tomp-
kins of North Carolina, characterized
them "a complicated system of guess
ing while another southern grower de-
nounced them speculative football"
Various remedies were suggested but
as no law delegates seemed able to agree
on satisfactory plan the whole subject
was laid on the table.
President McColl expressed the hope that
hence forward there will be closer bond
of union between the north and the
south and between America and Europe in
all that pertains to cotton growing and
manufacturing.
At the afternoon session the report of
the committee on baling ginning and
handling of American cotton, was re-
ceived and adopted unanimously. The re-
port recommended the following:
THAT all bales be made of standard d.
mensons.
THAT light weight new burlap be used
for bagging; or If conditions justify, that
cottonvas be used.
THAT ten ties be used on all bales with
the Egyptian style of buckles preferred.
THAT all cotton should be bought and
sold by the weight.
THAT a committee be appointed whose
duties 1t shall be to have cotton baled
as above and to submit the same for
practical test to consumers"
Discuss Marketing.
The general topic of discussion today by
the international conference of cotton
growers and manufacturers. AS on yes
terday, specializing in cotton was severely
denounced.
A. e. Calvin. president of the Farmers
Educational and Cooperative union, de-
clared that 1t long had been the dream
of the cotton growers to abolish all in
termediate agents, who levy toll unnec-
essarily on the product on it's journey
from the field to the factory The grow
er, he said, Is sthe constant and persist
ent foe of all forms and methods of
cotton gambling Violent fluctuations of
the market, he continued are quite as
disturbing and Improbable to the grow
er as to the spinner. He voiced what
he said about the unanimous sentiment
of the southern growers to Join in any
movement which promises to eliminate
the gambler from the cotton market, to
reduce the marketing expenses. to ex-
pedte the delivery of cotton to the spin
ner and to give reasonable stability to
the market price. He declared that the
south so completely able to supply
the world with cotton that with proper
understanding with the manufacturers
there would be no necessity of conducting
experiments In Africa and elsewhere. Dr.
rect relations between the growers and
manufacturers was strongly argued.
Warehouse System.
A similar stand was taken by Camp
bell Russell of Indian Territory. The
southern growers. he said, rapidly were
arranging system of warehouses so as
to be able to maintain not only the sta
blity of price but to furnish the spinner
cotton whenever he wants 1t and in what
ever amount.
A proposition which met With some
favor came from II. w. Davis of Texas.
which, In urging direct relations with the
manufacturers, suggested that the man
ufacturers deal with an agent of the
grower at the warehouse.
The discussion then took a general turn,
the English delegates expressing their
pleasure at the building of warehouses
"instead of warehousing cotton In the
field
Further opposition to the middle man
came from w. S. Miller of Texas. and
E. b. Smith of Arkansas. The former in
reyerting to the question of Mr. Jordan
Yesterday as to what amount of cotton
would be needed for 1906, said 1t was not
a matter for consideration so much as
+ba ,rrou,ars will raise what thew think