The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-08-04
BY Ii. z. BLAKEsLEE. Jackson.

organization of this department, thu
writer took upon himself the work OF
ascertaining what, if anything, had beer
done toward a broadening of the field fol
cotton and cotton goods consumption
After three months OF investigation and
extensive correspondence, it would seem
that, while desultory efforts along this
line had been made from time to time,
little had been accomplished in the way
OF an organized effort to put into use
plans that might accomplish this great
end. A clause i'll the law creating the
department says that the Commissioner
shall do something like this, but, not I'M
like several other clauses, no appropria-
ton was made to enable him to DO any
thing along the line indicated. Missis-
sippI is not unlike other States in this
respect. 1t is found hat a number OF
Commissioners would gladly take up the
work II funds were available, and more
than one will make special efforts when
the legislators meet again to have this
deficiency supplied. 1t is to be hoped
that success will crown this effort, and
that soon we will see the cotton States
represented in foreign countries by men
who are competent to popularize and ere
ate a demand for cotton goods.
The officers of the Mississippi division
of the Southern Cotton Association are
greatly interested in this movement, and
have pledged aid as far as possible to
push it to a successful termination. Pres
ident Clark has on more than one occa-
sion SO expressed himself to the writer,
and some time since suggested that the
Commissioner of Southern Stotoc holJ =.
conference looking to the formulation of
plans whereby the desired end might
be accomplished. The COMMISSIONS of
every Southern State has been written
concerning the matter, and eight out of
the twelve have already expressed a de-
side to aid the movement heartily. 1t
will be made a subject of special i'm
p%ortance at the meeting of Cotton
States Association Agricultural Commits
sioners" that will hold their eighth an
nual session at Jacksonville, Fla, some
time in November. By a concerted move
ment it is hoped that something can be
done that it would be impossible for the
States to.do by individual action.
The experience of past years forcibly
brings to the front the need of work
along this line. The supply has been Il
little more than the demand, and the
consequence, a slump in the price of cot
ton that took away all of the profit and
placed the farmer on the verge OF bank
ruptcy. The Cotton Association stepped
the breach and began a campaign of
in acreage that was success
but at the same time the officials of
the association realized that it would
be better to increase the demand and al
low each farmer to plant all the cotton
that he could cultivate and gather; hence
the demand for Il campaign of education
to increase the consumption. Some one
has said that if each Chinaman would
add one inch to the length of his shirt
tail that several million more bales
would be required to supply the de-
nand. Then why not %inaugurate a cam
oaign for longer shirt tails? A large
ield for such work is offered in a num-
per of warm countries where the use of
'ur cotton goods has not as yet attained
proportions. The inhabitants know lit
lie or nothing about it and it is suggest
ID that they be taught that it is a good
md economical covering for the body. A
cereal food Is introduced by demon
tration in the stores and cooking stoves
re made popular by expert operators in
'ublic places. Why not introduce cotton
,oods by methods similar? I
With the impetus that can be given {
he movement by concerted action on the 7
of the Commissioners from cotton l
the assistance that can be rem t
cred by the Cotton Association, the c