The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-31
SAYS GOVERNMENT REPORTS NOT FAIR President of Alabama Cotton
 Association Talks LOOKS FOR HIGH PRICES W. H. Seymour Says He Has Little or No Faith In Cotton Statistics of
 the Department of Agri-
 culture.
LOOKS FOR HIGH PRICES

". II. Seymour. president of the Ala bama Cotton Growers association, a branch of the Southern Cotton assocla- ton, says that he has little or no faith in the department of agriculture and it's cotton estimates. He believes that the southern people should ignore the depart ment estimates completely. He spent yesterday in Birmingham and last night talked interestingly of the situation.
 T am against the department on Its cotton statistics They are not fair and do not benefit the farmer. I attribute this to several reasons. one of which is that the people at the head of the de- partment are not interested in the same things that the cotton growers are and their interests are not southern inter- ests.
 I also attribute the conditions in measure to incompetency. There has been too, lack of honesty. This was shown by the disclosures In the department When dishonesty was first charged, Sec retary Wilson said that it was impossi- ble. but dishonesty existed, nevertheless Now we are assured that there will be no more dishonesty in the department, but what right have we to trust to these as suranees.
 Southern Reports.
 "The farmers and cotton men should not depend on the government reports The Southern Cotton association will be able to get reports which will be much more nearly accurate.
 "As to the conditions here, l have been over much of the state the past few weeks and find that the farmers are hold ing the' cotton to a larger extent than had expected. They are not turning 1t loose anywhere, but are holding 1t for better. prices. hope that they will hold their cotton for 15 cents, for I believe that the staple will go to that price shortly.
 Just at present the spinners have all the cotton they need, but the present available supply cannot last long. ln a short time spinners will be calling for cotton and then the price will jump again. There is little cotton on the market.
 Without 6uIIish Support.
 "The market at present is without bullish support Practically all the bulls have turned to bears We are to see the supreme test of the power of the south and it's ability to hold it's own in the matter of naming the price for its cot ton. l think that the present drop in the price of cotton is in the nature of a test When the south sees that under the bear movement, cotton will not drop very low and that the farmers will hold ft fidence and will also demonstrate to the world that we are able to name our price for the staple.
 "The movement to lessen the acreage had many opponents when it was started. Many thought 1t would not amount 10 much and did not reduce their acreage, Others. however, reduced and we have accomplished somewhat the purpose for which we were striving Now, every man who reduced last year will do the same this year, and many others who did not reduce last year, will reduce this year. Those who were against us at first are for us now.
 Good Profit.
 'Our object is to be able to name the price of cotton. We are constantly work ing toward that end and we will &C., complish our purpose. When we do it will result in much better conditions in tine south. Every class and every business will feel the benefit. If we can fix the price of cotton at 10 cents or better, the farmer will make a profit and the mill man will also be benefited. He can then depend on R staple price and can set the price of his goods accordinelv
 "In Alabama we are putting can vassers in the various counties and they are commencing their work They will spend two or three weeks in each county perfecting organizations, and it will not be long before we have perfect organiza- tion Then we can go to the conventions, determine our plan of action and carry that plan out with the aid of our perfect organization.
 "The south has demonstrated that it can stick together and that it will stick together, and the good results of the southern cotton movement is felt and felt strongly"
 Ship Subsidy Measure.