The Mena weekly star., 1907-10-10
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Growers and Manufacturers oi Southern Staple in International
 Conference at Atlanta.
MANY FOREIGNERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE
During the Conference Questions oi the Utmost importance to Grower, and Consumers Will Come up, the Settlement of Which May Radically Change Present Methods.


 Change Present Methods.
 Atlanta, Ga, Oct. 8.-Men who grow cotton and men who manufacture il into cloths and other goods for the markets of the world, met in the state capitol Monday in the International Conference of Cotton Growers and sessions of the conference questions oi the utmost importance to growers and consumers will be discussed and action is looked for that will radically change for the better the methods of handling and growing the great staple of the South.
 Fully 800 delegates were present when President James R. Macoll oi Providence, R. l., called the meeting to order, former President Arthur Kuf fer, of Vienna. Austria. and delegates from Great Britain, Germany, Bel gium. France and Spain being present The bodies forming the International Conference are the National Spinniers association, the Farmers Union. the Southern Cotton association, and the Interstate Cottonseed Crushers asso ciation.The morning session of the conference was taken up largely with addresses of welcome and responses and the appointment of committees oi two members from each of the four or ganizations. to nominate permanent officers, and select chairmen and vice chairmen of the sectional committee It is in these sectional meetings that much of the actual work will be done
 Shortly after 10 o'clock President Macoll called the conference to order and after prayer delivered his opening address. After giving . brief history of the federation and objects of the as sociation Mir. Macoll said:
 "One important object which those of us who are Americans whether growers or spinners. have in view. is to demonstrate to our European friends who consume two-thirds of the crop the wonderful resources yet unde. veloped in the Southern states for the production of the raw material We
 
 America will grow all the cotton that the world needs on the other hand it is desirable for the growers by person. al contact with the spinners to realize that If they are to maintain their SUI premacy. there must be forward movement in the direction of the re- moval of so-called abuses that now ex. ist in the grawing, handling and mar keting of their product. "The planter, if he wants to sell direct to the spin ners, must in some way do the work of the middlenan and have the same financial responsibility; he must grade. carry and finance the cotton as the merchant now does.
 All admit that the time has now come for definite suggestion and prompt action to effect needed reforms. To this end we should discuss gin com pressing, WI oh would effect an enorm- ous saving in transportation and insur- ance. and enable the over-burdened railroads to move more expediously the ever-increasing crop.
 The proper market of cotton should be insisted upon. The cotton world needs a uniform bill of ladlng. which states authenticated facts regarding shipments and affords adequate protec- ton to the owners of the cotton and the banks that help them to finance the crop.
 q am heartily fin sympathy with the report recently issued by committee of New York cotton exchange on the certification of cotton in southern warehouses and improved classified tion as to grade and staple. This would in my opinion tend to control speculation and at the same time make the New York contract more servicable to spinners both as hedge and for actual consumption"
 Mir. Macoll urged as the most inn portant thing that the conferences could accomplish would be the forma- tion of permanent international or ganization of growers and spinners.