The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-05-23
Gather in Philadelphia to Talk
Over Matters Of Interest
LABOR QUESTION CONSIDERED
Mr. d. A. Tompkins, Of Charlotte,
Responded % the Address Of Wei
come-.-oniy. One Session Held Dur
ing Day.

ISOLATION opened in the ball room of
the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. In
connection with the convention tie
cotton men are exhibiting all the
branches OF their business at the First
Regiment armory. The association
held session in the morning, the Af-
ternoon and evening being given over
to the exhibition and to entertain
ments.
The convention opened with pray
er by Rev. Stephen w. Dams of West
Walnut Street Presbyterian church.
Mayor J. Z. Reyburn delivered the
address Of welcome and the response
was made by Mr.. D. A. Tompkins, Of
Charlotte, Two of the most notable
addresses Of the day were made by
Mr.. Theodore Fl. Price, who talked Of
his recent move against the New York
cotton exchange, and Mr.. Z. j. Wat
son, of South Carolina, who spoke
about immigration in the South.
Mr.. Tmpkins' Address.
In response to the address of
Mayor Reyburn, Mr.. Tompkins said
in part:
ave have heard much Of the COM
petition between New England and
the South in the manufacture of cot
ton goods. have always deprecated
this talk as unworthy of the man
ufacturers OF a great and progressive
nation with a world business within
its reach if its people would operate
to get it instead of lending their eff
forts to petty competition at home.
The American Cotton Manufacturers
Association has charged itself with
the task Of developing an organiza-
ton which at the same time recon-
Giles all American interests and il
stead Of fostering local interests
to nationalize all interests. Our asso-
citation wishes to gain the co-opera-
,, ton of all American cotton manufac-
turing interests in the work Of fos-
tering industrial education at home
and Of developing foreign markets
! abroad until the general prosperity
in all America would eliminate the
iitd VI dt DCIue.
at seSns particularly appropriate
that the American Cotton Manufac-
turers' Association should meet in
Philadelphia to consider such large
subjects as the progress of American
manufactures by the development of
industrial education, and the extern
sion Of the American commerce by
the development of ocean Transports
ton facilities.
8 1t was here the nation was born,
and Philadelphia has been peculiarly
national city ever since. In both
education and transportation your
city has always led. 1t is here that
is the best development of that
knowledge and skill necessary to pro-
Guce the finer fabrics such as lace
curt aims, carpets and other superior
products of the spindle and loom. i:
is here that there has been developed
tie best knowledge and skill in Am
ellca in the production Of both loco
motives and ships. Therefore, IN
both the realms of education and
training on the one hand to make
fine1 and better goods and of build
ing locomotives and ships, on the
other hand to promote transportation
for distribution Of American goods
to the people Of the world, Philadel-
phia is the leading American city,
ahd ii IS good atmosphere for this
| r:eeting.
Representatives Of the colonies
assembled here to iusugurate, by joint
action. the battle for political liber-
| ty.
"This meeting is not held here nov
Without a purpose, This association
wishes here at this meeting to inau-
surate by joint action the battle for
commercial liberty over the entire
world.
"The establishment here July i
| 1916, c: en- independent governments.
cost cur icrefathers some money anG
much trouble, but the venture has
paid,
SIT will cost US something to ac
comrlish over the entire nation such
q system Of industrial education as
VII! make our people manufacturers
Of the best end cheapest goods i'll
the world. But the cost will be
profitable investment.
| at will cost ia somethins to put
ships upon The high seas to carry our
agricultural and manufactured prod
ucts to the various markets of The
world. But the cost will be a profit
able invetment''
Following the session of the cor
vention an important conference IF
representatives of the New York and
New Orleans cotton exchanges and OF
the association was held. At the
meeting a protest was registered Ls
the manufacturers against the ex-
tensive gambling in cotton which is
permitted in the cotton exchanges
and insisted that the method of grad
ing the staple now prevalent should
be changed.
The discussion of labor problems
and the need OF increased iumirr.
ton was led by Commissioner Wal.
son, whose efforts to import labor for
the cotton industry have brou I'll.
forth cries from agitators in sli pari.
OF the country. and ended in ihe e..
actment Of restraining leei.ls ton -
| Congress. He declared that the hanr
has come for The American msnuf:te
turer and the American laborer with.
| out regard TO section tn iatn hands