The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-13
COTTON INTERESTS
Co-oPERATIvE MEETING TUESDAY
 IN BIRMINGHAM.
Gigantic Effort To Be Made to start
 . Holding Movement For Higher Prices-Help of

It is the wish of Hon. J. A. wilkin- son. Commissioner of Agricultural anu Industries, and others endorsing the movement. that next Tuesday, Septem- Der Is, be recognized as the date or the cooperative cotton meeting and that the place will be Birmingham.
 The impression has gone forth that the convention will be held in Mont gomery, September 2I. This is fncor- rect, according to those who have been associated with the movement from the beginning.
 The meeting in Birmingham will be open to all bankers. merchants. far mers and commercial bodies of Ala bama. It Is intended there to start an era of better understanding between the farmer and the banker and the merchant to the end that the market ing of cotton this fall will be done In accordance with common sense and not to defeat higher prices which are be- lieved to be awaiting the growers If they will only stick together.
 Tn other words. 1t is taken that greater intimacy among the co-opera- tive interests of Alabama and the other cotton growing states assures a consistent holding movement for this years cotton crop. It is the general impression that prevailing prices are low for cotton, low to the sense of absurdity. The farmers are beginning to realize the struggle that Is ahead. They know that holding the cotton is their only weapon and that in order to do this they must have the aid of all Interests which are inseparabiy interwoven with the growing of the money crop of the South.
 This Is set out as the sentiment of the farmers, and therefore the hold ing movement to be started next Tues 4n~a AAa dorsement of the Farmers Union. It has received likewise the official en- dorsement of the State Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Only last week President w. P. O. Hard ing. of the Alabama Bankers Associa- tion. who is also President of the First National Bank of Birmingham. called the bankers to join in the meeting Tuesday. It is believed that there will be general response on tho part of |, the men who handle the money winch must move the crop and provide for the growth. of the succeeding one.
 : An opinion is said to exist in some quarters that the movement being so closely identified with the bankers will prejudice the interests of merchants and other creditors of the farmer. Of- ficers of, the Farmers Union and of- ficers of the commercial bodies behind the convention, such as the Opelika Commercial Club. emphatically deny such a charge. There is no aim, they declare. to repudiate any debts that already exist between the grower of cotton and the merchant They deny that the plans to be submitted to the convention Tuesday will tend to even prolong the debts which already exist between any parties
 The hope Is expressed that some plan can be set on foot Immediately by which the farmers can secure at least so per cent of the market price of cotton on loan from the banks at 6 reasonable rate of interest. If cot- ton is to be held, the money must be forthcoming and in such quantities as to provide for the comfort of the far ner and to give him a chance to live.
 Saturday, Hurley Bros, shipped suits