The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-12
BUREAU
FOR COTTON CROP
Memphis Meeting Takes Up
Cotton Situation
MANY REMEDIES OFFERED
Every Possible Factor In Handling the
Crop Is Taken Into Considera-
ton and Debate Is

Memphis. November 1.-THE establish
ment of a central bureau for the dlstrlpu-
ton of da Ia with regard TO the cotton
crop was tentatively approved by the con
ference of planters and others whose IN
terests are associated with the production
OF cotton. here today. as means of ena-
bling the farmer to keep in closer touch
with conditions throughout the cotton belt
and more iudieiousy market the crop
The resolution. which was introduced by
E. H. Frazier of Atlanta. Ga, was adopt
ed subject to revision by a special com
mittee Another plan for the betterment
of the method of handling the crop was
suggested by Il. Ii. Rogers of Louisville,
Miss. Who proposed the formation Of an
association along the lines of the Farmers
union. the membership, however, to in
elude all those whose interests are allied
with the growth and marketing of the
staple Although Mr.. Rogers remarks
brought forth considerable applause. ac-
ton was deferred.
Today's discussion dealt with practically
every phase of present conditions in the
ed laws so as to follow future dealing on
legitimate exchanges was urged by J. \.
Taylor. president of the National Ginners'
association. in the course of an address
dealing with so-called might riding
Mr.. Taylor's subject was Night Riding
In the South He declared that night
riding had its inception with the fight
40 Ia 10,
Kentucky He reviewed the movement
throughout the south and declared there
had been but few night rider depredations
in the cotton belt The posting of gins,
he said, was not by organized bands, but
by individuals under the mistaken idea
that ginners could be inundated and
the ginning of cotton stopped causing the
price of the staple to advance. The post
ing of gins. he declared. without question
was because of the low price of cotton.
He reviewed conditions in the cotton
growing states from the season of 1903
and asserted that the present low price
of cotton was due to manipulation. In
concluding, he said:
Il know it to be a fact now that
ltdiiS al lll6 iIltIiDtiS VI llt NdIlOuo
exchanges that speculate at all are very
bullsh on cotton and have more or less
contracts on the long side of the mar
ket and if there was the usual support
from the southern states the market
would be very much higher today and
during the forepart of the season as well.
I feel very sure that we have lost dur
ing the last two years at least $780,
100000 by the passage of state laws. To
offset this we have succeeded in bringing
the cotton exchanges to give us what we
want and what we insisted on three
years ago, fair contract. Now that they
have done this I think We should at
once amend our laws SO as to allow trad
ing in futures on legitimate exchanges. DO
this and you will remove the cause and
there will be no night riders in the cot
ton belt"
T. L. Sisson, prominent planter of
Winona, Miss, took the United States
government to task for what he termed
a lack of encouragement to the southern
planter. He declared that the central
warehouse idea advanced by Mr. Frazier
should be accorded substantial indorse-
ment by the federal government.
Others who spoke today were W. G.
Turner of Memphis, E. D. Smith of South
Carolina and J. A. Evans, director of
the government experiment station at
Shreveport La.
Mr. Turner discussed the handling,
COMPRISING and storing of cotton and
Mr.. Smith had for his subject, The
Present Cotton Situation" Mr. Evans
smoke Of tha boll waevil fnapapa
The reports of the several committees
will be presented tomorrow, the conclud-
ing day of the conference.