The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-18
STATE FARMERS
 IN CONVENTION l IN BIRMINGHAM Attendance Surprisingly Large and Interesting Sessions
 Anticipated IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WAREHOUSES DISCUSSED The Amaleamated Scheme Again Be- comes Red Letter-SeveraI Well
 coming Speeches-Three
 Days Programme.

vened in the assembly room at the city hall yesterday morning to be attended, before the day was over, by no less than 300 accredited delegates and about 15O visitors
 More than 100 of these delegates arrived yesterday on the noon trains and more arrived on the evening trains after the convention had adjourned for the day. It is believed by the officers that there
 will be more than 1000 delegates and wis., itors present before final adjournment is taken on Thursday afternoon and the biggest and most important convention
 in the history of the union Is predicted When the convention was called to or
 der yesterday morning the assembly hall
 was taxed to it's capacity and it is prob- able that the armory will have to be pressed Into service before the meet ings are concluded. The officers express their qualification as to the splendid attendance.
 The Welcoming Speeches. The Rev. Frank Barnett, editor of the Alabama Baptist, delivered the invoca- ton, after which J. s. Drake welcomed the delegates to Birmingham on behalf of the Trades Council. He said that the interests of organized labor and the Farmers union were coordinate and ex- pressed his gratifcation that the work ing people and the farmers were grow ing closer together.
 MT Drake then introduced Alderman John F. Williams, who represented Mayor Frank P. OBrien. MT. Williams well comed the convention on behalf of the city of Birmingham. Andy Marx spoke in behalf of the Trades Council and Roy Mccullough welcomed the farmers for the Board of Trade. Frank Chaffee, sec- retary of the Business Mems League, extended the union a welcome on behalf of that sanization.
 w. P. G. Harding, representing the Bankers association. addressed the con- vention and during the course of his re- marks said:
 "Gentlemen, I belong to a class of men who do not create our wealth, but our function Is to assist others to secure
 wealth. I believe your cotton Is worth 15 cents. I believe you will average 121s cents. I believe you will not get less than 10 cents. You farmers must not sell all cotton at one time during few months. Tt is hard on the farmers, the banks and the transportation companies. You have done a great work and your head way Is something wonderful. I believe you will win a great victory If you per feet your warehouse facilities. This will enable you to place your production In your warehouse and receive a receipt for your cotton, which will be cashed by any bank in the country.
 "The boil weevil is approaching us. We
 must think of other products than cot- ton. We must raise small truck products, for, as Birmingham grows, demand will increase for these small products, which, will make you rich"
 AmaIgamated Warehouse Plan. Shortly after the noon hour the con- vention adjourned for dinner. When order was rapped for at o'clock the attendance of the meeting had been in- creased by a full third and the hall was uncomfortably filled with delegates and visitors. After some preliminaries an executive session was declared and the doors of the convention hall were closed to visitors during the rest of the afternoon. Adjournment of the after noon session was not taken until near ly dark
 In a general way, it Is learned that the subject before the convention dur ing the executive session was that of the amalgamated warehouse plan. In Alabama this is a comparatively new idea, although the plan has been in vogue in Tennessee for some time. J. D. Newton of Jack son. Tenn, ad- dressed the convention on this subject, which, 1t is understood, is proving very live one.
 It will be recalled that last January quite a number of the farmers of Ala bama assembled in Birmingham for the purpose of taking up this question.
 The meeting was called by the officers for this purpose alone, but no action was taken in this matter. The idea Is to bring about federation of all the warehouses in the state. Sessions Are Executive. The convention is being attended by all of the officers of the Farmers union, a majority of whom arrived early yesterday morning. Following are the officers of the Alabama divis- ion:
 President, w. A. Morris of Sulligent, Ala.
 Vice president. J. w. Kelsoe of En- terprise. Ala.
 Secretary treasurer, T. F. Johnson of Birmingham.
 State lecturer. A. H. Ford of Mo- Fall, Ala.
 Executive committee, J. F. Barker,
 Beaverton; J. c. Hicks. Centerville; B.
 l.. Hill, Bridgeport; J. J. Robinson, Jr.,
 Lafayette; R. F. Orr, Hartselle.
 It Is probable that the amalgamated
 warehouse proposition will be again
 taken up this morning. The convention
 will again be in executive session.
 This afternoon will be devoted en-
 tirely to pleasure the following pro-
 gramme being announced
 130 D. m.-Assemble in front of city
 hall and have photograps taken of
 convention.
 ID. m.-Board cars for trolley ride over city and suburbs.
 6p. m-Picnic and grand concert at
 East Lake. Free admission to all at
 fractions to delegates and visitors,
 guests of Birmingham Trades Council. Tha sessions tomorrow will be exeou-