The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-30
HOLD CONFERENCE ON COTTON PRICES Governor COlquitt of Texas
 Arrives JOHN M'LAURIN THERE States That Unless Cotton Prices Are Better Soon Farmers
 Will Raise Corn Next
 Year
JOHN M'LAURIN THERE

New Orleans, October 29.-With the ar rival today of Governor o. F. Colquitt of Texas and his party and the commits sioners of agriculture of several south ern states with other executives expected on early night trains, everything will be in readiness tomorrow morning for the opening session of Southern Governors conference for the purpose of discussing the problem of checking the decline in cotton prices. No definite programme has yet been arranged as it was Cover nor Colquitt's opinion that matters would shape themselves easily soon aft CT the conference is called to order"
 Figures and statistics bearing on the crops have been prepared by Judge E. R. Kone, commissioner or Texas. which are expected to prove of value in the dis cussions with Secretary Hester's reports. It is believed the Texas representatives will advocate bureau of statistics which will gather for the benefit of the cotton producers authentic figures bearing on the worlds consumption, foreign pro duetion and the spinnings to be issued from time to time.
 As Clarence Owsley, editor of the Fort Worth Record and a member of the Tex as delegation, expressed 1t, "The produc- CT is selling his product in the dark while the buyer has all the information he could desire in the light "The plan- ters should have figures of interest to them as well as the buyer" he said. but 1t is all one sided and the government Is aiding the buyer in this respect"
 All are apparently in favor of making the conference of governors an annual affair While Governor Colquitt refused to discuss any matters he expected to bring before the conference yet he said cooperation between the governors of the southern states would help the cotton industry more than anything else.
 It was his belief he said that it should be the duty of the conference to take action on matters of interest to the cot ton producers and to be of mutual bene- fit to the people of the southern states.
 The conference will be called to order in the assembly room of the St. Charles hotel.
 Among the distinguished representa- tives here to attend the conference is for mer United States Senator John l.. Mc- Laurn of South Carolina, who is big cotton planter of Marlboro county. MT. McLaurin said that he still has on hand some of the cotton produced on his plan. tation last year besides all of this year S crop.
 One thing is certain,'' he said, and that is, if the farmer is forced to sell his crop of cotton this year for the pres ont ridiculously low prices there will be a howl from the cotton manufacturers next season when they awake to the pic ture fthe fact that the south's cotton lands have been turned over to the pro- duction of corn and other crops. The farmer can not produce cotton for-the present price. and those whoeare forced to sell at such figures are not going to commit financial suicide by raising cot ton next year..
 "As a matter ef fact the farmers of South Carolina are fast realizing that there is more money to be made in grow ing corn and feed stuffs than in raising cotton,' he continued. "If the cotton manipulators keep cotton prices down to the present low level, or even below F cents, little while longer, doubt very seriously if there will be a 100000 bale crop next year."