Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-31
GOVERNORS BEGIN
PLANS To ADVANCE
PRICES Of COTTON
Heads of Southern States and
Commissioners of Agricul-
ture Meet at New Orleans
to Devise Methods

and thus insure the early .re-establish-
ment OF a normal price for the staple will
be considered late this afternoon at an
executive session Of the Ave governors
In attendance on the cotton conference
here.
Governors Of several southern
states with their commissioners
Of agI.s -lture gathered in this city
for the purpose OF discussing ways
and means of increasing the price of
cotton, seeking more economic plans for
putting il on the markets and getting
adequate statistics beneficial to the seller.
were called to order this morning by
Gov. o. B. Colquitt. of Texas, who
stated the object of the meeting. stat
ing that no program had been arrang-
ed.
PLAN ANNTIAL MEETINGS.
An EFFORT win be made to make the con-
ference of governors q yearly affair. the
object OF which will be to work to the
interest Of the planters In every way pos
sible 1t is certain that some action
win be forthcoming having for its OBJ
ject the collection Of data and statistics
by the federal government concerning the
consumption of cotton. stocks in the hands
of the spinners and accurate figures OF
foreign production.
1t is believed that when the matter IN
placed before the proper officials. fig
ures for the information OF the seller
OF cotton as well as the buyer will be
published from time to time as bureau
reports ara now made.
Cut down the cotton acreage. prac-
tice diversihcation." is the EDMONTON
Of Commissioner Of Agriculture Edward
r. Kone, OF Texas IF the farmers az
their families are compelled to have and
make cotton a strictly clear money cropr
that they can hold. II need be Indefinitely
when they receive the price they think
1t Is worth, II would render speculative
manipulation Of the cotton crop impos-
sible and make the farmers masters OF
the situation. They should adopt this
plan ct once. and stick to it with inflex-
ible tenacity.
+ Another innovation wish to see in
augurated is that federal governments
cotton reporting service be improved to
extent that when It announces what
the cottonNcrop will be. II will at the
same time announce what worlds de-
mands win be for this crop. and other
facts necessary to protect the producers
interest"
NEEDS ARE DISCUSSED.
II Il the opinion OF w. A. Graham.
commissioner OF agriculture OF North
Carolina. that what the planter needs
most is an extended market. developed by
the national government, directly as has
been done. said he, In the interest of the
cotton manufacturers
THE banks OF our state are standing
behind our planters" said he, land they
give US every assurance that they viii
enable the planter to carry his crop until
prices justify sales. / believe the land
lord should regulate the acreage of his
tenants. say what they shall plant and
cultivate, and even go as far as to re-
quire his tenant to produce sufficient
provisions to support himself and his
family
AS Clarence Owsley, editor OF the Fort
Worth Record and a member of the
Texas delegation, expressed it, ''the pro-
ducer is selling his product in the dark.
while the buyer has all the information
he could desire. The planters should
have figures of interest to them as well
as the buyer. It's all one-sided and the
government is aiding the buyer in this
respect"
URGES COOPERATION,
While Governor Colquitt refused to dis
cuss any matters he expected to. bring
before the conference. he said co-opexa-
ton between the governors Of the SOUTH
ern states, he believed would help the
cotton industry more than anything
else. 1t was his belief. he said. that
il should be the duty OF the conference
to take action on matters Of interest to
the cotton producers and to be Of mu-
tual benefit TO the people OF the southern
states.
Among the distinguished representatives
here to attend the conference is former
United States Senator John L. McLaurin.
of South Carolina, who is big cotton
planter OF Marlboro county.
Mr 1T of,rfr7 aafd that ha affIl ham
on hand some Of the cotton produced
on his plantation last year, besides all
of, this years crop.
zone thing is certain" he said, land
that is. II the farmer Is forced to sell
his crop OF cotton this year for the pres
emit ridicuIously low prices. there will be
a howl from the cotton manufacturers
next season when they wake to the fact:
that the south's cotton lands have been
turned over to the production of corr
and other crops. The farmer cannot pro.
duce cotton for the present price and
those who are forced 10 sell at such ng-
ures are not going to commit financial
suicide by raising cotton next year.
MORE MONEY IN CORN.
CAS- a matter OF fact the farmers OF
South Carolina are fast realizing that
there is more money to be made In
growing corn and feedstuffs than in rails
keep coLLon down to the present low
lever, or even below II cents, a little
while longer. doubt very seriously IL
there will be a 10000, 0O0-bale crop next
year"
COLQUfTT PRESIDES
The meeting today was presided over by
Governor Colquitt, OF Texas Mayor
Behrman. of New Orleans. delivered an
address of welcome He was followed
by Gov. j. Y. Sand rs. of Louisiana. who
the visiting governors and DEL
ega es on behalf Of the state
The visiting governors present at the
opening of the conference were Governor
Iolquitt, of Texas: Governor Mann, or
Virginia: Governor O'Neal, of Alabama.
Governor Noel, of Mississippi. and Gov
,rnor Sanders. Of Louisiana.
Governor Sanders said he did not be-
ieve that the worlds crop of cotton was
my greater than the demand for THAI
taple. He expressed the belief that by
cooperation of the state officials and cot
on planters pa ncould be devised
Whereby the price Of cotton would be re-
tored to its normal value.
He called attention TO the fact that
louisiana had adopted a constitutional
amendment authorizing the erection of
otton warehouses, with commission in
barge who shall issue receipts. which
ave the backing of the state. He said