The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-15
Ssulhern Csttsa Congress nads
Permanent organIzalIsl
DEPOSIT COTTON mo WATT
Cssse~nce In Session 1t Montgomery
Forms Itself Into . Permanent In
stitution and Issues AdsIee to Far
mers In Marketing Present Crop,
which II Estimates at l2,sOO,OOO.

Montgomery. Ala. Sept. 14.-Five
hundred farmers and as many bank
ers, congressman, United States sena-
tors and business men, representing
every cotton-growing state, declared
in convention yesterday that the far
mers' cotton is worth fifteen cents a
pound and resolved that the farmer
should hold his cotton for that price.
The resolution followed committee
report that the crop in America
would not exceed 12.500.O00 bales.
For financing the crop OF this year
resolution was adopted to the effect
that the farmer should deposit his
cotton In a warehouse and use his re-
ceipt az collateral until he could sell
his product at not less than fifteen
cents. There was also a resolution
that the several state legislatures pro-
vide a system OF bonded warehouses.
Declaring that organization among
farmers and cooperation among them
with the bankers and financiers was
the solution OF the problem, the con-
vention resolved itself into perma-
nent organization to be known as the
Southern Cotton Congress. and ad-
journed TO meet in Atlanta at the call
OF the president, z. j. Watson. COM
missioner OF agriculture Of South
Carolina
The meeting In Montgomery is to be
followed by similar convention in
every southern state. 10 be called by
the commissioner OF agriculturS OF
each ztate. BY these conventions the
action of the congress is 10 be rati-
hed and reinforced by further steps
to await a better price for cotton.
Among the speakers was Senator
Smith. OF South Carolina, who re-
ceised the thanks Of the congress for
hh attitude toward the government
cotton report; Congressman Heflin
and Clayton, OF Alabama, and Hughes
of Georgia.
President G. s. Barrett. OF the
Farmers' Educational and co-opera-
tive Union. denounced as baseless the
reports Of a bumper cotton crop; de-
nounced the charge that the farm
ers' union was combine 10 hold up
civilization. and asserted that there is
a commission for the purpose OF ham,
mering down the price OF cotton.
A. the result OF a conference Pres
IdenS Barrett announced that a
French-English syndicate has guar
anteed any amount OF money up to
severty-fye million dollars to finance
the souths cotton crop. The deal
was made with the personal report OF
the syndicate. The mopey IL TO be
loaned at six per cent and the cotton
is to be put up as collateral. Details
OF the plan are to be perfected by a
committee 10 be composed OF one
southern banker and two members OF
the farmers union. The estimate OF
this years cotton crop. recommended
by the committee Of Estates and adopted
BY the committee. Is approximately
l2,500.eoo bales. This estimate was
based on figures proposed to the CON-
mittee BY the call ofstates each state
being represented by its agricultural
commissioner or his authorized assist
ant and by figures furnished by the
National farmers union from It's re-
cent convention at Shawnee, Okla.
and by revived figures submitted by
President chas s. Barrett, OF the
farmers union.
The committee on legislation recon.
mended that a department OF statistics
be established In each state under ths
direction OF the agricultural depart.
ment and each agriculture commits.
sion OF each southern state take ur
with his respective legislature tn.
question OF such a department. Al
certain periods OF each year the fis
ures are TO be compiled by each state
and then an average OF crop condI
tions. estimates. etc. OF all the states
Il - - a