The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-14
Southern Cotton Growers Convention Demands 15
 Cents
STATISTICS BY EACH STATE IS PROPOSED
W. P. G. Harding and c. 5. Barrett Make Notable Addresses on Financing Crop-Each State
 To Hold Convention

lness men, representing eFety cot,oh sio" ing state in America, declared in con- .veption today that the farmers cotton is worth 15 cents a pound, and resolved that the farmer should hold his cotton for that price. The resolution followed a com mittee report that the crop in America would not exceed 125O0,0oo bales.
 For financing the crop of this year a resolution was adopted to the effect that the farmer should store his cotton in a warehouse and use his receipt as collat- era. until he could sell his cotton at a fair price, not less than 15 cents. There was also a resolution that the several state legislatures provide for a system of bonded warehouses
 Declaring that organization among the farmers and cooperation among them with the bankers and financiers was the solution of the problem, the convention resolved itself into permanent organiza- ton to be known as the Southern Cotton congress, and adjourned to meet in At larta at the call of the president. E. J. Watson, commissioner of agriculture of South Carolina.
 The meeting sn Montgomery Is to be followed by a similar convention in every southern state, to be called by the com missioner of agriculture of that state. By these conventions the action of the con- gress is to be ratified and reinforced by further steps toward the end of secur- ing a better price for cotton for this sea- son, first, and then. for years to come.
 Among the speakers at the convention today were Senator E. D. Smith of South Carolina, who received the thanks of the congress for his attitude in Congress to- ward the government cotton report; Con- gressman J. Thomas Hefin of Alabama. Congressman Henry D. Clayton of Ala bama, and Dudley M. Hughes, congress- man from the eleventh district of Geor- gia Oscar W. Underwood, leader of the House of Representatives. chairman Of :, the ways and means committee and men, stiored for the presidency, sat in the au- dience.
 [ It was Senator Smith who perhaps made the speech which decided the congress in it's naming the price of cotton at 15 cents,, for. Congressman Heflin wanted to make the price II or 15 cents with fl cents as the mini mum Congressman Clayton, in his speech, declared his belief that in 10 years time the world would be using 25,000,000 or 30.000,000 bales of Ameri- can cotton
 President c. S. Barrett of the Farm CTS Educational and Cooperative union delivered an address on cooperation. lie denounced as baseless the reports ' of a bumper cotton crop, denied the charge that the Farmers union was a combine to hold up civilization, and as- serted that there Is a combination for the purpose of hammering down the price of cotton.
 w. P G. Harding, president of the First National bank of Birmingham spoke on Enhancing the Cotton Crop" During his speech he declared that the present crop could at best be only an average one. He advised against fix ing minimum price at which cotton should be sold. but urged farmers to market their cotton slowly and gradu- ally.
 pr. w. E. Hinds. state entomologist, delivered very instructive address on the destructive work done by the cotton caterpillar.
 To Perfect Plans Later
 Refusing to consider all questions relating to marketing and holding the cotton crop of the south, which would take time to work out the southern cotton growers convention in session in Montgomery at it's morning session
  ing only on such business and resolu- tions as pertains, to the marketing and holding the present 1911 cotton crop, so as to give relief to the farmer at the present time and then take care of the future later
 A resolution reported to the convention from the committee on legislation aroused prolonged discussion and heated debate. This resolution provided for the astab- lishment of state and national bonded warehouses where cotton could be stored and held and receipts issued which would be honored the same as currency, no, only in this country, but abroad as we'll It was a good resolution, all admitted, but majority of the convention thought That such an important matter should receive more consideration and the details ork- ed out In clearer way. Congrel smali Henry D. Clayton of the Third AZ Abama district. stated that the resolution/ Covered tremendous scope and was to big q thing to settle right away and asked that it be laid aside temporarily. Messfs. Calvin of Texas, Cabaniss and Haden of Georgia. agreed with him and on vote of the convention 1t was laid aside. tt was the concensus of the convention that only matters relating to the present crop and aiding the farmer at the special time ohould be taken up
 AMang the most important matters tax on up by the convention was the report of the committee on legislation. This ,om- mittee recommended that d department or statlstics be established in each state, under direction of the agricultural de- partment and that each agricultural om- missioner of each southern state take Jp with his respective legislature the .nles- tion of such department At certain ,,e- fiods of each year, the figures are 10 be compiled by each state, and then striixe e an average of crop conditions, estimates. etc.. Of all the states together, and ru,,- lsh them. the same as does the govern- ment each year.
 Government Criticised
 The government was severely criticised at the committee session Wednesday morn 4ng for It's inaccurate crop estimates ,tnd ginning reports. 1t was the opinion a. the committee that the south no ilon ger should rely on the national government for its crop reports, but make them out at home
 ( Commissioner of Agriculture Watson of seouth Carolina and President Dabs Of the South Carolina Farmers union, were Seyere fn their nrraignment of the Uni:ed ~ states department of agriculture in s;ath- ering cotton statistics.
 Coinmissioner Watson stated that the / government elas hpd a statistician in his state for the past ten years, gathering ->>r>>>'>-,-~
 xCoNx1HUEp ON rAGE 1s)