The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-27
B. B. Conner, T. o. Smith and Culpepper Exum Satisfied That Excellent Plan
 Will Be Perfected
DELEGATES TO M'ADOO CONFERENCE FULL OF HARDING'S PRAISE
J. 0. Thompson Remains in Washing ton to Serve as Member of Special Committee-Full State
 ment Coming

Thoroughly optimistic and believing that the cotton crop of the south will he fully protected by the United stntes government. B. D. Conner. former gov crnor of Alabama; Col. Tom 0. smith. vice president of the Birmingham Trust and Savings bank, and CuIpepper Inxum rormer president of the city commis- sion. returned from Washington last night at 7:15 o'clock on the beIated Birmingham Special.
 Colonel Smith and Governor Conner, president of two of the biggest cot ten mills in this state, were invited by Secretary William McAdoo of the treasury department to come to Wash irston with Joseph o. Thompson of this city to confer about the perils that faced the southern cotton crop by req son of the European war. MT Exum, head of the chemical companies of this section, closely allied with the agri- cultural interests while not par ticipant in the conference went to Washington and conferred informally with several of the leaders there in regard to the outlook
 Governor Conner and Colonel Smith. the official participants in the cotton cor ference, said they wished to con gratulate The Age Herald for the very comprehensive and accurate resume of the meeting in Washington as printed yesterday morning.
 Protection for Cotton The cotton crop will be protected by the government of the United States said former Governor Conner "There are some details to be worked out by the ccmmlttee. MT. Joseph Thompson of this city. who was appointed on one of the committees, will remain in Wash ilston helping out on the details. | While the European situation will cause some losses down south at the ! same time the arrangements made by the United States goernment will serve adequately to protect the farming in- terests through the banks. The banks v'lll, firmly believe, take care of the farmers and the cotton interests. I will be able to give you a better state ment tomorrow. I prefer 10 issue a full CT statement when I have had time to dictate it."
 Colonel Smith had this to say: '''rhe acceptance by the government of warehouse receipts on the 70 per cent basis as outlined in The Age Her aid of yesterday morning is practical l ly the whole story. 1 am firmly of the opinion that this measure by the treasury of the United States will fully tprotect the interests of southern cot 1 t,:r growers. The banks have been given will be given ample authority | fQ the vii be done. The situation has been great l ly clarified by this timely action by the government l feel thoroughly op- tinistic and l authorize you to say that for me. The situation is grow 1 irs brighter"
 Exum Is Enthusiastic 1 "culpepper Exum said:
 Tt is fact that the treasury de- partment has by it's action filled all of US with optimism" MT. Conner and NJ, smith nodded acuuiescence.
 ',frhe conference and the results Which were fully and accurately stated i in The A ge- Herald will result in the j farmers finding safe anchorage in the $ Ithern banks for their needs The conference has resulted in the opinion icing formed ny the members of the conference that the cotton situation will be handled to the approval and
  ] ton.
 There is no question whatever but | Y hat the cotton crop will be financed lproperly and without any great loss to itlc farmers although that eventuality | was at first suggested and believed inn niinent
 Thompson Still Busy
 l j. O. Thompson. who is memb er of the committee working out the de- ], tails of the situation. will be away several days. The participants in the l ( inference were very eulogistio of ths latitude taken by w. F. G. Harding |, merly of this city. but now of the fede ral reserve board MT. Harding was appointed one of the members of the subcommittee and is at work now with | that committee. The members of the conference returning yesterday were Nery glad to acknowledge that Mi IIarding's keen insight into the cot ton situation here and his understand ing of what is necessary to be done will enable him to be of great serv- ice to the southern farmers in this