Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-09
DELECATESAT MEET
IN NEW ORLEANS To
AGREE ON MINIMUM
Large Delegations of Geor-
gians Present at TWo-Day
Convention - Senator
Hoke Smith Speaks
By Hal STEED
(Ths Journals Staff Correspond


American Cotton association which
opened its two-day session here to-
day, will declare tomorrow is a rea-
sonable figure for the 1919 crop. The
association will not fix this as an ar
bitrary price, but will declare that
this is the figure which crop condi-
tions, the cost of living and produc-
ton and other conditions have made
fair and equitable.
That the association will decide on
IL = vas uaofticially announced
today. Delegates are so unanimous Oh
it that it is not believed the decision
will be changed, although it will not
be formally announced until tomor-
row.
Senator Hoke Smith and Governor
AHugh NJ. Dorsey arrived at 1920
#o'clock this morning.
' Morning Session
The morning session, which was
formal in character, was called to
order by Governor r. G. Pleasant.
of Louisiana. Mayor Martin B. Her
man, of New Orleans, and B. C.
Casinas, president of the New Or
leans Chamber of Commerce, deliv
cred addresses of welcome and the
response was made by T. J. Shackel-
ford, of Athens, personal representa-
tive of President J. S. Wannamaker.
Georgians figured largely in the
afternoon session. Chief in interest
was the address of Senator Hoke
Smith. DR.. A. NJ. Soule, presi-
dent of the Georgia Agricultural
college, was another Georgia speak
er. Addresses also were made by
D. D. Moore, editor Of the Times
Picayune; Colonel W. B. Thompson.
New Orleans, and Phillip C. Wads-
worth, of New York, who is an
authority on handling and compress
ing cotton.
In addition to these addresses
there were appointment of commit
tees and messages from the cotton
states, either through their COVER
nors or their representatives.
Georgians Presena
The Georgia delegation arrived in
New Orleans on a special from At
ianta Sunday morning. Among
prominent Georgians attending the
convention here are ). J. Brown COM
missioner Of agriculture; T. ]. Shac-
kleford, of Athens, personal repre-
sentative in Georgia of President
Wannamaker; L. B. Jackson, of the
state bureau of markets; J. H. Mills,
president of the Georgia farmers
union; D.F. McClatchey campaign di-
rector for Georgia; Judge H. A. Boy
Rim, president of the Georgia divi-
sion of the association; J. A. Davis,
secretary and treasurer of the Geor-
gia division; John N. Holder, and T.
S. Johnson, of Jefferson county;
Green Braselton, of Braselton, Ga;
Charles fitzpatrick, of Warrenton;
J. W. Williams, of Statesboro; A. ].
Fleming, of Atlanta, and W. l..
Brown, of Lawrenceville.
D. F. Nicola chey, Jr., who is con-
valescing from an attack of typhoid
fever, is here with his father.
'Today's session of the association
brought ideas of the different cot
ton producers and authorities of the
south preliminary to what will be
the most important developments of
the entire meeting, and that is an
agreement on the part of the dele
gates on what should be a fair and
just price for cotton. This impor-
tant development will come on Tues
day. Unlike every other cotton meet
ing that ever was held in the south
before, the present one will not fix
an arbitrary price either minimum or
maximum. 1t simply will agree, on
what, in it's opinion, is the price that
the southern farmer is entitled to.
Base on Costs
This decision will depend in large
measure on the discussion at to-
days meeting. The opinions of
various producers, governors and
cussed and weighed.
A It also will be based on the high
cost of living, on the cost OF produc-
zion, including the cost of fertilizers,
It is recognized, for instance, that
the manufacturers get a much better
price for the finished goods than the
farmers get for the raw product, and
this condition will figure on the ad-
justment of the price figure.
The delegates recognize that arbi-
trary fixing, or arbitrary acreage re-
duction never has worked out in prac-
tice, although various cotton meet
ings have taken action of this kind.
In addition to the price development,
there will be discussion of the gen
eral plan of the association, which
is to finance the cotton through a
system of warehouses with the back
serve system. This plan already is
being orked out in some states
through the cooperation Of banks
which now hold membership in the
will
be reports On this phase of the or
ganization as we'll as reports from
the various state organizations.
Dorsey Presides Tuesday
Tuesdays session of the associa-
ton will be notable one. The morn
ing meeting Of the delegates will be
called to order by Governor Hugh M
Dorsey, Of Georgia. There will be
addresses by United States Senator
Ed c. Smith. of South Carolina; J.
Alabama; P. P. Claxton, United
States commissioner of education; J.
NJ. Parker, formerly United States
administrator, of New Orleans, and
United States Senator j. ). RanSdell,
of Louisiana.
At the afternoon session there will
be an address by Harvie Jordan, of
Monticello, formerly president of the
Southern Cotton association, and by
Marshall Ballard, editor of the New
The afternoon session will be an
open one with the important reports
by committees.
The lessons here will be devoted
largely to a membership campaign
including reports from various state
organizations on the progress made
jim this direction.
! The delegates in New Orleans
which is a typical cotton city, in
c1ude not only producers of cotton
but presidents of state bankers as
-sociations, who are interested in the
Important question of cotton financ.
ing, heads of farmers unions and
state officials whose duties are along
tfS line of caring for farm develop
ments.