Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-08
The Cotton Ass0Ciati0n.


titled to the support of the large business
concerns of the South in it's movement to
raise a sustaining fund of 100000 to tide
it over the formative period of organiza-
ton.
AS pointed out by Mr.. B. F. Mcleod, a
very successful Charleston business man,
who is a member of the finance committee
of the association, this was the plan used
by the Chamber of Commerce of the United
States in its formative period, and without
such a fund it is not likely that the Or
ganization would have survived. Mr.. Nc
Leod is a former president of the Chamber,
and not speaking without advice.
When the American Cotton Association
has built up a large membership through
out the Cotton Belt, it's continuance and
success will be assured. In the meantime it
is obliged to have a fund of ample mag
nitude to finance it's operations. 1t proposes
to invite the large business concerns of
Southern cities to take sustaining member
ships for period of few years to tide
it over this formative period. 1t began it's
campaign with the business concerns of At
lanta, where the central Headquarters of the
association are located
No one questions the fact that the South's
prosperity rests upon the prosperity of the
cotton producer. Whatever helps to make
him more prosperous ana more cOntented
will help to make the South more prosperous
and contented. Whatever factors operate to
uGaS nlu uOWu W d l6F0l dppIOAlIHdLlLS
economic slavery, likewise operate to drag
down the South.
The American Cotton Association Is
neither radical nor visionary 1t aims at the
Improvement of the economic status of the
cotton producer, at the elimination Of waste
in the cotton producing industry, at the sta
bilization of market conditions, at the de-
livery to the spinner of a better grade of
longer staple cotton in a steady stream
throughout the year.
Mr. W., B. Thompson, very successful
cotton factor of the city of New Orleans,
and a former president Of the New Orleans
Cotton Exchange, who is a member of the
executive committee of the American Cot
ton Association, addressing the Atlanta
business men who met together to hear the
request of the association for sustaining
memberships, gave cean-cut, concise and
comprehensive outline of its aims.
''The association said he sis not
communistic or socialistic organization that
proposes to take up any new experiments
or indulge in any untried theories. The
association proposes to proceed on strictly
economic lines.
'In years past tremendous wastage
has occurred in the growing, handling and
marketing of the cotton crop. The cotton
producer has suffered, the banker has sui
fered, the cotton merchant has suffered, and
all business interests of the South have suf
fered.
"Now, it is proposed by the American
Cotton Association not to come in and buy
a whole lot of cotton ana take care of
distress cotton. 1t is not PROPOSED for the
association to be dumping. ground, but it
is proposed to create conditions which will
render distress cotton impossible. It is
7NO~od to educate and interest the farmer
to produce better grade of cotton and a
better staple of cotton. 1t is proposed to
take better care of cotton on the farm. in
the railroad station, and at the gin COM
presses. 1t is proposed to encourage the
building of warehouses and to carry cotton
in such shape that it will be really convert
ible into money.
Now, in order to do that, it is necessary
to have some sort Of organization. We may
get up here and make speeches and have
conventions from time to time and advise
2urtailment of acreage and the holding of
cotton and go back home, and we have &C
complished very little work. Sometimes
meetings of that kind do great harm. If
we are to accomplish results that will be
beneficial to the South and to the world at
large, there must be a permanent organiza-
ton. Plans must be worked out that will
bring about the desired results, and men of
earnestness and enthusiasm must be con-
tlnually at work pushing these plans for
ward"
These thoughts presented by business
man of the successful record of Mr.. Thomp-
son worthy of the serious consideration
it's inception the most hopeful aspect of the
American Cotton Association has been the
support it received from business men dem
2nstrating willingness to cooperate in the
general betterment of the economic status
OF the cotton producer.
There has been a great deal of scientific
education by agricultural colleges and
chools along the line of increased produc-
on and diversified crops and all of this
as needed and should be kept up, but
80 l7"@ "ot been enough commercial edu-
cation along the line of improved methods
of handling, storing, marketing and financ-
: CCttou. Agricultural education is only
fifty per cent efficient if it makes the
iaTmeT good farmer but fails to make him
good business man. 1t is to be expected
that agricultural colleges and schools will
pay more attention to the commercial end
of farming
Meanwhile, the farmers will benefit enor-
mously by cooperation. All other lines of
business are organized. Why not the farm
ers? 1t is not sufficient to argue that the
job is too big and will take too long. Moth
ing will ever be accomplished unless
start is made. And the American Cotton AS
ISOLATION proposes to make the start.