Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-11
WORLD CONFERENCE ON COTTON PLANNED
 TO FURTHER WORK
Matters Taken Up in New Orleans to he Ad-
 vanced

in June. but the prospects are now that it may take place as early as April. Rufus R. Wilson, general sec retary of the permanent organization will soon go to England to confer with Sir Herbert Dixon. president. and with other members of the exec utive committee, as to exact date and other details in regard to the Man. chester meeting.
 The first World Cotton Conference since that of 1907 which was not en- tirely representative of the worlds cotton industry. was held last fall at New Orleans, this country being se lccted for the first meeting because of the fact that the United States is by far the largest producer of raw cotton. The next conference is to be- held at Manchester, in view of Eng lands leadership in spinning and weaving the Staple. Other future meetings will be held at intervals of two years, in other countries which are prominent in producing and man. ufacturing cotton.
 The New Orleans conference was a distinct success, beyond all expecta- tions, as to the number of cotton men in attendance, as to the diversity of interests and the number of coun- tries represented, and as to the ser ious thought given to the problems confronting the trade, in the addresses before the meetings and in the reso lutions adopted as basis for future action. But it was seen from the start that the actual results accom- plished would be small unless the conference was organized into a per manent body, with officials and com mittees authorized to carry the reso- lutions into practical effect Jas far as possible, and with definite plans for future meetings, when further action might be taken. Hence the arrangements for the Manchester meeting next year.
 To Use Science.
 At the New Orleans conference, there was lively discussion of the un- scientific methods now used in coml pressing, bailing, warehousing, mar keting, and transporting American cotton, the European delegates char acterixing the present practices as crude. antiauated, and wasteful in the extreme Resolutions were adopted pointing the way to specific remedies for these conditions. It is expected that when the Manchester confer ence between the biennial sessions will be able to report substantial prog ress in these matters.
 The influence of the New Orleans conference was exerted toward in- suring an adejuate production of cot ton and toward stabilizing the price under conditions which would be eq- uitable to both producers and con- sumers. It was brought out clearly that spinners are not so much con cerned about the price of cotton as| about the volume and quality pro- duced. So. between the biennial meetings, much thought is being given to such problems as the future requirements of the worlds cotton trade. and the development of longer staples and higher grades through more careful seed selection and more scientific cultivation.
 The adequate warehousing of cot ton was another subject to which the New Orleans conference devoted much attention, Delegates from abroad were particularly interested in this question because with suitable warehouses. located at convenient! points, of capacity to take care of all the cotton that accumulates at the height of the marketing season.. it was easily seen that much of the "country damage" which now charac- terizes the American bale would be 1 eliminated.
 Resolutions were unanimously passed by the conference endorsing the warehousing principle that would { furnish:
 l. Proper physical protection of the cotton bales.
 2. Low rates of fire insurance.
 3. Receipts showing weights and grades of the bales covered by them, and
 4. Financial strength, methods and scope of operation that would make ! these receipts acceptable in all the world markets, either to the purchas- { ing buyer or to the lending buyer.
 Warehouse Problem.
 The British delegation returned | home fully convinced that adequate cotton warehousing, conforming close ly to the sense of the resolutions { passed, would go far toward solving many of the points of controversy ], that have been so much in evidence :; during past years, on account of the ]; poorly prepared bales which Europe mas been receiving from this country. The British spinners, together with those of this country. and with the cotton growers, merchants, and other handlers of cotton, will bend their best energies, between now and the |: date of the Manchester conference, toward getting into actual working practice the warehousing principles ]; contained in the resolutions referred to.
 Other subjects which the Man i: chester conference will take up. in {; continuation of the work begun at New Orleans. will be the matter of !; buying and selling cotton On a net |; weight basis, the adoption of uniform classifications and contracts for trad i; ing in cotton on the exchanges, and the establishment of an international ]; bureau for the collection and distribu- !: ticn of statistics covering all branches of the cotton industry. Discussions 1: at New Orleans made it clear that i; these are subjects on which large in- tcrests in the cotton trade feel that action is urgently needed.
 The lines of progress were definite ]. Jy laid at New Orleans. The general secretary and the committees of the ! SennfereY,ee hone fo .~rcrulieh .or |