Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-28
Head of Biggest Cotton Ex-
porting Concern in United
States Gives Views TO The
Journals Correspondent
BY RALPH SMITH

HOUSTON, Tex, March 25.-
The opinion of bankers concern
ing the cooperative marketing
of cotton does not differ material
ly from the views entertained by
the big exporters, otherwise and
properly known as the spot men.
Bankers generally, and more es-
pecially those familiar with the
details of its operation, favor
most heartily the cooperative
movement in Texas and Okla
homa, as they themselves have
indicated in voluntary express
sions and interviews heretofore
published in The Journal.
In Oklahoma City and Dallas
it was asserted by officers of the
Cotton Growers association that
the big exporters were among
the strong advocates of the plan.
In each of these cities, and in
other cities visited, it would
have been possible to get the
secondhand views OF cotton eX-
pOrterS, since in each of these
interior points all of the big
spot houses maintain branch Of
fees. But / felt that the first
hand statement of the biggest
man in the business would be
preferable, and that idea brought
me to Houston, for an inter
view with w. l.. Clayton.
Mr.. Clayton is the active head
Of the greatest cotton-eXpOrting
concern in the United States,
which is to say he is the big
gest individual identified with
the spot cotton business. The
Anderson-ClaytOn company, of
Houston, handles more actual
cotton than any other one con-
Germ in the world. Mr.. Clayton
is the head of the house, and is
so recognized throughout the
cotton belt and in the great in
dustrial centers Where cotton is
spun.
The Clayton COM
pany maintains branch offices
all over the south, and in the .
milling centers. 1t has repre-
sentatives, cotton buyers, in At
lanta, in Athens, in Savannah,
in Augusta and in other con-
centration points in Georgia,
and in a season buys for resale
to the spinners thousands of
bales of Georgia grown cotton.
Mr.. Clayton thinks we'll of the
cotton cooperative associations
in Oklahoma and Texas. He has
had, as he says, considerable"
dealings with both associations,
anu his impression CT the plan
of operation and the personnel
of the officers is distinctly ia
yorable.
"Our dealings with the Texas
and Oklahoma associations have.
been entirely satisfactory from
every standpoint" said Mr..
Clayton.
1--WE have bought considerable
cotton from them and we have
found that it has been accurate
ly. classed and stapled. SO far
as [ have been able to judge, the
affairs of both bureaus have
been conducted in a very bust
ness-like manner and the ham
ding of their cotton has been
managed by thoroughly practi-
cal cotton men in their Organi-
zatiOn.
1.-THE present cooperative
movement in Oklahoma and
Texas has been conceived and
is being administered by men
of a much higher type OF in
telligence and sense of RESPONSE
bility than any similar move
ment in the past, and it is be-
lieved that the activities of the
organization will be kept out of
politics.
Under No Illusions
cit is also believed that the
leaders of the movement are
under no illusions concerning
the fixing or control of prices,
but that what they have in mind
is the gradual orderly market
ing of cotton, and the elimina-
ton of waste in the initial
stages of the distributiVe proc
esses."
IT is nertinent TO remark in