The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-21
National Cotton Conference in
 Atlanta Attended by Dr.. Miller Reese Hutchison and Other Prominent Americans to Study Pest Destruction
ACTIVE INTEREST TAKEN
 BY PRESIDENT HARDING
Southern States Governors Compose Committee to De-
 veIop Interstate Boil Weevil War Treaty Among Them. Many States Represented


 ATLANTA, Ga, Feb. 20.-(By Associated Press. )-The barley of leaders of the forces which will wage 8 national warfare upon the cotton boil weevil resulted in irn- portant action at the opening ses- sion here today of the national cotton conference.
 Outstanding developments were the appointment of committee composed of all the governors of cotton growing states to develop an interstate boil weevil war treaty" among the cotton states as suggested by President Harding to insure co-ordinated action, and the announcement of contribution of $75,o00 by members of the New York cotton exchange to the fund gwsth which the fight upon the iil- sect pest will be conducted.
 Delegates were present from 20 states, from Texas to Massa- chusetts,, when Dr. Miller Reese Hutchinson of New York called the conference to order early today. The gathering was unique in that it was the first time in history that representatives of the traditionally antagonistic interests in the cotton industry-"dirt farmers" manu- lecturers, cotton brokers and deal CTS, as well as men of science and public leaders had come together in common cause.
 First Large Donation.
 Announcement of the first large donation to the fund of s2.5O0. .0OO which will be raised for the weeyi] warfare was made by George M Shut, president of the Now York Cotton exchange. Declaring that the cotton exchange was as greatly in- terested in the destruction of the boil weevil menace as the cotton growers and that the exchange desired the friendship of the south, MT. Shut an nounced that the members had volun- tarily contributed s75,000 to the war fund and expected to add to thi. amount in the future. Gov. Thomas W. Hardwick of Georgia accepted the chairmanshfp of the committee ot southern growers who will seek tc work out a way of perfectinE the interstate treaty" proposed by Pres. ident Harding.
 Among today's speakers included J s. Wannamaker of St. Marys, S. c. president of the American Cotton as. sociation; S. J. Cassel of Montgomery vice president of the Interstate Cot ton Seed Crushers association, and R. J. H. DeLoach, director of tho Ar. mour agricultural research bureau O, Chicago.
 Among speakers will be Hudsor Maxim, noted inventor; pr. W. D Hunter of the United States depart. ment of agriculture, and c. E. Hutch ison. president of the American Cot ton Manufacturers association.
 Trade Balance Threatened.
 The balance of trade in favor o, the United States in its exports tc
 
 ravages of the boil weevil. forme, Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia de clared in his address to the confer. ence at tonight's session. MT. Smitf urged that the full strength of the nation be thrown into the fight te eradicate the boil weevil.
 Declaring that exports of cotton te England and other countries ha. gIven America It's favorable balance of trade during the last 40 years, ant that periods when this export hat been interrupted during wars hat been periods of international suffer, ing, MT. Smith said that the fighi now launched upon the boil weevi demanded the support of the entire nation..
 Poison gases which have been de. veloped for the destruction of hu manity will be utilized for the goot of civilization in warfare upon the boil weeyil if there is any possible way for science to perfect an inseci gas barrage, according to D. B. Brad ner. chief chemist of United State. chemical warfare service, was an other speaker at tonight's session. Array of Poison Experts.
 "The government has perfected z great number of new poison gase: since the war" Mir. Bradner said. "ant the Edgewood arsenal Tn Maryland not only has the plant for manufac. turing these gases. but has assem. bled group of scientiSts who prob ably know more about poisons ant their uses than any group in th'
 tContinued on Page Two.)