PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL CONVENTION. 23 



2nd. Letter to Prof W. C. Stubbs, as follows : 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 

 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 

 WASHINGTON, D. C, November 19, 1903 



DR. W. C. STUBBS, 



Louisiana Experiment Station, Audubon Park, New Orleans, La. 

 Dear Friend: 



I have your favor of the isth, asking me to attend the Governor of 

 Louisiana's called meeting of farmers and planters, to discuss the boll 

 weevil problem, in New Orleans on November 30. Upon my return to 

 Washington, J asked the Texas delegation to come to my office and discuss 

 the situation regarding this insect. They did so, and have been here re- 

 peatedly. We are beginning to see alike ; that is, to conclude with regard 

 to some things that may be done. I am preparing a statement of the 

 situation for insertion in my annual report, and shall urge upon Congress 

 to do its part in the matter. I regret that I shall not be able to go to New 

 Orleans and attend your convention on the 30th, because I am booked for 

 a trip among the sugar-beet men of Michigan at that very time. But you 

 can depend upon this Department's doing everything in its power to help 

 you meet this emergency. 



Very truly yours, 



JAMES WILSON, Secretary. 



Mr. Phanor Brazeale, of Natchitoches, La., Congressman from the 

 Fourth District of Louisiana, spoke as follows: 



Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention. The interest in this 

 subject of course is well known to all. And more especially, perhaps, is 

 my district interested than any other portion of Louisiana, on account of 

 its proximity to the invaded District of Texas. 



The aspect of the question that I am called upon to discuss is one I 

 have given some thought and some attention to, in conjunction with the 

 other members of the Louisiana delegation. The question is one de- 

 cidedly of national importance. It is a national question. 



Of course the State is interested directly in the matter, but only to a 

 limited extent, when viewed from the national aspect. There is not a 

 man, I venture to say, in this audience, than can sit down, and in an hour's 

 time conceive all the immense importance of the great industry which is 

 threatened with an attack by this great danger; starting from 'the raw 

 material, the cotton itself, and following it out in its various manufac- 

 tured characteristics, and in the cotton seed, and its various by-products, 

 and foot up the total product in his mind, and the number of people 

 directly interested in the production of cotton. Hence it has a nationaF 

 aspect. The nation is directly interested in preserving and in developing 



