PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL CONVENTION. 7 



the National Government could afford to keep hands off and not render 

 help in this crisis? Some of us who are old enough remember the effect 

 on the National Treasury when the exportation of cotton was prohibited 

 by blackade. 



"From 1881 to 1900 the cotton growers suffered with low prices. It 

 was during this time that cotton .reached the phenomenally low price of 

 4 and 5 cents ; yet, during that time, the export value of cotton amounted 

 to $1,750,000,000 more than the combined export value of corn, wheat and 

 flour. 



"Why has the consumption of cotton increased? In 1881 the cotton 

 crop of the United States amounted to a fraction over 6,000,000 bales. In 

 1902 the cotton crop amounted to 11,000,000 bales and yet there was no 

 surplus. With the vast territory now being opened to trade, the 600,000,- 

 ooo inhabitants of China and the territory of the Philippine Islands and 

 Asia, can it be supposed for a moment that the consumption will not be 

 further and vastly increased? 



"Sometimes we hear of men saying that it will be a blessing in dis- 

 guise; that we cotton planters ought to learn to plant lettuce, cabbage, 

 onions, etc., in order to make a profit. Now, every cotton planter here 

 present knows how absolutely foolish this is. Others say that it will 

 prove a blessing in disguise, because we can get 50 cents a pound for 

 cotton. But they forget that the balance of the world is making heroic 

 efforts to grow this very staple in other portions of the world. 



"My friends, I will not keep you longer. The object I had in view was 

 to impress upon you the immense importance of getting both the State 

 and the nation to take decisive action. The National Government can do 

 nothing until the State acts. It, therefore, rests with you, gentlemen of 

 the Convention, as to whether you want anything done or not." 



The Chairman then introduced 



PROF. J. H. CONNELL, 



Secretary of the Texas Boll Weevil Convention, at Dallas, who spoke as 

 follows: In point. 



"I extend to this Convention the good wishes and godspeed of a neigh- 

 boring State. We know the seriousness of the problem that you have 

 met to consider. The burned child dreads the fire. We have been in 

 close contact with the problem that now threatens you, and the result we 

 have seen may be of interest and importance to the agricultural and cot- 

 ton interests of Louisiana. Whatever we have learned is freely at the 

 disposal of the Louisiana business interests. 



"A few years ago the farmers of the southern part of Texas found a 

 little insect that preyed upon cotton. There were all kinds of conjec- 

 tures about this insignificant insect, some absurd, all far astray. At that 

 time nothing was known about the insect, exactly upon what it feeds, 

 how it multiplies and spreads abroad. When, therefore, the Texas 



