5O PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL CONVENTION. 



duty and the imperative duty of the Government of the United States 

 to do all in our power to so safeguard and augment our crops of cotton 

 that we can promptly and profitably supply the wants of the universe. 



Barely a month ago at a great convention held in this city, representa- 

 tive men from the far West, from the East and from the Northern and 

 Central States pleaded earnestly and eloquently for liberal appropriations 

 from the National Government to properly protect our rich delta lands 

 from overflow and enable us to plant larger crops of cotton, and it was 

 my privilege and pleasure to read to that convention a letter from Presi- 

 dent Roosevelt expressing his cordial sympathy. 



I am sure I violate no confidence when I quote from my friend 

 Ransdell's personal letter: "I have just come from a very satisfactory 

 visit to the President, who has taken a keen interest in the suppression 

 of the boll weevil, and who will bring the matter before Congress urging 

 that means be taken to eradicate the pest." 



However strongly many of us differ politically with our Chief Execu- 

 tive, his sturdy manhood is unquestioned, and he says what he means and 

 does what he promises ; so with the aid of the Government, the asssistance 

 and experience of their entomologists, and co-operation of practical 

 planters and patriotic citizens, some method must and should be devised 

 to not only hold in check but completely eradicate the boll weevil. 



At the end of his paper, Mr. Parker made the following further observa- 

 tions, to-wit: 



Mr. Parker. Gentlemen, the subject given me for consideration is one 

 so large, so broad, that I feel that I could stand here and talk of it, no 

 doubt, all day. The failure of the cotton crop means more to the United 

 States than any one can very well imagine. Destroy our cotton crop, and 

 what will be the value of the stocks and bonds and securities of the rail- 

 roads that transport our cotton crop? There is not a single branch of 

 industry, throughout this whole country, that is not vitally benefitted by 

 our crops, but over and beyond that, we have a duty, an imperative duty 

 almost to the whole world, because we are the only people that can supply 

 it with the necessary output of cotton. There is not a single concern that 

 is not interested in this qeustion. The manufacturers of New England, 

 the mills of Pittsburgh, the farmers of the Middle West, the agricultural 

 progress of the Central States, the manufacturers of machinery, whether 

 of plows, harrows, or hoes ; all of them are so vitally interested, so clearly 

 interested in this matter, that my firm belief is that an earnest appeal to 

 the United States Government is bound to result in its ready and cordial 

 support; and, with its assistance, we will do away, for all time to come, 

 with the danger from the boll weevil. 



The President. The next number on the program is the "Banker's 

 Interest," by Hon. Samuel McC. Lawrason, of St. Francisville, La. In 

 the absence of Mr. Lawrason, we will pass that number, and we will take 



