82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL CONVENTION. 



special fund, here withdrew his motion. And the section was unanimously 

 adopted. 



Section four was next read. 



Mr. Polk, of Rapides. I offer, as an amendment to that section, that 

 we advocate an appropriation of $100,000.00 instead of $25,000.00. Now, 

 gentlemen, there is no necessity, and no great fight, industrial or other- 

 wise, that has been won by economy of this kind. If you desire to protect 

 the interests of this State, there should be no sacrifices in this line. We 

 have one of the most competent men at the head of this administration, 

 and we have a Legislature that believes in these ideas, and would give 

 you a sufficient fund,, in order to fight the encroachment of the boll 

 weevil. We do not desire to undertake this fight in a spirit of economy. 



We do not know the personality of the incoming Legislature, but we do 

 know this body, of which I have the pleasure to be a member, and 

 therefore, gentlemen, I say give this Commission enough money to place 

 entomologists along the entire line, if necessary, and make a good fight at 

 any cost. We hear that the State of Texas is held in derision, because it 

 simply appropriated the pitiful sum of forty thousand dollars. Therefore, 

 as we have come, here, representing a great interest, the taxpayers that 

 contribute more to sustain our government than any other class of citi- 

 zens, then give them a liberal appropriation and all they demand. That 

 Legislature, in all probability, if you were to ask for twenty-five thousand 

 dollars, would give you twelve. Ask them for a hundred thousand dol- 

 lars, or as much thereof as may be necessary. If we are going to make a 

 fight, put up the money. That is the way to win it. I offer that as an 

 amendment. 



Mr. Bolton. I dislike very much to disagree with my good friend, but I 

 am forced to take the defense of the Committee, being a member of it. 

 I believe we would make a serious mistake in going before the Legislature 

 to make such a demand, when it will appear that we have no use for it 

 and probably could not use it for six months to come. We were told that 

 there was a fund in the hands of the Commissioner of Agriculture of the 

 National Government, that we could use in a case of emergency. There- 

 fore, it is only necessary for the State to show her disposition to take 

 action and co-operate with the Secretary of Agriculture at Washington, 

 because there is where the assistance must come from. It is not what we 

 can do here that we must depend upon so much, as what the National 

 Government is going to do in this matter. Moreover, if you go before 

 the Legislature with such a demnd as that, my opinion is that you will 

 meet with a rather cold reception, because there are other interests in the 

 State that have to be taken care of, as well as yours. But it is only a 

 qustion of six months, when the fiscal year will end, and other appropria- 

 tions will have to be made. We can address the Legislature when this 

 work is undertaken, to carry it on. Moreover, T do not believe, and have 



