Senator GORE. I was anxious to know what prices had advanced. Mr. HULET. The prices that have been the best in connection with milk products have been on cheese.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much for your interesting

statement.

(Witness excused.)

STATEMENT OF U. B. BLALOCK, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN COTTON COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION OF NEW ORLEANS, AND VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COTTON GROWERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION OF RALEIGH, N. C.

The CHAIRMAN. Whom do you represent, Mr. Blalock?

Mr. BLALOCK. The American Cotton Cooperative Association.
The CHAIRMAN. Where is its head office located?

Mr. BLALOCK. New Orleans.

The CHAIRMAN. Are you the president of that association?
Mr. BLALOCK. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. How long have you been president of it?

Mr. BLALOCK. About a year.

The CHAIRMAN. What is this organization, and what does it do? Mr. BLALOCK. The American Cotton Cooperative Association is a central organiaztion of all of the cotton States cooperative organizations.

The CHAIRMAN. You represent the cooperative growers?

Mr. BLALOCK. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you represent the dealers in any capacity?

Mr. BLALOCK. No, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. How many growers are included in this organization?

Mr. BLALOCK. About 185,000.

The CHAIRMAN. Are you a grower of cotton yourself?

Mr. BLALOCK. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Where is your plantation located?

Mr. BLALOCK. In the lower part of North Carolina and in the upper part of South Carolina.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you do anything besides grow cotton?

Mr. BLALOCK. Not now, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you receive a salary from the position you occupy?

Mr. BLALOCK. I do from the North Carolina Cotton Growers Association, as its vice president and general manager, but nothing from the American Cotton Cooperative Association.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you received any assistance from the Federal Farm Board and the Cotton Stabilization Corporation?

Mr. BLALOCK. The American Cotton Cooperative Association gets help

The CHAIRMAN. No; I am speaking of yourself. Is any salary paid by the Farm Board?

Mr. BLALOCK. No; no salary from the American Cotton Cooperative Association.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you a statement that you would like to make?

Mr. BLALOCK. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Is it in writing?

Mr. BLALOCK. I have part of it in writing.

The CHAIRMAN. Proceed.

Mr. BLALOCK. I have a written statement that I would like to file, and I will briefly comment on just a few things in it.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN COTTON COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

U. B. Blalock, president.

E. F. Creekmore, vice president and general manager.

J. R. Bacharach, assistant to the vice president.

C. O. Moser, vice president and secretary.

H. G. Safford, vice president.

D. G. Hill, jr., comptroller.

P. L. Sarrat, assistant treasurer.

Rae Epstein, assistant secretary.

J. A. Beaty, C. G. Henry, J. E. Conwell, N. C. Williamson, R. E. Kennington, U. B. Blalock, A. E. Kobs, R. O. McCutcheon, W. R. Squires, R. J. Murray, C. C. Selden, members.

GENERAL MANAGERS

Mr. J. A. Beaty, general manager Alabama Farm Bureau Cotton Association, Montgomery, Ala.

Mr. C. G. Henry, general manager Mid-South Cotton Growers Association, Memphis, Tenn.

Mr. J. E. Conwell, president Georgia Cotton Growers Cooperative Association, Atlanta, Ga.

Mr. N. C. Williamson, president Louisiana Cotton Cooperative Association, Lake Providence, La.

Mr. W. H. Jackson, president Mississippi Cooperative Cotton Association, Jackson, Miss.

Mr. U. B. Blalock, general manager North Carolina Cotton Growers Cooperative Association, Raleigh, N. C.

Mr. A. E. Kobs, general manager Oklahoma Cotton Growers Association, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mr. J. S. Hathcock, general manager South Carolina Cotton Cooperative Association, Columbia, S. C.

Mr. W. R. Squires, general manager Southwestern Irrigated Cotton Growers Association, El Paso, Tex.

Mr. R. J. Murray, general manager Texas Cotton Cooperative Association, Dallas, Tex.

Mr. C. C. Selden, general manager California Cotton Cooperative Association, Bakersfield, Calif.

PRESIDENTS, GENERAL MANAGERS, AND DIRECTORS OF STATE ASSOCIATIONS

ALABAMA

Mr. J. L. Edwards, Tyler, president; Mr. J. A. Beaty, Montgomery, general manager; Mr. Willie Shelton, Moulton; Mr. A. R. Knight, Repton; Mr. J. M. Bedingfield, Rogersville; Dr. W. C. Braswell, Elba; Mr. J. S. Hyatt, Cullman ; Mr. E. W. Berry, Camden; Mr. B. H. Lightfoot, Troy; Mr. J. T. Gresham, Prattville; Mr. G. O. Winters, Lafayette; Mr. W. G. Peebles, Mooresville; Mr. S. A. Burns, Montgomery; Mr. W. L. Rasberry, Fayette; Mr. A. N. Grubbs, Eutaw; Mr. E. L. Deal, Montgomery.

CALIFORNIA

Mr. L. W. Symmes, Wasco, president; Mr. C. C. Selden, Bakersfield, general manager; Mr. M. D. Baihly, Corcoran; Mr. Wylie M. Giffin, Fresno; Mr. J. W. Guiberson, Corcoran; Mr. George B. Crome, Bakersfield; Mr. H. E. Woodworth, Bakersfield; Mr. Frank A. Cooper, Tipton; Mr. J. M. Hansen, Corcoran; Mr. L. W. Frick, Bakersfield; Mr. J. E. Regan, McFarland; Mr. H. V. Eastman, Chowchilla.

GEORGIA

Mr. J. E. Conwell, president and general manager; Mr. H. A. Petty, Dawson; Mr. Lawrence Moss, Calhoun; Mr. W. F. Byrd, Dallas; Mr. B. L. Redwine, Madras; Mr. J. M. Council, Americus; Dr. G. E. Youmans, Adrian; Mr. Fred W. Hodges, Oliver; Mr. J. T. Avret, Farmdale; Mr. E. T. Barnes, Dublin.

LOUISIANA

Mr. N. C. Williamson, president, Lake Providence; Mr. N. W. Sentell, Plain Dealing; Mr. W. F. Skinner, Many; Mr. James K. Gladney, Mangham; Mr. D. Y. Smith, Sterlington; Mr. W. P. Connell, Baton Rouge; Mr. Travis Oliver, Monroe; Mr. W. S. Peck, Sicily Island; Mr. G. W. Dye, Ruston; Mr. F. L. Guthrie, New Orleans; Mr. Tom F. Terral, Farmerville; Mr. Frank Dimmick, Shuteston; Mr. C. V. Palmer, Summerfield; Dr. J. B. Pratt, Natchitoches; Mr. L. P. Roy, Marksville; Mr. Odon Guidry, Carencro; Mr. L. B. Bankston, Mount Hermon.

MISSISSIPPI

Mr. W. H. Jackson, Jackson, president and general manager; Mr. R. E. Kennington, Jackson; Mr. W. M. Bell, Columbus; Mr. D. V. Billingsley, Winona; Mr. S. V. Jones, Mendenhall; Mr. L. M. Gaddis, Jackson; Mr. M. R. Smith, Fayette; Mr. J. M. Aldrich, Michigan City; Mr. Will Terry, Jackson; Mr. F. D. Nelson, Jackson; Mr. S. W. Pierce, Collins; Mr. W. C. Mims, New Albany.

NORTH CAROLINA

Mr. John T. Thorne, Farmville, president; Mr. L. O. Moseley, Kinston; Mr. B. C. Mayo, Tarboro; Mr. J. A. Turlington, Salemburg; Mr. W. Henry Liles, Wadesboro; Dr. G. M. Pate, Rowland; Mr. Edward Purdie, Dunn; Mr. W. W. Morris, Concord; Mr. U. B. Blalock, secretary-treasurer and general manager; Mr. A. E. McEachern, Laurinburg; Mr. Z. C. Mauney, Shelby; Mr. E. G. Griffin, Woodland; Mr. R. L. Shuford, Newton; Dr. B. W. Kilgore, Raleigh; Mr. J. W. Stephenson, Smithfield.

OKLAHOMA

Mr. John A. Willard, Anadarko, president; Mr. A. E. Kobs, Oklahoma City, general manager; Dr. H. G. Bennett, Stillwater; Mr. P. W. Walker, Blair; Mr. J. G. H. Windle, Granite; Mr. Alex Foreman, Sallisaw; Mr. George W. Moncrief, Canadian; Mr. James L. Flow, Hobart; Mr. C. D. Haskins, Mountain View; Mr. W. L. Hutcheson, Frederick; Mr. A. F. Duke, Marlow; Mr. Walter Colbert, Ardmore.

MIDSOUTH

Mr. H. H. Naff, Portland, president; Mr. C. G. Henry, Memphis, Tenn., general manager; Mr. C. E. Yancet, Marianna, Ark.; Mr. Leigh Kelly, Fort Smith, Ark.; Mr. A. B. Nimocks, Forrest City, Ark.; Mr. J. M. Countiss, Elaine, Ark.; Dean Dan T. Gray, Fayetteville, Ark.; Mr. T. Roy Reid, Little Rock, Ark.; Mr. C. T. Taylor, Magnolia, Ark.; Mr. Conoway Scott, Scott, Ark.; Mr. C. G. Smith, Blytheville, Ark.; Mr. C. B. Gregg, Jonesboro, Ark.; Mr. Jack T. Bratton, Dyersburg, Tenn.; Mr. J. O. Bomer, Brownsville, Tenn.; Mr. J. D. Mosby, Somerville, Tenn.; Mr. Charles Key, Jackson, Tenn.; Mr. J. A. Dedman, Rutherford, Tenn.; Mr. C. E. Brehm, Knoxville, Tenn.; Mr. R. R. Thomason, Columbia, Mo.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Mr. R. B. Caldwell, Chester, president; Mr. J. S. Hathcock, Columbia, general manager; Mr. J. Frank Williams, Sumter; Mr. J. W. Gaston, Duncan; Mr. J. Wade Drake, Anderson; Mr. A. Victor Bethea, Dillon; Mr. D. W. Wakins, Clemson College; Mr. W. M. Agnew, Donalds; Mr. C. W. Stone, Clinton; Mr. R. O. McCutchen, Bishopville; Mr. J. B. Guess, jr., Denmark; Mr. C. H. Carpenter, Greenville.

SOUTHWESTERN

Mr. Idus T. Gillett, El Paso, president; Mr. W. R. Squires, El Paso, general manager; Mr. Gowan Jones, El Paso; Mr. Roy H. Davidson, Clint; Mr. W. T.

Young, Acala; Mr. Wade H. Miller, Fort Hancock; Mr. T. D. Porcher, El Paso; Mr. Lee Harlan, La Mesa, N. Mex.; Mr. F. M. Hayner, Las Cruces, N. Mex.; Mr. F. D. Bowman, Berino, N. Mex.

TEXAS

Mr. James A. Smith, Paris, president and general manager; Mr. Jeff Bolton, Henderson; Mr. S. W. Yeury, Howe; Mr. W. B. Melton, Appleby; Mr. E. R. Davis, Lubbock; Mr. Lynn Stokes, Dallas; Mr. John T. Orr, Dallas; Mr. C. A. Barron, Lamesa; Mr. Shirley Gregg, Manor; Mr. W. H. Rosamond, Driscoll; Mr. Fritz Engelhard, Eagle Lake; Mr. M. S. Hudson, Hale Center; Mr. Richard Wischkaemper, Shamrock; Mr. Ed. Brewster, jr., Temple; Mr. W. W. Boyce, Runge; Mr. R. J. Murray, Dallas, general manager; Mr. J. Fain Moore, Cooledge; Mr. Roger E. Edmondson, Waxahachie; Mr. T. E. Alvis, Roby; Mr. B. Waters, Rule; Mr. J. E. Montgomery, Tynan.

There are four groups in the South that are vitally concerned in the American cotton industry. First, the producers themselves, whose principal cash income is derived from the production of cotton; second, the cotton manufacturers, who are dependent upon the producers for their supply of raw material and also dependent upon them as one of the chief consumers of their manufactured products. The third group are the bankers of the South, who chiefly finance the production of the crop and who recognize the cotton crop of the South as our chief source of increased wealth. The fourth group are the cotton shippers of the South, who make their livelihood and whatever fortunes they may accumulate out of handling the cotton of the producers.

Regardless of statements to the contrary, of the cotton shippers, I want to say that after 10 years of experience in cooperative marketing it is my opinion that the cotton shippers love us cooperatives just like a Jap loves a Chinaman.

The passing of the agricultural marketing act and the creation of the Federal Farm Board was primarily for the benefit of the producers of farm products. It was not the legislation that the farm organizations, including our own, fought so strenuously for, but it was what was given to us as an honest effort to help "place agriculture on a basis of economic equality with other industries."

Regardless of whatever mistakes the Federal Farm Board may have made in the administration of this act, we believe they have accomplished far more good than they have done harm. It is our opinion that the agricultural marketing act has not had a fair tryout as to its effectiveness during these two years of operations in this general world-wide depression. We do not regard their stabilization projects as an unmixed evil and, if time permitted, we would be glad to express our views in regard to this. We shall not consider that the Federal Farm Board has sustained any loss in their stabilization projects in cotton until the cotton is finally disposed of and a loss is positively established. Our 35 or 40 years' experience in the growing and marketing of cotton forces us to assume this position.

In 1926, 18,000,000 bales of cotton were produced and sold at 10 or 12 cents a pound, and in the spring of that year that same cotton, before a new crop was made, advanced over 20 cents per pound. The world-wide conditions to-day are not similar, of course, but there is the hope of a big reaction in cotton before another crop is produced.

The agricultural marketing act and the Federal Farm Board should be continued and supported by Congress. If the agricultural marketing act is to be amended, it should be amended by its friends and not by its enemies.

Next, may we present to you our interpretation of the attitude of the cotton manufacturers. Possibly this can best be done by introducing here a copy of a resolution passed by the American Cotton Manufacturers' Association at their annual convention in Atlanta some years ago before any farm legislation had been passed by Congress.

RESOLUTIONS, THIRTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION, AMERICAN COTTON MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION, ATLANTA, GA., MAY 19, 1926

Whereas the Congress of the United States now has under consideration various measures designed to rehabilitate and stabilize on a prosperous basis the agricultural industry of the country; and

Whereas agriculture constitutes the Nation's basic industry, whose wellbeing has a vital influence on all other industries, including textiles; and

Whereas approximately one-half of the products of Southern cotton fabrics are ultimately consumed by farmers and their dependents, thus strikingly demonstrating the interrelation and dependence of the prosperity of the one on the other: Therefore be it

Resolved, That this association, in convention assembled, this the 19th day of May, expresses its heavy approval of constructive farm relief measures and recommends suitable legislation by Congress to that end; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the members of the Committees of Agriculture in both House and Senate.

To-day the American farmer, the best customer of the American cotton manufacturer, is dead broke and unable to buy the necessary shirt and overalls to cover his nakedness. The friendly interest of the cotton manufacturers towards the Federal Farm Board and the agricultural marketing act may also be better determined from the fact that Hon. James C. Stone, chairman of the Federal Farm Board, and Hon. Carl Williams, cotton member of the farm board, were their honor guests at their annual convention held this year in Augusta, Ga., April 24 and 25, and that they were both asked to address the convention on subjects pertaining to the activities of the Federal Farm Board.

May we introduce here also for your record, copy of an editorial from the Southern Textile Bulletin, published by Mr. David Clark, of Charlotte, N. C., located in the heart of the cotton manufacturing industry of the South. This editorial was published immediately after Mr. Stone and Mr. Williams addressed the Cotton Manufacturers' Association.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you wish to insert that in the record?
Mr. BLALOCK. If you please, sir.

(The editorial referred to and submitted by the witness is as follows:)

EDITORIAL IN SOUTHERN TEXTILE BULLETIN

Federal Farm Board versus Cotton Speculators

Many millmen have been influenced by statements of cotton speculators to look with disfavor upon the Federal Farm Board and its activities, but when they listened to the clearcut and apparently sincere statements of Chairman James C. Stone and Member Carl Williams, at Augusta last Friday, many of them began to wonder if they had not been victims of propaganda.