The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-16
The SEA ISLAND MovpmDNr
me Organization of Planters for PRO.
lection Agatnsr- T,onor...t,,-

me Organization of Planters for PRO-
lection Against Importations.
Inc cotton men Of the city are noting
win some interest the movements Of tbs
sea Island cotton planters Of South Caro-
ma 10 che interest Of protection for their
staple against the Egyptian importa,lon,.
IL Is certainly departure when cation nro-
uucers seek protection, and the outcone of
tne enort Will be watched with a great deal
Inc planters Of james Island, which pro-
Juices more largely Of sea island than anv
lsla ll on the carolina coast, have formed a
strong organization to seek the prutactio1
OF the general government for their mod
ucs and to advance their interests In other
ways. At the meeting Of the Sea Island
Sleson Protective Union on James Island
passed:
O. hEREAs. The last congress OF the United
states, by the passage OF the tariff hill las
euostel as the policy of this government the
protecuon or the industries OF this country
against foreign competition; aud, whereas. the
sea island cotton industry is in a most depressed
cohoitlon resu ting largely from the irnporta-
s,oa lnso eais country OF Egyptian and other
varieties or long staple cotton free Of duty;
therefore tee undersigned producers III sea
island cotton In South Carolina. Irrespective Of
ponticai party affiliations. but disclaiming any
pontical slgnincance which may be presumed
from Their action in this matter respectfully
petition the congress OF the United States u
impose such duty upon all varieties OF long
staple cotton imported In this country as will
extend 70 them the same MEASURE OF protection
against Ioreig1 competition as is extended by
existing laws 30 the growers OF tobacco and
other Similar agricultural products.
The union proposes to extend its orera>
eons into Georgia and Florida, and to in
clude all the growers of sea island cotton.
They are in earnest In their effort to Sc
cure protection.
One of the largest handlers of sea island
cotton In Savannah, and who has been In
the business for number of years, was
asked his opinion Of the movement yester-
day, and what effect he thought protective
duty would have upon the sea island cotton
industry. He replied that he
Thought the movement very proper one.
There are about 20 900 bales Of Egyptian
long staple cotton imported into this coun-
try annually, he said, chiefly by the thread
manufacturers.
This cotton is mixed with the finer grades
OF the sea islands in the manufacture of
thread. IL takes the place OF Just that many
Thousand bales Of the lower grade OF the
sea Islands, and simply shuts the planter out
OF market for that many thousand
bales. The Egyptian cotton is said to have
a coarser and stronger fiber than the
American long staple Of the same grade.
The planters, however, believe that the
manufacturers use it simply because they
can obtain it more cheaply,
A duty Of 2 cents or any number of cents
per pound, the factor said, upon all Egyp-
tlau long staple imported into this country
would mean an increase to the amount OF
duty upon oil medium fine and lesser grades
of sea islands.