Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-07
Expresses Bitter Opposition to an
Expansion Policy.
ACTION TAKEN BY COTTON SPlNNERS
President of the Association AS
sailed.
THE SENATOR'S LETTER

The anu-expansionists in Congress are
not at all pleased with the course of the
Cotton Spinners' Association In adopting
resolutions OF a very decidedly expansion
ist character. The fact that u meeting of
this association held at Charlotte, N. c.,
at which over sixty cotton mills were rep
resented, had adopted resolutions favoring
expansion on the broadest lines was
brought to President McKinley's attention
week or two ago. On the assembling of
Congress the resolutions adopted by this
association were sent to all the members
of the Senate and the House Of Represen-
tatives. These resolutions favor the "open
door, policy in China. vigorous prosecu-
ton OF the Philippine war; a construction
OF the isthmian canal, the laying of a cable
across the Pacific, the cooperation of this
country with Great Britain and Japan in
the eastern policy, the development Of the
merchant marine and a large increase of
the navy.
Assailed by Senator Pettigrew.
Such a demand coming from democratic
stronghold of the south is very irritating
to the anti-eXpansionists and has called
forth some sharp and resentful 1ejoinders
from the anti-expansionists in Congress to
whom the resolutions were sent. Senator
Petugrew, who Is one of the most bitter
opponents of the policy of expansion, has
written letter to the president of the
southern Cotton Spinners' Association, in
which he assais the framer of the resolu-
tions with ridicule and contempt. Copies
of his letter, which is likely to prove very
irritating. not only to the southern cotton
traders, but to all the southern business
interests which are favorable to expansion,
have been procured and viii probably be
made use of for campaign purposes.
He says in this letter, which is addressed
to ]. H. McAden, NJ. D.:
Il have received copy Of the resolutions
signed by the cotton yarn spinnerS of
your association, in which they ask the
United states to branch out into an almost
iimit1ess series of expenditures, prompted,
l presume. by the hope that they may
thereby sell more cotton yarn.
Mr.. PettiErew Cannot Understand It.
For my part, cannot understand why
the representatives of the people of the
United States should expend hundreds of
millions of dollars in the development of
questionable policy Of Worldwide compli-
cations in order that the cotton spinners
of Charlotte and some other communities
may boom their especial business interests
through the sacrifices of a tax-ridden peo-
pie. =
What do the Charlotte cotton sp,nners
know about the preservation of the in
tegrity of the Chinese empire through the
suggested active interference of the Iegis-
Iative branch of the government of the
United States? l am inclined to the opinion
that they do. not comprehend the scope of
their request-that they have not matureIy
considered the vast consequences that
might naturally be expected to follow
why should the people of the United
states be taxed to construct an isthmus
canal, or to place thousands of miles Of
cable In the bottom of the Pacific, or to
prosecute with vigor war in a distant
country, simply that the mercenary hopes
or the cotton spinners in your locality may
be realized?
Cotton Yarn of China
OF course, you would want your yarn
when spun, introduced into the distant
countries mentioned in your resolutions
free OF duty, and therefore you cannot con-
sistently object If the yarn spun in COM
peting countries should be introduced into
the United States free of duty. You NAV
not realize the ma magnitude of oriental conn
petiuoE. A large modern cotton mill max
lhS yarn as good as you make at Charlotte
mot as good. perhaps, as the best you
inake). operated by Chinese laborers alone
is located at Hancow. China. This mill has
3f,&D spind.es and 100 looms in Operation
Ihe average wages paid all the men, engi-
neers, waavers, spinners and carders ia
81 20 month in our money, and they board
themselves. Not single person other than
native Chinese is employed In the mill
There are eight or ten such mills in Shang-
nal, and more are being built.
Il see you also resolve that Congress
should increase the navy. l suppose you
ask for this additional armament SO that
the government can afford protection to
your yarn while 1t is afioat. You want US
also to enact laws giving large bounties to
American ships to carry your yarn to a
distant people who earn only from to 10
cents day
Free Trade With China.
Your cotton-yarn representatives rec
ommend, If it be necessary cooperation
of our government with the governments
Of England and Japan, to preserve and
protect a common trade interest and treaty
rights for unrestricted commerce in China
and other eastern countries. OF course, IN
restricted commerce means free trade
Therefore it means the Introduction, with
out duty, of Chinese-made goods. But
what Is to be understood by the clause If
1t be necessary? Do you mean that our
government shall become a party to world
wide complications by forming an alliance
with England and Japan. If it Is found
necessary to do so in order to sell your
yarn? What sort of a paternal government
do the yarn spinners want, after all, that
they advocate such vast expenditures on
policy that would inevitably lead to dan
gerous and un-American foreign complica-
tions? In effect, do you not ask that the
government make war in order that your
special industry may flourish? That our
fleets of war vessels be enormously in
creased to guard your. special industry
while its wares are upon the sea?
On the whole, 1t seems to me that your
resolutions are rather remarkable as an
embodiment of comprehensive grasp of
great situation, and that all that is nee
essary to do in order to have your recon-
mendations entirely complied with is to
give to the people Of this country knowl-
edge of, and participation in, the vast
learning and sublime craftsmanship which
certainly must be possessed by the cotton
spinners of Charlotte. After that the peo-
pie of the United States would probably
insist upon your abandoning the cotton
spinning business and taking charge of the
government
Ratf0ns to Include Tobacco.
Mr.. Otey of Virginia has a warm spot in