The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-25

Washington, Aug. 20.-Secretary Will
son, of the agricultural department, in
an interview today declared that in
finite mischief is being done to the cot
ton manufacturing industry and to the
cotton growing industry by the spec
ulative movement il cotton.
The spectators have %cornered the
market said the secretary, land put
up the price so high that manufacture
ers cannot use raw cotton. At existing
prices there S no profit to them. The
price of manufactured goods cannot
be the price of raw cotton.
The manufacturer found it more
profitable to sell his cotton to the
gamblers. Mills were closed down be-
cause of there being no raw material
left, and in some instances cotton
which was sold to European 1nanufac-
turers has been brought back to this
country and used in the gambling op-
erationS.'
Secretary Wilson, continuing said
that most European nations which
manufacture cotton and also own and
in outlying provinces where cotton
might be grown are anxious to becoms
3i1NSpOIluOhl vi Jul opCSuldlolS, II
so are organizing and holding out in
ducements for the development of the
cotton raising industry. The British,
the French, the Germans. the Belgians
and others own lands ii Africa, and
they have been for some time organic
ing to produce cotton.
They know" said Secretary Wilson,,
that We are training scientists here
to study the cotton plant and they
have hppn 1nyi0nC tn oat n1,r hiOh class
men over there to organize for them.
The United States sent 49, 0O, 900 to
Egypt last Year to pay for long staple
Egyptian cotton. The department OF
agriculture is trying to grow as good
a staple at home by hybridizing n
creating new varieties. The secretary
of agriculture for Egypt paid me a
visit not long ago and sal that with
the irrigation of enlarged areas along
the Nile valley growing out of the
competition of the great dam, the pro-
duction of Egypt would be greatly in
creased. They pay fifteen cents a day
for labor there. There is a breed OF
cattle which does all the york and
stands the neat better than mules.
These European nations, owning terri
tory in Africa have been coming to
our southern states and engaging eS-
pert negro labor to go over there II
organize the natives.
Twelve cent cotton in the United
States is a great encouragement to
all those people to increase their out
put. The nations in Asia aIe doing
everything to increase the cotton pro
ductIon to become independent Of us.
There has been a feeling for som time
that it would be wiser for us to grow
more cotton, but gambling operations
this summer had the immediate effect
of stimulating efforts for increased
production"
The secretary said that every effort
is being made by the department OF
agriculture to help the cotton growers
of the southern states to a better Sys-
tenn of agriculture through which o
larger yield of cotton a be had, but
that increased output necessarily would
come slowly. The United States had
not been increasing it's output for sew
eral years, the Texas crop having
suffered considerably last yea on .
count Of the ravages Of the cotton boil
weevil. Mr.. Wilson said the prospect
of the present crop had nothing what
ever to do with the operations Of the
spectators. The shortage Of raw cot
ton to the manufacturer he declared,
is not due to shortage in the crop,
but to the fact that the corner II
cotton has put the price of the raw
material to a point where the manu-
facturer cannot prOnIaDly use II. Inc
producer has not profted by these high
prices as the cotton practically Is all
out of his hands. In conclusion Sece
rotary Wilson he saw no prospect Of
relief for the working men who are
thrown out of employment by the
mills closing don because Of the search
ty Of raw cotton until the corner III
cotton bursts n the price of the raw
material is reduced.
The new crop of cotton will soon
begin to come in.
of course" he said. the corner can
continue if the gamblers have enough
money to buy in the new crop"