The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-21
EVIL TO COTTON MIN
WILL RESULT FROM SPECULATION,
SAYS SECRETARY WILSON.
PLANT IN OTHER COUNTRIES
IS NOW BEING DEVELOPED by
FOREIGN NATIONS.

They Wish to Become Independent
of an American Market Controlled
by SpecuIatOrs-Africa the Field
of Their EnOrts-Egypt Promises
to Become Dangerous Rival to
Observation-Disclosures There Likely
to BE Greatly Increased-Depart-
ment of Agriculture Trying to
Assist Southern Cotton Planters.
Washington, Aug. 20.-Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson in an interview to-
day. declared that infinite mischief is
being done to the cotton manufactur-
ing industry, and to the cotton grow
ing industry by the speculative move
ment in 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 exist
ing prices there is no profit to them.
The price of manufactured goods can
not be manipulated as can be the price
of raw cotton.
"The manufacturer found it more
profitable to sell his cotton to the gam
hlers. Mills were closed down because
of there being no raw material left,
and in some instances cotton, which
was sold to European manufacturers.
has been brought back to this country
and used in the gambling operations"
| Secretary Wilson, continuing, said
that most European nations which
manufacture cotton, and also own lands
in outlying provinces where cotton
might be grown. are anxious to become
independent of our spectators, and so
are organizing and holding out induce
ments for the development of the cot
ton raising industry. The British, the
French, the Germans, the Belgians and
others own lands in Africa, and they
have been for some time organizing to
produce cotton.
| Get Best of Help.
They know said Secretary Wilson,
that we are training scientists here
to study the cotton plant, and they
have been anxious to get our high
class men over there to organize for
them. The United States sent $s,OOO,-
900 to Egypt last year to pay for long
staple Egyptian cotton. The Depart
ment of Agriculture is trying to grow
as good staple at home, by hybridlz-
ing and creating new varieties
THE Secretary of Agriculture for
Egypt paid me a visit not long ago
and said that with the irrigation of
enlarged areas along the Nile valley
| growing out Of the completion Of the
great dam, the production Of Egypt
| would be greatly increased.
| They pay fifteen cents a day for
labor there. There is a breed of cattle
| which does all the work and stands
the heat better than mules. Those
| European nations owning territory in
Africa have been coming to our South
ern states and engaging expert negro
labor to go over there and organize
the natives.
Trying to Increase Output.
Twelve cent cotton in the United
| States is a great encouragement to all
| those people to increase their output.
| The nations in Asia are doing every
thing to increase the cotton produc-
| ton to become Independent of lis.
/ There has heen a feeling for some time
/ that 1t 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 grow
ers of the Southern states to a better
| system OF agriculture through which
larger yield of cotton can be had,
/ but that increased output necessarily
would come slowly. The United States
! had not been increasing it's output for
several years. the Texas crop having
| suffered considerably last year on ac-
count Of the ravages of the cotton boil
weevil.
Mr.. Wilson said the prospect OF the
present crop had nothing whatever TO
do with the operations of the specula-
\ tors. The shortage of raw cotton to
the manufactures, he declared. is not
due to the shortage in crop, but to the
| fact that the corner in cotton has put
! the price OF the raw material to a
point where the manufacturer cannot
| profitably use il.
The producer has not profited by these
high prices. as the cotton practically
is all out OF his hands. In conclusion
! Secretary Wilson said he saw no pros
pect of relief for the workingmen who
are thrown out of employment by the
mills closing down because of the scare
! ity OF raw cotton until the corner in
cotton bursts and the price Of the raw
material is reduced. The new crop of
cotton WIFI 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"