Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-24
SEC'Y WILSON'S REPLY
What He Says Of Ex-senator
Buffers Criticism.
WILLING TO WAIT
UNTIL THE COMING COTTON CROP
Is SOLD. .s-s.
Then If Present Prices Continue Will
Call Butler a Benefactor; If They
Drop, It's Case Of Gamble.

Secretary Wilson Of the Department Of
Agriculture today gave to Star reporter
a statement in reply to the criticism OF ex-
Senator Butler of South Carolina, published
in the New York Sun this morning. SEN
ator Buffers remarks had reference to SEQ
retary Wilson's interview on the cotton cor
ner. printed last week in The Evening Star.
In his rejoinder today Secretary Wilson
said:
II have read ex-senator Buffers criti-
cism on my interview regarding the corner
in cotton. and its effects upon the country
generally and the cotton-growing and man.
ufacturing industries particularly.
Two Alternatives.
Il hope the business men Of whom he
speaks will see to it that these prices con-
tfnue until the cotton grower sells the COM
ing crop. If that should be done 1 will
make trip to South Carolina, find Gen.
Butler if he should be there. take off my
hat to him and say to him that I regard
him as great public benefactor who has
been able to see further ahead into the fu-
ture than we poor fellows of the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
But IT, on the other hand. 1t should oc-
cur that the price of cotton is dropped,
when the farmer gets ready to market his
new CROP down to cents. or Z. instead of
10 or Il. then. of course. shall still adhere
to my opinion that the manipulation Of the
whom spoke Is doing infinite mischief"
Mr.. Butler Surprised.
The criticism of ex-senator Butler pub
hshed in the New York Sun this morning
was in part. as follows:
THE gentlemen to whom he refers as
gamblers. Messrs. Brown and Hayne, are
not only among the most reputable busi-
ness men in the country, but are gentlemen
OF the highest character. One of them
MI Hayne, is from my own state, and
think he will stand fair comparison. as
will Mr.. Brown. from Mississippi, with
secretary Wilson or anybody in official or
business life. I must say was surprised
at what appeared to me to be a very reck-
less charge, one which was not justified by
the facts.
''The fact is that Messrs Brown and
Hayne have done more for the producers
Of cotton, the farmers. in a few months
than the Department of Agriculture has
done In ten years. I was somewhat sur
prised at Secretary Wilson. for he did not
appear to get into frenzy of Indignation
when certain other gentlemen In the west
were making corner on wheat and corn,
which enhanced the value Of these two
commodities. and from which the farmers
got the benefit.
The Operators and the Mills.
1.-THE Secretary seems to be particularly
concerned about the operators and the
cotton mills; that the cotton mills have
had to shut down and put out of employ
ment large number Of employees, and
that therefore it's a great wrong upon the
cotton mills Now, in regard to that,
Messrs. Brown and Hayne simply bought
cotton from the bears in the cotton market
and required them to deliver the cotton,
and, OF course, the price went .up
AS rule, the managers of the cotton
mills all over the country are bears and
sympathize with the bear operators. Very
naturally. their interest is to lower the
price Of the raw material, and they needed
the representations made by the bear oper-
ators exaggerated the last crop of cotton
and failed to provide themselves with the
raw material to keep their mills going.
That is all there Is In that
His Conclusion.
'Then what do you make out of Secretary
Wilson's statementsT'
well. summarized briefly, I should say
that they amounted to an unwarranted,
and. 1t seems to me. rather wanton char
acterization of reputable business men, do
ing business in a legitimate and honor
able way, as common gamblers That,
and g. number of bogeys, apparently the
emanation Of Secretary Wilson's rather
vast lack of information on what he was
talking about, seem to me about all his
DrOnunctamento comes to-"