The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-02
RISE N COTTON JUSTIFIED.
esn. 9. Bstlefs SHARP RsEly
10 sssrsstarY WlssH.
Men vh0 We Made fhe Bull Mar
kef Nst GaHbaers---Tae Plan
ters Benshted.
4 FaEsane in CoFfon Gesds Threatens
Fifteen Gents Fair Price For ths
Staple.

Fron she New York Sun, Aug. d. J
Cen. M. G. Butler, for number Of
years United States Senator from
South Carolina, and q major geenral
during the Spanisn-AmerScan war, by
appointment Of President Mckinley,
is at the Waldorf Astoria and will be
in the city for several days. He goes
from here to Newport on the invita-
tion of his cousin, Perry Belmont.
Gen. Butler has been engaged in
cotton planting ever since he came of
age and has owned his plantations for
thirty years. Since his retirement
from the United States Senate he has
devoted particular attention to the
subject OF cotton growing and is regard
ed as one of the most progressive and
best informed men in the South re-
garding cotton.
A reporter asked Cen. Butler yes
terday If be had seen a statement from
Secretary Wilson. of the agricultural
department, concerning the advance
In the price of cotton and containing
some severe structures upon the men
who lately have been operating in the
coston market. Tie Secretary OF
Agriculture did not hesitate to char
acterize them as gamblers, and to
severely ,criticise them as such.
7Yes, Z have seen what was said to
hare been the expression Of opinion OF
Secretary Wilson, said Gen. Butler,
and ] must think that he spoke with
ont correct information Indeed l an,
bound to say that he seemed not to
kEow what he was talking about.
The gentlemen TO whom ne refers as
gamblers, Messrs. Brown, and Hayne,
are not only among the most reputable
business men of the country, but are
gentlemen of the highest character.
One of them, Mr.. .Hayne, is from my
own State, and I think he will stand
fair comparison, as will Mr.. Brown,
from Mississippi, with Secretary Viii
s9n or anybody in Official or business
life. / must say / was surprised at
what appeared to me to be a very
reckless charge, one which was not
justified by the facts.
sThe 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.
was somewhat surprised at Secretary
Wilson, for be did not appear to get
into a frenzy of indignation when cer-
tain other gentlemen in the West We're
makinga corner on wheat and core,
which enhanced the value of these two
commodities, and from which the
farmers got the benefit.
1.The Secretary seems to be part
cularly concerned about the operators
and the cotton mills; that the cotton
mills have had TO shut down and put
ont of employment large number OF en-
pIoyees. and that therefore it's a
great wrong upon the cotton mills.
Now in regard to that, Messrs. Brown
and Rayne 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 cot
TOE mills all over the country are bears
and sympatiize with the bear operati-
ors. Very naturally. their interest is
follower the price of the raw material,