The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-17
European Cotton Crisis.

! The cotton crlSls ana the cOn0ltlon or the cotton goods trade in England has re- gently been interestly treated by The | London Daily Express. The article on \ the subject has been clipped and for n warded by United States Consul H. Clay Evans of London, to the Department of Commerce and Labor, which uses 1t as one of its bulletins published today as follows:
 There is no change in the depressed con I dition of the cotton trade. Such was the report in Manchester yesterday of those best qualified to judge. It is known that some American cotton is on its way to Liverpool, but as yet the shipments are very small. and things will be much worse before they grow better.
 An increase in the consignments from American ports, however, Is now expected I every week, and within another four \ weeks, say the authorities of the Master lCotton Spinners Association, sufficient cotton will probably be received to set a IRood many mills running again at full time
 The distrissed operatives know this
 also. Indeed. the thoroughness with
 which they know the ramifications of
 this industry constitutes remarkable Iobject lesson to those who labor in many lother trades.
 There is a policy of waiting. Some of 1them have waited workless for over two 4months; and although they know the Ipangs of this cotton crisis are certain to Apass before very long, they also know 1that with many of them suffering will 4grow more acute before the brighter pe- ,{Tiod sets in
 II The reports of distress in the various 4towns show for the most part no change. E1In one or two instances, such as Haccles- |1held, Hyde, and Blackburn, the position His little better. owing to several mills (which had been stopped altogether having tnow resumed work at short time. In HBury, Rochdale. Oldham. Ashton. and tBurnley, however, the number of cases 4requiring relief seems to grow daily. RI Tn the Bury district. where suffering has been more acute than anywhere else ow- Nng to the cotton industry being the chief
 means of employment, the various relief lkcommittees are aiding between two and Xthree thousand distressed people.
 The method of relief is still a vexed l4nuestion. There are many people in dire |Nneed who shrink from taking the relief
 tickets. It means going moneyless to the
 tradesmen. and they are fearful of this
 sexposing their poverty.
 At the last meeting of the central relief PNcommttee one of the subcommittees pro-
 Hposed that trustworthy people should be Eiven money instead of tickets. but the Resolution was defeated. though 1t is
 
 Tickets in their possession which they hre ashamed to exchange at the shops Nor food.
 Such is the temperament of the people gsof Bury, and 1t Is the same in every other Flown Cases of painful want have been klnearthed every day by those who, know
 kng the spirit of the Lancashire workfolk, Abave gone to seek out the distress. m It is this independence which has made khe great cotton industry and made every little home that depends upon 1t; and it fs the same independence which is caus- Ing many little homes to be taken piece heal to the pawnshop Sooner than we |fshould eat," as both men and women Fhave told The Express representative, sfood we have not earned The minds of all who. looking beyond &he present distress. are face to face with ahe fact that the future will see an an- shuSl recurrence of the depression are