The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-18
POLITICS AND COTTON PRICES.

titled to vote of thanks for an edi-
torial in the last issue Of that ably
edited journal, pointing out perver-
sion of the duties of the Agricultural
Department. 1t is SO good that we
make room for it in full as follows:
1.-THE Manufacturers Record is not
in any sense a political paper, and
has no political affiliations. but it is
compelled to protest against the evil
dences which crop up from time to
time that political influences are be-
ing used in order to depress the price
of cotton for the benefit of the cotton
mill interest of New England with
out regard to the injury thus incur
red by the planters of the South. Com
menting on this, the Manufacturers.
Record recently pointed out the i'm
propriety on the part of Secretary
Wilson of the Agricultural Depart
ment in giving last summer a bear
interview as to the price of cotton for
the benefit of the cotton mills of the
East. 1t was suggested then that this
had proved disastrous to the very
people whom he hoped to benefit The
New England cotton-mill people, TAX
ing it for granted that Secretary Will
son knew whereof he spoke, refused to
buy cotton early in the season, and
thus have been forced to pay the much
higher prices prevailing since, and
great many of them have been forced
to close down by reason of the actual
scarcity of cotton. This has produced
a condition of very considerable dis
tress among the cotton-mill operatives
of New England. Continental spin
ners, who did not have the same faith
in Secretary Wilson that the New
England spinners had, bought cotton
freely, and the mills of Germany and
other continental countries are not
among those who are making so much
cutlery. 1t has been suggested that
this action of Secretary Wilson and
the consequent shutting down of many
New England mills might nave some
serious campaign effect this fall, but
to head it off, the following curious
statement on the political effect of
the reported increased acreage of cot
ton and the prospect of record
breaking crop has been made, ac-
cording to a dispatch from Washing
ton by the local administration or
gan which usually directly reflects
White House sentiments:
The effect of cotton produc-
ton on the coming campaign is
subject that has proved inter-
estng to politicians since the
statement of the Department of
Agriculture was issued last Sat
urday. The consensus of opinion
on the part of both Republicans
and Democrats is that SO far as
the increased cotton yield of the
coming year concerns the politi-
cal world, it will tend to the adj
vantage of the Republican can
didates, in that it indicates con-
ditions that will make for added
prosperity for both the South and
the North. The political sig
ficance of the prospective increase
in the volume of the crop and the
lowering of the price lies in the
fact that especially in Rhode
Island and New Jersey, where
many cotton mills have been
closed on account of the high
price and the short crop, there
will be a resumption of business
and thousands of idle men and
women will go back to work.
This result, it is expected, Will be
realized next fall, so that it will
have an effect in these States dur
ing the campaign.
Every one acknowledges that
continuance of prosperous condi-
tons will vastly help the Repub-
iican ticket.
Massachusetts, mills have also
been affected by the condition of
the cotton market, but in that
State the closing of mills has
largely been avoided. But Rhode
Island and New Jersey, which are
regarded as fighting ground for
the Democrats. will feel the effect
of the changed condition in a very
material way.
1.-THE effect of the price of cotton on
a political campaign, especially in
New England, is a topic which govern
ment organs should handle very ging-
erly during the next few months. 1t
is a sore subject in some quarters.
at is entirely too early in the sea-
son to make any predictions whatever
as to the extent of the coming crop.
The effort that is being made to create
an impression that because there has
been an enlarged acreage we are GER
tain to have very large crop is cal
culated to seriously mislead the pub
lie, or rather it is calculated to i'm
press upon the public an expectation
of a large crop, which, may not ma
terialize. Another 10000, 000-bale
crop would really be a disaster. not
to the South because it would sell
for even far more than the last crop,
but it would be a disaster to the world,
for it would necessitate the closing of
many mills, since it would not pro-
vide a sufficient amount of the raw
material to go around: but an attempt
to bear the price of cotton on the
possibility of n big crop would be as
unjust to the manufactures as to the
producer Any effort to utilize such
a situation as this for political effect
would be an outrage, and the Manu-
facturers' Record hopes that the mis-
take made by Secretary Wilson last
year was simply stupid blunder UNI
pardonable, it is true but it was less
culpable if due to stupidity than to
any political scheme. That blunder,
however, will make the public very
suspicious of anything which eman-
ates from the same department this
year in regard to the cotton crop"