The Washington times., 1904-01-05
PLAN TO RAISE PRICES
OF RAW COTTON HIGHER
Wants Fund TO Advertise
the Staple.
THE PUBLIC WOULD CONSENT
Mr.. Sully Thinks Constant Agitation of
the Question Would Satisfy
the People.

Government officials interested in the
agricultural condition Of the United
States are directing their attention 20
the remarkable proposition Of David J.
Sully, the celebrated cotton bull. that
cotton spinners Of America contribute a
fund of $25OOOO. to be paid the press
for educating the public up 20 14-cent
cotton.
Mr.. Wilson Shy.
Secretary Wilson. Of the Department
OF Agriculture. refused TO discuss the
plan. other than to say the bulls nat
urally want TO make their side of the
case as strong as possible Recent up
ward bounds IN the price Of the staple
placed it's value at a figure far above
the limit fixed last summer by Mr.
Wilson, and the threatened complete
collapse OF the market is undoubtedly
hailed by officials Of the department
Recent upward hounds In the price Of
cotton have placed the value of thaC
staple at a figure far above the limit
fixed last summer by Secretary Wilson,
of the Agricultural Department. IN
spite of the sensational advance OF Mon
day. when the price jumped to 1871
cents, Mr.. Wilson expresses the opin-
icFI that the producers will not be ma
crop has already been sold.
Mr.. Wilson Shy.
Mr.. Wilson declined to discuss the re-
markable proposition of Daniel ]. Sully.
the cotton bull. who is reported to have
cleared S10,OOO.OOO in recent deals. that
the cotton spinners of America con-
tribute a fund of $4,000 for the purpose
Of educating the public up TO 14-cent
cotton by influencing the press. Mr.
Wilson said the bulls naturally wanted
TO make their side of the case as strong
as possible. but would not go further
Chief Statistician Holmes, of the G.
ricultural Department. said:
Il am not posted on stock MARI i.
methods to any extent. and cannot ex-
plan OF Mr. Sully for educating the pub
lie up 70 14-cent cotton. / still believe
that our estimate of something less
Is correct, and that is beneath the de-
mand- 1t would require a crop Of near
ly II, 0O0 900 bales to meet the demand /
suppose the high prices Of cotton this
year will increase the acreage next
year. which should lower prices.
To Advertise Cotton.
The scheme laid down by Mr.. suIly is
to advertise cotton so extensively in
every possible way that the public will
retail prices which must result from
the heavy increase in the price of raw
material. He cites the Dingley tariff
prices as an instance in which the pub
lie willingly submitted to the increased
cost of necessaries, because il had
heard and read so constantly of the Sd-
vantages that would follow the passage
or the DinRley bill He also says the
silver agitation and the 100000 votes
cast for Bryan were nothing but the re-
n 0fat-ar 1fhnrn1 ~ Asar7N
advertising on the part OF the silver
mine owners of the West.
Mr.. Sully takes a sordid view OF the
America Cup ambitions Of Sir Thomas
Upton and says the whole thing was
nothing but scheme to advertise the
Upton teas.
Mr.. Sully's Plan.
Mr.. suIIy himself Is willing to start
the subscriptions with $4,000. and out
lines the following four channels through
which the public will learn from the
spinners why 1t is so desirable TO pay
far more than present prices for cot
ton goods:
rst-Semi-advertiming "write-ups'' in
magazines Of large circulation and in
huence.
Second-Associated Press service of
authoritative personal interviews and
timely and pertinent information
Third-Co-Operative advertising through
Fourth-Direct argument on the dealer.
BY following this plan. says Mr..
Sully. 1t will be possible TO drill the
glad news of high prices into 25, 900. 90
consumers and 10000 dealers. After he
starts the ball rolling by influencing
q portion OF the press and arousing pub
lie interest to such a high pitch all
the papers viii have to fall in line and
devote much attention and space TO cot
ton whereby the spinners will really
get FIVE or six millions of dollars worth
OF advertising for the $2500O contrib
uted TO the proposed pool.
Prices Justified.
Mr.. SuIly said: The demand for cot
ton Is now several hundred thousand
bales in excess of the total production
OF cotton. The top prices were there
fore fully justified by conditions exist
ing"
said.
THE advance in cotton was brought
about by the most persistent buying on
the part OF the bull leaders.
THE visible supply Of American cot
ton is practically as large as it was
in sight is the largest of the past FIVE
years at this date. The arguments
upon which cotton has advanced to "a
cents per pound may just as well be
urged as reasons why cotton should 20
to 80 cents or 81 a pound.
1.-THE only real question is. when will
spectators stop buying It? The trade
ago"