The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-15
WILSON TAKES TO THE WOODS.
Secretary of Agriculture as Cotton Prop
 ct Proves Failure.

Manufacturers' Record, Daily Bulletin.
 Just about q year ago Secretary Jas Will son of the department of agriculture was the leading cotton bear of the country. That was by virtue of his interview of Aug ust 20, 1903, in which he displayed the utmost soiictude for the cotton manufac- turers. and declared that their shortage of material was not tue to shortage in the crop, but to a corner arranged by gamblers. Gen. Nj. c. Butler, of South Carolina, crit icised that interview sharply, but not as sharply as 1t deserved. considering how misleading 1t would be to New England cot ton manufacturers. who naturally regarded 1t as an authorttave Governmental dictum. He said in summary of Secretary Wilson's statements:
 "I should say that they amounted to an unwarranted, and. it seems to me. rather wanton characterization of reputable bus mess men doing business in a legitimate and honorable way. as common gamblers That, and a number of bogeys. apparently the emanation of Secretary Wilson's rather vast lack of information on what he was talking about seemed to me about all his pronuncamento comes to-
 After reading Gen. Buffers interview Secretary Wilson said, August 24. 1908:
 "I hope the business men of whom Gen Butler speaks will see to 1t that these prices continue until the cotton grower sells the coming crop. If that should be done l will make a trip to South Carolina, find Gen. Butter, IT nc snouiu Uo taAc OhA my hat to him. and say to him that l re- gard him as a great public benefactor who has been able to see further ahead into the future than we poor fellows of the depart ment of agriculture. But if. on the other hand, it should occur that the price of cot ton dropped. when the farmer gets ready to market his new crop. down to eight or seven cents instead of twelve or fifteen cents then, of course, shall adhere to my opinion that the manipulation of the pres ent cotton corner by the gamblers of whom l speak Is doing infinite mischief.
 It Is needless for the Manufacturers Rec ord to review the history of the past cotton year. utterly demolishing Secretary Will sons theory of seven or eight cent cotton. The effect of the operators following his lead are by this time fully felt by several thousand idle operatives in New England. It is interesting to note. however. that. unless in baffling disguise. Secretary Will son has not made that trip to South Caro- lima to take off his hat to Gen. Butler. On the contrary, he seems anxious Just at present. when September cotton is bringing at least eleven cents, to get away as far as possible from South Carolina in one di- rection as he may without fleeing into Cam ada Secretary Wilson has taken to the woods of Maine and may be expected during tho next few weeks of the campaign to drift through the New England textile centres for tho purpose of demonstrating his good feeling for voters influenced largely by con- ditions of the cotton industry. and to divert their minds from the evil consequences. falling upon them especially. of his unwar- ranted intrusion a year ago into tho cotton market