The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-17
COTTON PRODUCTI0N AND Gov
SJHPTJON.
Former senator McLRurin OF south caro-
lima Argues for wider Market

ton IL soon to meet in New Orleans TO con-
slider the questions growing out Of this
great industry | have seen many RENE
dies proposed for overproduction, but none
for underoonsumpuon.
Can we find newer and wider markets
for our staple product
That this would he a complete remedy
none can doubt, and that such markets
exist no one familiar with the question
will deny.
Can we take advantage Of the situation
and create such widespread demand for
cotton goods that low prices and overpro-
duction will never be heard Of again?
Cotton is to-day below the cost Of produc-
/ ton. lower by comparison with rent, labor
/ fertilizers and provisions than ever; yet
no man conversant with conditions in
/ the cotton belt believes that without some
| providential disaster the crop Of 1905 Will
he materially reduced. II the acreage IL
| curtailed better cultivation and increased
lse of fertilizer will make up the deficiency
I our large profits from two well sold crops
are in our banks. and as long as we can buy
mules and fertilizer Wa shall make cotton
/ Reduction OF acreage may do to talk
about, but | believe the cotton growers
convention will contain men who will take
more comprehensive view Of the situation.
Considering that in China alone there IL a
population of 100000 CO... whose trade with
rs per capita ia now infinitesimal compared
with what it liz bound 70 become. who wi u
undertake to place a limit upon the quantity
Of cotton goods that the Orient will consume?
Trade follows the flag Undoubtedly
the time was never more favorable for de-
veloping new markets The war now IN
progress seems nearing its end. Japan
will undoubtedly retain foothold on the
mainland Of Asia by initiating in Corea our
benevolent assimilation policy. and un-
der the tutelage Of Japan, the Chinese
Empire will be opened 10 commerce as
never before. With Alaska. Hawaii. Guam
and the Philippines, we have huge stepping
stones 10 the Orient depots friendly ports
and il need be for our protection arsenal
Nearly fifty years ago "A Secretary Of
State predicted that large as was our trade
with Europe, greater AZ II might become
Il would in the fulness OF time he dwarfed
in comparison with the inevitable develop
ment across the Pacific believe that Mr..
Seward was right. and that in China there Is
market waiting which will enable us to
sell 20,O0o.000 instead Of 100000 bales
OF cotton above 10 cents per pound. II We
could with so little effort develop market
in one locality in China. why cannot il be
done In all accessible portions OF the empire?
II should not be difficult to teach thrifty
people the advantage Of cotton goods. All
business il done in China uiiter a system
Of guilds on lines similar TO the federation
Of labor in this country. and this custom
Of dealing with organizations instead of
individuals might be turned to advantage
in the effort to introduce American goods.
If the cotton burned during the past
month had been manufactured and the
cloth sent free TO portions of China where
our goods are unknown, il would be far
moro sensible plan of reducing he surplus.
The obstacle to trade with China is lack
Of transportation. Between us and our
prospective customers 1000 miles Of ocean
roll Our carrying trade II in the hands
not only Of our commercial rivals, bat OF
the nations who consume our raw cotton
and are therefore bitterly opposed 70 assist
ing anv movement whose ultimate effect
must be to advance he price OF cotton
The American merchant flag is a stranger
upon the high seas. and we will be at the
mercy of these business rivals and enemies
Of raw cotton until Congress takes some
action which will enable American built
and operated ships TO compete with the
subsidized foreign vessels.
Measures TO that end have been before
Congress- for years bat the demand has
never come from the people and nothing
will be done until such gatherings a. rhe
one in New Orleans insist upon Govern
nent action. Upon the Atlantic our car
ryinR trade is monopoized by enormous
steamship lines that are now circng the
globe with their ships These lines have
Emperors Kings and mobiles for their
friends. advocates and stockholders; they
are fostered by great subsidies. and through
control of transportation they levy tribute
for their nations upon all the people Of the
world. and upon none more heavily than
the cotton growers. Less than per cent
OF our carrying trade - in American ships.
The first step in the extension Of our cot
ton marke, must be the Improvement OF
transportation facilities II j. folly 10 ex-
pcct nations looking for cheap cotton 10
tise their ,ea power to develop new mar
kets Cotton manufacturing has been
introduced into Japan but has not dour
ished. 80 ! am informed, because OF the
impossibility Of securing proper trans
portation. But for this Japan would by
this time have been an important factor in
the export trade for ray cotton
The New Orleans convention can con-
slider no question in which cotton growers
are 40 vitallv Interested "a shipping About
% per cent. Of the total exports OF the ia
ton are shipped from Southern ports, while
only per cent Of the imports enter South
ern ports. Only 20 per cent Of the ships
entering Northern ports. but 20 per cent
Of those entering Southern ports, come
in ballast What handicap to the
South! 1t means that every ship coming
in ballast for cotton charges enough freight
one way to pay the expenses Of the round
voyage. this comes out Of the pocket of the
cotton grower
The bulk Of our exports originate in the
South or the great valleys that drain into
the Gulf New Orleans and the Gulf ports
are tho natural exit and entrance. but the
great railways run east and west. and there
is certainly community Of interest be-
tween these and the foreign steamship
lines. Between that combination and the
free ship crnnks on the other side. every
attempt in Congress has been failure
The same interests postponed for a quarter
Of a century the construction Of an lsthmian
canal but under the present virile Chief
Executive this is IN sight That canal
once opened imports and exports can no
longer be forced east and west Then New
Orleans will I'LL her mission and become
the cotton distributing centre Of the world
About ~ per cent. OF the cotton goods made
in South Carolina go To- China, but under
this combination Of transcontinental rail-
road lines and these subsidized foreign
ships our goods instead Of taking the near 4
est route 10 deep water, 90 north a thou
sand miles 10y rail and often find their exit