The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-01-06

foy Cotton Statistics,
2tor North OF the Census

kEz5 1las IN SSaas '1Hs " w EXPRESSES sur
prise and Concern. He
Warns Growers.
Director OF the Census North ina
letter to Representative Burleson OF
'Iexas, made public Thursday, takes
notlce Sof the situation presented by
fhe cotton statistics given out for
Z publication Wednesday and expresses
I his surprise and concern at the recent
alleged movement in the southern
States, apparently approved and
augmented by the cotton growers
themselves" to destroy the census re,
ports by concerted refusal of the GIN
ners to make returns. Director North
asserts that a continuance of the cot
ton ginning reports Is impossible With.
out the sympathetic and whole heart.
ed cooperation of the glnners OF the
south. Immediately after the receipt
OF the letter. Mr.. Burleson, men,
Der OF the house census committee,
and who was the author Of the provi.
sion making appropriation for the
gathering OF cotton statistics, gave
Out an Interview In which he upholds
the director In the work now being
done by his bureau. The letter is as
follows:
Washington, D. O., Dec. 20, 1904.
Hon. Albert S. Burleson, House OF
Representatives. Washington, D. Q.
My Dear Sir: 1t seems proper to
invite your attention to certain ano-
malous conditions which confront the
census Office in carry ing out the pro.
visions Of section Of the act to estab-
lish a permanent census Office, direct.
ing the periodical collection of the
statistics Of cotton production through
the agency OF the ginners. This
provision was inserted In the law at
your urgent request and that Of other
HYthern representatives, on the plea
was necessary for the protec
G: Ss5 1ottSI. tt.tSS,I.-iaedncers psss against
the speculat0rs and others Interested
In depressing the price Of the staple
for their own profit. 1t was urged
that enormous losses resulted from
the untrustworthy estimates put forth
every year by spectators and agents
OF the Liverpool market, and that
early and trustworthy Official informa.
tion regarding the size Of the crop
would,protect the grower. disarm the
speculator and market manipulation
and permit the law Of supply and de.
mand to regulate the prices.
EXPENSIVE INFORMATION.
Since the law was passed congress
has appropriated and this office has
disbursed more than Sl25 900 year
Ia the collection and dissemination of
this information. The system has
been gradually perfected until it has
become more nearly perfect than any
similar plan for obtaining exact know
ledge Of the size of any agricultural
crop during the progress Of harvest
ing.
I No complaint has been made that
the census reports are not accurate,
). indeed for a year or two past we have
SaasAeen able to trace the crop SO closely
practically every bale has been
5'IsS led for.
Ear; Tor 1t bec5mes possible, by
z8mparison of the 8tatistics of one
year with those Of the same date in
preceding years, TO judge the size of
successive crops with an accuracy
never before known or approx mated.
The ginning reports of the census
Ncficc nave crowded out the specula-
tive and interested estimates referred
to, and the single object which the
southern representatives had in view,
in urging this legislation, has been
successfully accomplished
In view of these facts, l have been
surprised and concerned at the pres
ent movement in the southern States,
which Is apparently approved and aug
mcnted by the cotton growers them.
selves, to destroy the census reports,
by the concerted refusal Of the ginners
to make the returns upon which they
are based. Thus far the movement
has not seriously affected our work.
but il it continues and spreads, 1T will
necessarily destroy It's value during
the coming year. 1t appears to have
been suddenly discovered that these
reports, undertaken solely at the de-
mand Of the cotton growers, are high
ly detrimental to his interests. Mr..
u. E. Webber, president of the Mem
phis cotton exchange, is quoted as de.
claring that the cotton interests of
the south have everything to lose and
nothing to gain by their continuance;
they put the manufacturing interests
in possession Of information which
works irreparable injury to the
south.' My attention has also been
called to the so called National Cot
ton Ginners' association" the purpose
of which is stated to be Ito gather
accurate and reliable information re-
garding the amount Of cotton pro.
duced in advance Of the government
report. 1t also appears that this
information Is to be sent In code; and