The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-02-22
WAR STARTED
BY SPINNERS
On Cotton Associations and Far
mers of the South.
A SURPRISE IS SPRUNG
Anent Resolution Calling for Probing
of Exchanges --Matter Construed
in New Light BY Garfield.

A Washington dispatch says: Cor
poration Commissioner Garfield has
construed the Livingston-Burleson cot
ton resolution, chat recently passed
the house, to provide not only for
the investigation OF the cotton ex-
changes dealing in futures, but also
for an investigation OF the methods
OF the great cotton and cotton seed
associations OF the south.
lie accordingly proposes to direct
an inquiry into the methods OF the
Farmers National Union, the South
ern Cotton Association, the National
Ginners Association and other or
CARNATIONS OF similar character.
The views OF the corporation com
missioner are not as yet generally
known among the southern congress
men, but the few that have heard
OF his intention express great sur.
prise. When the attitude OF the de
partment becomes generally known,
1t is bound to create a sensation, and
viii no doubt meet with resentment
in the south among the members OF
the associations to be affected by the
inquiry.
Representative William G. Lowering
of Massachusetts, the member of the
interstate commerce committee, who
reported the demanded resolution, is
authority for the statement that the
corporation commissioner will inyes-
tlgate the associations of the south
in connection with the cotton ex-
changes He himself is q member OF
the New York cotton exchange, at
which the original resolution was de
rected.
Mr. Lowering was also responsible
for the amendments that were tackled
onto the original resolution, and he
now very calmly asserts that it was
his purpose at the time to incorpo-
rate all Of the associations Of the
south.
Why have q ono-sided inyestiga-
uon?' he asked when seen Friday.
Certainly the corporation commits
sloner will investigate the Farmers
Union, the Southern Cotton Assooia-
tion, the National Ginners, etc He
can do nothing else under the pro-
visions of the resolution as ii pass
ed the house. 1t was cur purpose TO
have a thorough Investigation
Representative Lowering continued
by saying that, in his opinion, the
associations of the south were or
ganized to advance tue price of cot
ton etc He said these associations
are as much responsible for the 1uc-
tuations as is the New York cotton
exchange, of which he is a member,
Mr.. Lowering is a New England spin.
ner, and as such he insists that the
spinners are entitled to know why
and how The price of cotton is ad.
vanced as much so as the farmers
III Llt& GOuAA NtG " AlN0W why GA4Nl
how it is beaten down
"The associations of the south are
combinations to bolster the price of
cotton" continued Mr. Lowering. and
i can assure you that the corpora
ton commissioner will be given tes.
timony to bear out this statement"
IL now develops that Mr. Lowering
has been careful TO have the amend
ed resolution SO worded that the or.
ganizattons were included He was
wise enough to say not word about
this and as no one else suspected
as much at the time the resolution
was unanimously passed,
While it is known rhat the South.
ern Cotton Association, the Farmers
Union, etc, are legitimate organiza.
ton along cooperative lines and
should have nothing to fear from an
investigation, it is known that GER
tain interests are anxious TO destroy
their usefulness if possible.
Representative Livingston express
ed surprise when informed of the
now turn the matter has taken. He
insisted there must be mistake, and
claimed that the corporation commits.
sioner had no right to investigate the
cotton associations under the terms
Of the resolution.
1T specifically provides for an in
vestigation OF cotton exchanges and
makes no mention of the associations
Of the south" he said, but Mr.. Low
eriRg quotes the resolution as it pass
ed the house and rs he says the cor.