Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-10

efS In Congress. AT the same time We
recognize the important fact that the
men of that section live amid vastly
different climatic conditions from our
own, and that their economic prob
lens are vastly different from those
that prevail at the North This is the
natural result OF their different envlr-
onment, and the different economic con-
ditIons under which they have lived. In
the South cotton is king. 1t is the
great staple crop of that section,
around which all minor material inter
ests revolve. United census bulletin
gives some interesting facts relative
to this crop. 1t says:
The exports of domestic cotton from
the United States during the year
ending August 81. 1907, amounted to
9,O36,434 bales of 500 pounds each. OF
this amount 3,966,119, or "A per cent
went to the United Kingdom:
2,315,631. or 26 per cent, to Germany.
and 1,o06633 or II per cent. to
France. During the % years from
1880 to 1906 the exports to the United
Kingdom increased 45 per cent.
those to Germany nearly 400 per cent.
and those to France 81 per cent The
exports to Italy increased from 49,
145 bales in 1880 to 1916 bales in
1906, or nearly sevenfold. Exports to
Japan are noteworthy because of the
remarkable variations in the
quantities for the different years, as
well as for the growth of these exports
since 1890, which is the first year for
which they are presented in the re-
port. In 1906 they amounted to 262,-
2S3 bales. while for 1904 they We're
336,515 bales. The exports to Russia
decreased. fact which may be
partially explained by the increased
production of cotton in Russian terri
tory, by the importation of Persian
cotton. and by the recent unsettled
conditions in that country. The
number of cotton spindles in he
world as shown by the report. is 1873
332971 AS nearly as it can be de-
termined, the amount of cotton con-
sumed was 19.493.441 bales, a weekly
consumption of 314,S74 bales. This is
not. however. the total consumption of
the world, as in number of Eastern
countries and in South and Central
America large quantities Of cotton are
grown and consumed which do not
enter into commercial channels, and
therefore caannot be estimated with
any certainty. THE FIGURES IN
dictate, HOWEVER, THAT THE
UNITED STATES FURNISHED
TWO-THIRDS OF THE SUPPLY OF
THE WORLD.
While the consumption of cotton in
19o7-so far as it entered into CONNER
cial channels-was 1888, AL bales, no
less that 1851, 600 million bales Of it
was raised in the United States and
the amount actually exported exceeded
the rest of the world.
These facts show Why the South
does not need protection for its great
agricultural staple and why it is not
likely to need it for many generations
to come. Not needing protection for
their own great staple it is not easy for
the men of that section to see why
other parts Of the country less formed
by nature should require it. Especially
has it been impossible to convince them
of the vital part which the protective
system plays in the prosperity of New
England In fact the affairs of New
England have never been regarded as
of much Importance by the Southern
leaders who direct and dominate the
Democratic party in Congress.
For this reason the voters of this sec
ton have a special reason to desire a
Republican victory this year, to make
sure that any "revision' Of the tariff
should be made by the friends of pro-
lection, and not by it's hereditary enc
mics.