Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-30


That the spinning interests of the world
is opposed to the independence of the
American cotton producer there can be
no doubt in the minds of men who think
clearly, and devote time to the study
of the situation. 1t is as a matter of
fact deplorable to contemplate the read
mess of acquiescence on the part of the
American mill men to the wishes of the
foreign manufacturers of cotton goods.
Two-thirds of the cotton produced is
exported and If the neighbor of the man
growing cotton is to be instrumental in
depressing trade conditions In the cot
ton growing states, aye, in the various
channels of trade throughout the United
States by aiding the men beyond the seas
TO buy raw cotton for price less than
natural conditions seem to warrant. 1t
would be better there were no cotton
mills in the south. 1t is a serious lack
OF moral courage for the southern mill
men to lend his support to a move which
if carried out to the letter. will cost the
commerce of this nation S20O.OOO.OOO and
more dollars a year. This is what they
are trying to do whether they knew 1t or
not. -r-
II these men who have grown rich off
the arduous toll. the depreciation of hon
est folks, the impoverishing of a dozen
states, combined with the mill men in
foreign lands that the price of raw cotton
shall not advance in parity with the
advancement in prices in other articles
of trade, then the responsibility for lack
of progress rests with them and God
Almighty have mercy on their souls.
The laws of the land should prevent
this crime of conspiracy, should prevent
this conspiracy against the millions who
toll There are laws against conspiracy
and il there is not a. conspiracy on the
part of the mill men against the man
who produces, then it seems quite i'm
possible for a conspiracy to exist.
Mr. NIAGARA, in the following CORES
pondence soothes the doubts as ex-
pressed by Mr.. Parker by stating 1.-THE
American press is interested and calls
attention to the Sully year when ne as
serts the short time movement broke the
corner and there was not enough cotton
then to run the mills. Mr.. Sully told the
writer one evening at the Piedmont that
NIAGARA did not break him. But the
lockout engineered by Mr.. NIAGARA did
depress the price of lint cotton and be-
cause the operatives were locked out tho
bear element smothered Mr.. Sully In
cotton and caused his bull pool to come
to grief. Times and conditions are not
the same, a change has taken place since
1894 and we doubt If it will be easy
to bamboozle the world today and make
the conspiracy desired a fullhedged sue
cess The spinner in America does not
trust the self-complacent NIAGARA The
acts of British spinners all through the
fall point to double dealing. They cry
shut down, but they keep on buying cot
ton and are in better shape so far as
raw material goes, and so far as orders
go, and so far as general conditions OF
trade go than they were a year ago.
They will continue to make cotton goods
for China, never fear; they are jealous
of the Oriental trade, and do not want
the American spinner to enjoy the beneht
the open door warrants
II the grasping combine headed by
NIAGARA pull the wool over the eyes OF
American spinners and load the ware
houses of the Orient with goods while the
man in the south and the east sleep, It
will be another big stroke, another feath-
er in Macara's cap.
Why do not the business men of the
south awaken. get up and take look
at the doing of things out in the world
and take steps toward financing the
American cotton crop, thus returning 10
the south the true value of the lint; COM
pelling in a business way, the payment
of an honest price as demand dictates7
| without further comment at this time,
we refer the reader to the following cor
respondence, and II some numbers of
gentlemen deem 1t wise to attempt cub
failing the efforts of these men who are
striving to deprive the south OF hundreds
of millions of dollars annually, and will
| aid the writer in calling a convention for
the purpose of discussing plans. 1t will
be our pleasure to hear from them. The
| question is plain, shall we sit idly by
and permit our pockets to be picked year
in and year out, or will we take hold of
the problem in a businesslike manner
and meet the men who buy our lint in a
strictly commercial manner? We can do
IL. Will we? Read the letters.
Mr.. L. w. Parker, president of the
American Cotton Manufacturers associ-
alton, writing to c. w. NIAGARA, Manches-
ter, England. says:
"The mills that are members of this as
ISOLATION are now curtailing very gener-
| ally. The large majority of mills will
curtail one day of the week between now
| and August l. The mills on heavier
goods such as standard sheetings and
goods of similar character exported to
| China, will curtail much more than this,
! and large number of these mills expect
| to shut down one week at least each
month. 1t would seem, then, that condi-
tons are being met in this country fair
ly WELL as the Arkwright club also ad-.
vises that their members will curtaiL
THE newspapers in this country are
reporting continually that the statements
as to curtailment in England and on the
continent are greatly exaggerated. and
that the action of the spinners there is
really a bluff. The experts, as you know,
of cotton from this country continue very
heavy, and these exports are cited as