The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-27
BEARS PLEAD FOR PROTECTION.
"RoBBED SOUTH OF BILLIONS
SEEK TO SAVE MILLIONS,
representative Ellerbe. of South
Carolina, Severely Arraings Attor-
ney General Wickersham for Part
In Alleged Plot Against Southern
Cotton Pianters-Says Present Cot
ton Prices Work of Providence.

Washington, April 27.-Represen-
tative Flerbe made a red hot speech
on the floor OF the house today on the
subject Of cotton pool, now eliciting
the keenest interest throughout the
country. He paid his respects to At
torney General Wickersham and the
cotton bears as follows: Thou
sands OF the best men In the South
were shocked and stunned when the
wires flashed the horrible news that
the great cotton bears Of this coun-
try had enlisted the powerful in
huence Of the legal department Of
the government In their behalf in
their efforts to depress the price Of
the greatest product OF the South.
land.
For years past these gamblers in
cotton, many OF them never having
seen a stalk OF cotton grow, were able
TO get together and depress the price
\ or the staple during the fall months
when, because Of the poverty and
ignorance OF the Southern planter,
ne was forced to sell approximately
rs per cent. of his crop. Has any At
torney General OF the United States
ever had them arraigned for con-
spiracy? You know they have not.
But now when these great, big
baby bears have been caught selling
that which they did not have, yea,
when they have been caught selling
that which they could not get, they
come with tears In their eyes, In a
dastardly and contemplate way, to
weak Attorney General for Gods
sake to protect them. In years past
ehey have robbed the South Of many
billions Of dollars, and now they are
begging the help of this great de-
partment of the government to save
i them from the loss Of few millions.
The bulls are not responsible for
the present high prices Of cotton.
The Almighty, when He withheld for
months the rain from large sections
OF our country. and then sent the
storms and the floods to wash away
and destroy the crop in other sec
tions. and above that allowed the
boil weevil and other pests to get in
their most effective work, reduced
the cotton crop OF 1909 10 that point
where tho spinners oC the world we're
forced % pay fa,r price for this
cotton.
"lt these spectators have been
caught wrong they should take their
medicine like men; the price Of cot
ton is not too high when compared
with other things In this country.
Think OF the prices OF wheat, meats,
mules, fertilizers. labor and many
other things and you will see how
much more II costs the planter to
grow cotton now than 1t formerly
did.
"In the opinion OF many of us,
there is something more behind this
Nhehh aPPcdAS Cdn II
be possible that this Administration
Intends to take up the cudgels for
the great American Tobacco Com.
pany and stop all efforts of the to-
bacco growers to secure fair prices
for their tobacco. Can II be possible
that this Administration means to
start first in New York. and finally
lend Its powerful influence 10 the en-
emies Of the cotton grower In thwart-
ing his feeble effort TO secure fair
prices for his cotton. II that be their
purpose. 1 warn you now the million =
OF American farmers will. in their
just wrath and Indignation at this
most unjust and damnable treat
ment. sweep from place and power
any Darty responsible for this action {"