Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-26
PLEAD FOR PROTECTION
"Robbed South of Billions Seek to
Save Millions"

Save Millions"
Washington special Of April q, to the
News and Courier: Representative Ell
lerbe made a red hot speech on the
floor of the house today on the subject
Of the cotton pool, now eiciting the
keenest interest throughout the coun-
try. He paid his respects to Attorney
General Wickersham and the cotton
bears" as follows: Thousands 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 country had enlisted the
powerful influence Of the legal depart
ment of the government in their behalf
in their efforts to depress the price Of
the greatest product of the southland.
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 Of
the staple during the fall months when,
because of the poverty and ignorance Of
the southern planter, he was forced to
sell approximately IS per cent of his
crop. Has any attorney general Of the
United States ever had them arraigned
for conspiracy? You know they have
not
But now when these great, big baby
bears have been caught selling that
which they did not nave, 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 a weak attor-
ney general for Gods sake to protect
them. In years past they have robbed
the south Of many billions of dollars,
and now they are begging the nelp Of
this great department Of the govern
ment to save them from the loss of a
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 de-
stroy the crop in other sections, and
above that allowed the boil weevil and
other pests to get in their most effec-
tive work, reduced the cotton crop Of
1909 to that point, where the spinners
of the world were forced to pay fair
price for this cotton.
"If these spectators nave been
caught wrong they should take their
medicine like men: the price Of cotton
Is not too high when cmpared with
other things in this country. Think Of
the prices of wheat, meats, mules, fer
tilizers, labor and many other things
and you will see how much more 1t
costs the planter to grow cotton now
than it formerly did.
I'm the opinion of many of US, there
Is something more behind this than ap-
pears on the surface. Can it be possi-
BILE that this administration intends to
take up the cudgels for the great
American Tobacco company and stop
all efforts of the tobacco growers to
secure fair prices for their tobacco
Can it be possible that this administra-
ton means to start first in New York,
and finally lend it's powerful influence
to the enemies of the cotton grower in
thwarting his feeble effort to secure
fair prices for mis- cotton. II that be
their purpose, warn you now the mil
lions of American farmers will, in their
Just wrath and Indignation at this
most unjust and damnable treatment
sweep from place and power any party
responsible for this action"