Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-22
WIcKgRsHAM'S INVESTIGATION.
Looks Like a Play Into the Hands Of
the Bears

The proposition of Attorney Gener-
al WickerSham to investigate the al
legged bull pool has brought forth a
storm of protests from all parts Of
the country.
Smith Wants to Be Investigated.
Washington, April 20.-Incidental
to the discussion today Of the resolu-
ton authorizing the expenditure Of
$65.000 to extend the work Of the
special cost of living committee. Sen
ator Smith of South Carolina referred
to the indictment of cotton specula-
tors i'm New York.
He declared that the attorney gen.
eral had been made the victim of a
plot with the end in view Of depress-
ing the price Of cotton in the interest
Of foreign markets. He said that the
bears had sold the cotton at a lower
price than cotton was bringing In the
south. They would have to go to the
planters to get the cotton and they
would find that they could not get 1t
there because the farmers were look
ing after their own interests.
Contending that every American
citizen was interested in the price Of
cotton because so much of II was ex-
ported. Mr.. Smith asserted that the
attorney general was not dealing fair
~ III ldhlHS dHy SlepS lHdl "ouiu
play into the hands Of those who
would depress the figure, in that cot
ton, the chief commodity of a section,
which is politically unfriendly to the
administration. had been selected for
the prosecution.
Instead Of Investigating those who
are trying to put up prices why in the
name Of God don't you investigate the
foreign bears?" demanded Mr.. Smith.
Admitting that he had assisted in or
ganiZing the farmers of the south for
their own protection, Mr.. Smith dra-
matically asked:
why don't you investigate me?"
Patten Stands Pat.
New York, April 20.-David II. Mil
ler, a member Of the New York cotton
exchange and one Of those subpoenaed
in the government inquiry into the al
legged bull pool of raw cotton, issued
a statement tonight commencing the
government action and denying that
the investigation was induced by COM
plants of the bears. He also absolves
the New York cotton exchange from
any official connection with the mat
ter.
James Patten of Chicago denied
fatty today that he was associated
market and said that he proposed to
stand by his present position In the
market. Mr.. Patten said:
II am not under any agreement
with other interests in the market. I
was long of cotton before / even met
the other gentlemen who are suppos-
ed to be bulls In the market, but nat
urally as we are on the same side OF
the proposition, our interests are to
that extent mutual. l intend to take
up the cotton called for by my con-
tracts and to pay for it. l am willing
to make contracts to supply mills any
where in the world with cotton so far
as my holdings will permit. If the
government wants to stop traffic In fu-
lures why is not a plain statement
made to that effect, instead Of institut-
ing proceedings which merely tend to
confuse the entire trade?"
Why Not Move In Fall? Asks Barrett.
Atlanta, Ga, April 20.-The pres
ent investigation by the Federal au-
thorities of the so-called bull cotton
pool in New York will materially aid
the campaign against gambling In
farm products, according to Charles
s. Barrett president of the National
Tarmers' Union. In referring to the
activity Of the department of justice
in the matter Of the cotton investiga-
ton Mr.. Barrett said:
1T is certainly queer that the gov
ernment should be entirely Indifferent
to gambling in cotton during the fall
selling season when the cotton is In
the hands Of the farmers with manip-
ulators slaughtering their profits and
develop a sudden virtue when prac-
tically all of the cotton is in the hands
Of the spectators and the only possible
beneficiaries appear to be few
welching bear operators.
1T Is sincerely to be hoped that
next fall, and each successive fall
when intervention vii: be of some
benefit to the more than two million
cotton producers Of the south, the
government will manifest a smatter-
ing Of the zeal now so belatedly put
forth -