The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-24
HEFL|N TALKS ON
 COTTON SITUATION
Criticises Attorney General
 for His Inactivity
HE ADVISES HOLDING
Says Cotton Producer Is Being Sys- tematically Robbed on Stock Exchange--Talks of Ken
 lucky Politics
BY WALTER HARPER

Washlngro! t,asober 23.--tspeeiab.-
 Congress J. rhoiiaas Hefiin of -habama
 passed through Washineton today on his way from a three weeks campaign tour in Kentucky and Maryland, where he will take part in the campaign in that state for democratic governor. He gave out the following interview on the cotton situation:
 Rev. Sam P. Jones was right when he said that cotton could promise more and do less than any crop that we have. I have never believed that this crop would reach 100000 bales. but I am convinced, in view of the worlds short flax crop and the short cotton crop in | India and the very small supply of old cotton. the smallest in many years, that the world really needs 14.o00,0o0 or 1o,ooo,- 600 bales of American cotton, and I pre- dict that very little more of this crop will be sold at the present low and de- structiye prices.
 About two years ago when cotton went up about $15 per bale, certain men ill New York who had bought actual cotton and held It, were indicted at the fn- stance of Attorney General Wickersnam, former law partner of Mir. Henry Taft attorney for the New York cotton ex- change. Now when bold conspiracy on the part of bear specuiators, New England and foreign spinners, is being carried out in the New York cotton ex- change to the destruction of the cotton producers property. MT. Wickersham and his former law partner are both as silent as the tomb.
 When the price of cotton went up S15 per bale the federal court at the sugges- ton of Mir. Nickersham found indict- ments but when the bear spectators in conspiracy with certain spnners, reduced the price of cotton $32 per bale, the attorney general is blind, the federal court is deaf and MT. Taft is silent while the work of destruction goes on. Producers Robbed
 The cotton producer so far has not only been robbed of his profits, but the price has been reduced below the cost of pro- duction, so the men who produce two thirds of the worlds cotton crop, the crop that brings to America the balance of trade; that brings gold to our country, when all other products fail, are being ruthlessly robbed. The cotton producer is being systematically robbed and unless our people quit putting their cotton on the market and selling at the ruinous prices now obtaining the south will lose during this selling season more than $30o,- o00.0OO on this crop
 Cotton is going higher, very much higher. but it remains to be seen who will receive the good price, the people who produce it. or the bear spectators and spinners.
 Speaking of the Kentucky situation, Mir. Heflin said.
 "I am not exactly stranger i'll Ken lucky, as I campaigned there four years ago when the republicans elected Gov ernor Willson and cleaned up about ali that was worth gathering in. But, bless you I found wonderful change of con ditons since that sad year. It was my remark at the close of my work four years ago that did not think the demo- crats could win, there was an apathy and a general indifference that struck me unfavorably and I told my democratic friends that the state would go wrong by small republican majority. It did, and I had no especial pride In being a prophet of disaster. However, I could see it no other way.
 This year how different things are! From the start there has been democratic enthusiasm in the air. and there was no time lost in putting the republican nofni- nee for governor on the defensive He has been losing each day since the cam paign opened. and I found at my meet ings a very different sentiment, a greater interest than when I made short cam paign tour of the state in 1907
 This years election will mean James M. McCreary for governor and Ollie James for senator. Former Senator Me- Creary may be over three score and ten in years, but he is a wonder as cam paigner and knows more men by name in Kentucky than any other citizen.
 "Ollie James also has made great campaign. and no one need have a mo ments fear about his victory"