Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-14
DIABOL|CAL PLOT To
RUIN SOHTH'S cotton
CROP WITH WEEV|LS
Conspiracy Said to Be Afoot
to Distribute Thousands of
Live WeeyiIs by Night in
Georgia and Carolina Fields

An alleged conspiracy by crooked
speculatorA to ruin the south's cotton
crop by se&retly distributing thousands
% live boil weevils in the fields under
cover Of night. was brought TO light in
Atlanta Saturday when Governor-elect
Hoke Smith made public letter OF
warning. sent him anonymously by a
New Orleans business man. This man
called at Mr. Smiths ONCE Friday af-
ternoon. made known his identity and
good faith. and cOrroborated all the
statements In the letter.
Two men approached him in New Or
leans short time ago. ne declares, and
solicited his help in a diabolical scheme
to curtail this years crop BY inundating
Georgia and South Carolina with the
weevils. buying great quantities OF Oc-
tober cotton now. and selling when the
crop shortage sent prices higher. max
ing a fortune for themselves. al the
awful expense OF Devastating one OF the
richest agricultural sections OF the union
not only for one year but for years 10
come
The author or the letter says he swore
10 the Two men that he would not dis
close their names. and insists that his
own be withheld from publication He
came all the way from Birmingham Fri
day 10 assure Governor-eiect Smith Of his
good faith, He convinced Dir. Smith
that he was Dot a crank. and not a graft
er. Tor ne e-snted nothing. He simply
felf II IFS duty 10 make the matter
public. list as Mr. Smith now feels Il
hts duty 70 give the contents OF The let-
ter 10 All the farmers OF the south.
through the newspapers. Both he and
Mr.. smith are inclined 10 believe that
the widespread publication and exposure
Ct the scheme. putting the farmers on
notice. and arousiDg them 10 protect
their fields. with armed force II neees-
sary. viii force the conspirators TO aban-
don their plans
-aere Is the letter:
ANONYMOUS LETTER
NEW ORLEANS. Jan q. 1911.
Hon. H0ke Smith. Governor OF Georgia
Dear Sir. In writing this letter do
80 because J feel IL is my duty and
know you well enough BY reputation TO
know you viii appreciate il fully. viii
be as brief a. possible and get right TO
the point
There are two men. one from Texas.
and I am not Just sure where the other
Is from at this writing. but / should say
Chicago from his talk. are going to dis
tribute boil weevil in every -otton-raising
county gn Georgia and South Carolina In
the next % days They claim to have
over 1e0ua0 i've insects now and they
showed me a box containing I should say
s.Eao q them
&C ohiecf Tn disc1issi.ag "A WITH me
was to set me TO help them distribute
the weetll and share In the profits. That
- was to buy 1.oe0 bales October cot
ton I think from the talk that one man
has already gone % Augusta with several
thousand in small boxes
DETAILS OF SCHEME
How ] happen 20 be able to write you
this information came about in this way:
] met one OF the men. whom l have
known for several years. and we had two
OF three drinks together and the CONVEX
sation drifted to cotton. I expressed a
belief that cotton would decline 100 points
OF more Finally he said IL l would give
him my word as a man he would tell me
something out OF which I could make
fortune / promised him and this was
the scheme he disclosed 10 me. He gave
me a mass Of details. etc. that for the
present are worthless The second man
seemed afraid TO trust me, or any one.
IN this case the man whom / knew as
sured him I was all o. X. Hence the
confidence I felt II was my duty to do
something. 50 I thought / would write
you and let you advise the officers and
farmers 10 be on the lookout for sus-
QcDbAG~ q business man mere
and do not want any notOriety, so must
make this an anonymous letter. Am
leaving for New York tonight IL YOU
are interested insert personal in the
New York Herald and sign il Georgia m
next Sundays paper. I am willing to
come and see you and do anything that
you think best 1 promised upon my
honor i would not disclose any names.
pat ! might help you and your officers
intercept the insects and arrest the men
with them"
Mr. Smith received the letter on We'd
nesday. February J. lie communicated
at once with Commissioner OF Agricul-
ture Hudson and State Entomolgist Wor-
sham AS result OF their conference
Geovernor-elect Smith published the
personal" in the New York Herald on
Sunday. the srh They also agreed that
the letter should be published 10 put the
public n possession OF the facts