The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-02-21

against the bear" and "bull" ele
ments of the exchanges is tangible
alike; that the market can neither bt
boosted nor beared by one man Cap
plause on the Democratic sids); thai
there are men on the exchanges who
operate almost exclusively on the
bear" side and operate in collusion
with other bear" operators; that
these raids on the market are often
planned months before the actual
coup; and that the robber band plan
ming them will use every possible in
strumentality, including the Govern
ment, to carry out their damnable
purposes. How many times have they
had advance information Of the Gov
ernment reports. Who would deny
that they have or have had agents In
the statistical departments Of this
Government? Now, these facts are all
known to the Attorney General, and
yet he comes up with the prosecution
of the "bull" clique in his right hand,
and in his left hand with the lame ex-
cuse that he does not know who the
bears" are. (Applause on the Demo
cratic side.)
The regular "bear" cotton specula-
tor is as well knwn in exchange cir
cles as the officers of this Govern
ment are known to the people OF
Washington. 1 have here in my
possession the names OF several"bear
firms who will be found on the bear"
side of every important exchange
transaction, and they were the i'm
mediate benefciaries OF the Govern
ment raid on the market two years
ago. If the Attorney General will ar
raign his witnesses in the pending
case and call on the parties under
prosecution for evidence, and then
rake the letter files Of the bear" ele-
ment, as he did in the case of his
prosecution of the bulls" he will not
be lacking for evidence. A "bear" pool
was on, which held the future market
a cent pound below the spot market
at the very time the Government be-
gan proceedings against the so-called
bull" clique, and that very act, as I
have shown, gave rise to the so-call-
ed "bull" pool, as q defense measure,
originating with the cotton mills.
uT. I16lllu. MI. SuoAl uoAy WALL LILY
friend permit question?
Mr.. Aiken of South Carolina. Ger
tainly.
Mr.. Heflin. Is it not a fact that at
the time the Attorney General prose-
cuted what Is called the "bull" raid
the spinners were taking cotton?
Mr.. Aiken of South Carolina. Yes;
haya inst manti0ned that
Mr.. Heflin. The spinners were TAX
ing this cotton?
Mr.. Aiken of South Carolina. Ger
tainly they were.
Mr.. Heflin. have not had the pleas
ure of hearing all Of my friends
speech; but has the gentleman heard
of any grand-jury Indictment of"bear"
raids this fall?
Mr.. Aiken Of South Carolina. There
have been absolutely none, 80 far as l
know.
Mr.Heflin. Since the gentleman call
ed upon the Attorney General has he
reason to think that anybody in the
Department of Justice has investtgat-
ed and reported on a bear" raid?
Mr.. Aiken of South Carolina. Not to
my knowledge. have heard Of moth
ing of the sort. OF course the interest
Of the producer was not considered.
and 1t is evident that the Attorney
Generals assertion that the prosecu-
ton was for the protection Of the mill
interests was at that time groundless.
This letter of the Attorney General
shows ignorance of conditions that is
lamentable or bias that Is unworthy
an officer Of this Government. I give
my letter and his reply to the public
for what they are worth. (Applause.)