Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-05
WILSON ASKED TO
PROTECT COTTON
Southern Congressman See
the President About the
Dixie Product.
MEETING CALLED HERE
AUGUST 1914 TO CONFER
Producers Will Attempt to Plan
Scheme to Protect the Staple
From Disaster.


called upon President Wilson today to
discuss with him the situation as to the
marketing and transportation of cotton
since the outbreak of the European war
This committee. consisting OF Senators
SMITH and Overman and Representatives
Underwood and Lee of Georgia, told the
President that the gathering of the south
ern cotton crop is already beginning and
that in the next few months all of 1t
would be ready for market.
The European catastrophe. resulting in
the shutting down of thousands of cot
ton mills while the men go to war, and
the practical stopping of Transportation
over the high seas. threatens the bust
ness OF the south as nothing else has
done for years. OF the 100000 or a.
10000 bales of cotton raised in the south
100000 bales go abroad, most of it to
England.
With transportation on the high seas
virtually suspended serious situation
confronts the south. according to the Wis
TORS. although they are more hopeful as
10 the outlook since England has entered
the conflict The general advice being
given 10 southern farmers is to hold their
cotton. but three-fourths of them are I'M
able to do this. owing to the necessity
for paying Indebtedness incurred to mer-
chants. bankers and others since the last
crop. II the war is ended in a compare
lively short time the harm in the south
viii not be serious, but if il is prolonged
the menace will be widespread.
No Solution Offered.
No definite solution of the problem has
been offered, and none was considered at
the conference with the President.
Whether legislation can be passed that
Will be helpful is in doubt, but the best
minds of the south will wrestle with the
problem. and if the help of the admin
Istration is needed ii will be given
The opinion of the southerners is veer-
ing around to the belief that Great Brit
ain, with her tremendous fighting power
at sea. Will he able to obtain control of
the high Seas in short time and pro-
tect her steamship traffic. so that the
suspension of commerce will not be pro-
longed As England is the greatest con-
sumner of American cotton some hope is
held out
Representative Underwood believes
that even if there is temporary hurt to
the south from the foreign situation the
eventual outcome will be the greatest
prosperity the south has ever known. as
every cotton mill will work to the last
spindle. and millions of dollars of cap
ital win be invested in new mills that will
produce goods of the same class as
heretofore produced abroad.
President Wilson assured the southern
ers that he is deeply interested in the
problem and will take II up in connection
with the other questions growing out Of
the European war
Calls a Conference.
F. j. Walton. president of the South
ern Cotton Congress. has issued a can
for the producers and others belonging
10 that organization to meet in an eX-
in Ms An
gust 13 and IA.
The call is the direct result of the
war in Europe, and a special committee
OF senators and representatives in the
Congress, of the United States has also
been appointed to devise some means OF
safeguarding the interests of the cotton
growing states during the international
conflict.
Mr.. Walton in issuing his call for the
meeting here, which senators and repre-
sentatives are expected to attend. says
in part:
Cotton is not alone the south's chief
asset il is the chief asset of the nation,
preserving the world balance of trade in
favor of the United States and bringing
10 America her golden stream.
.In the past few days the great f.u-
ropean cotton consuming countries have
been plunged into q war. which, II now
appears brings the grower and handler
~ cotton face to face with disaster. In
-yo days the price of cotton has begun to
fall startlingly. Cotton is about to move
10 the markets: the markets are about
To- be curtailed by millions of bales and
closed From the standpoint of the imam
cial stability and integrity of the nation
itself of the producers, of the banks and
bankers. of the merchants and business
men. of every commercial interest of our
own textile plants. II is vital that the
1914 crop of American cotton shall not
be sacrificed to the irreparable damage
of a prosperous and rapidly developing
section of the Union and of the nation
Time for Concerted Action.
81 do not believe in business hysteria
and for several days have awaited and
watched the course of events. 1t is clear
that great damage has already been
done, certainly more than can be undone
were there an immediate suspension OF
hostilities. Whether the danger of
total financial loss one year at least to
growers of cotton is impending is i'm
material; the danger Is sufficiently mani
fest to show that the time for concerted
action between growers. merchants.
business men. bankers, cotton manufac-
turers and even the national government
itself has come.
The special committees of senators and
representatives from the cotton growing
states appointed to devise some means
of guarding the interests of the cotton
producers during the war at meeting
yesterday afternoon discussed the sit
uatiou and selected three subcommittee
10 investigate the financial aid that might
he necessary. the transportation facilities
for handling cotton and the actual con-
dition of cotton mills in foreign countries.
Senators Overnan, Bryan and Hoke
Smith and Representatives Underwood
and Lee compose committee which will
confer with the President with reference
TO foreign relations generally and their
probable effect upon the cotton crop.
To Store and to Market.
Representative Lever of South Caro-
lima is chairman of subcommittee
which will consult with the Secretary of
the Treasury regarding financial aid re-
quired for storing the cotton in case there
Is mo- market for il abroad. and also re-