The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1914-08-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The great war in Europe will play
havoc with the price of cotton un-
less the Government comes to the
rescue. All the Southern Senators
and many of the representatives
have gone actively to work to do
all that is possible in the interest
OF the cotton growers.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Rus
STA, France, England and lesser
countries are involved and possibly
Japan may get into it, Not only
will the manufacturing and con.
sumption of cotton in those coun-
tries be affected, the shipment Of
cotton will be interfered with.
Senator Hoke Smith has taken the
lead in bringing the matter to the
attention of Congress and the Presi-
dent and is Chairman of a Commit
tee that will look after the South's
money crop, both in the way of fl
nancing the surplus and in providing
safe shipment to foreign countries.
Congressman Gordon Lee is also
member of the Committee.
Everybody has talked OF the time
when the whole of Europe would be
involved in war but nobody ever ex-
pected to live to see it. This war
has come like a flash from a clear
sky. Evidently the world at large
has not understood conditions as
they really existed Emperor Will
liam says it is the result of ill-will
which has existed for years against
the strength and prosperity OF the
German Empire 1t has been pre-
cipitated by the assassination three
or four weeks ago of Arch
duke Franz Ferdinand, of Aus
tria and his wife, while they
were visiting Servia, "A little
country with population Of
only 100000. The hostility of
Servia toward Austria on account of
wrongs inflicted is at the bottom CT
the present trouble Austria started
after Servia; Russia took little Ser
Was part. Germany went after
Russia as Germany and Austria are
allied; France has gone after Ger
many, her ancient enemy and Eng
land, as the ally of France and Rus
STA, has declared war on Germany.
Millions of men are already in the
field and unless something unex-
pected happens it will be by far the
bloodiest of all modern wars.
If six men the size of John l.. Sui
livan were stripped to the waist, Civ
en- Bowie knives, locked in room
and forced to fight to the death it
would be an illustration of the
struggle which has suddenly been
started by the great powers of EU-
rope. T he Imagination cannot
picture surrender by either side as
long as men can stagger to the cor
flict.
Maybe we will soon begin to APP
preciate the blessings of peace.
What, if instead of ''watchful wait
ing, our President, had thrown us
into a war with Mexico
One effect of the war in Europe
has been to throw upon the New
York market many American stocks
held in Europe. They need gold
over there and they are unloading
securities and taking away our gold
1t happens, however, that we have
plenty of it,
l have understood that a year ago
Europe held a billion dollars worth
of American stocks and bonds. Many
of these securities were dumped into
the New York market last year and
were absorbed all right but New
York bankers are unwilling to be
held up at this time and they have
taken steps to protect the business
of this country.
The various exchanges have been
closed, clearing house certificates
have been resorted to, and emergen-
cy currency is being used to in
crease the amount of money availa-
bic to meet the needs of the sitra-
ton. AS soon as things settle down
the demand on this country for food
supplies will make great prosperity
for the Western farmers and if the
Government stands by the cotton
y4~4'115 t2-s country ought lot t3I
feel any bad effects from the titanic