The Washington herald., 1914-10-04
AUTO CONCERNS
Buying COTTON
John N. WHY'S Is Creating In
terest IN Movement
Among Dealers.
SEES GOOD TO RESULT
Overland President Puts Into Effect a
Scheme that Will Aid Auto Industry
as Well as Planters.

In an effort to further the national
compaign recently started to better busi-
ness conditions in the stricken cotton belt
Of the South. John N. Willys, president
Of the willys-Overland Company, has
purchased a bale Of cotton for each Of
the 400 Overland dealers in that section
Of the country. Mr.. WHY'S also has de-
clared his intention of buying an addi-
tional bale Of cotton for each Overland
car purchased during the two months
ending November II. and also of trying
70 interest eacn of the prominent. con-
Germs afaliated with the Rice Leaders Of
the World Association.
Armour & Co. have purchased 700 cot
ton bales for their Southern agents. The
Pillsbury Flour Company and many other
concerns of national prominence have
bought or signiied their intention Of buy
ing a bale for each OF their Southern
agencies.
Not Asking Charity.
"our plan is to have every American
who can afford 1t purchase a bale Of cot
ton at 10 cents a pound" says Mr.. WHY'S.
IN explanation OF the idea. This amounts
TO $50 a bale, which gives the growers a
small profit II these bales were sold at
the present market price, they would go
for much less than that price. But the
South is not asking for charity. II sim
ply makes a Straightforward business
proposition, in which the business men
of the rest of the country are asked to
cooperate with them.
The Southern growers will store and
insure the cotton sold in this way. SO
those who buy them will not be risking
a cent The cotton will be held until the
war is over and the European market
is again brisk. Then it will be sold and
enormous profits will be reaped.
We are simply doing our share
toward increasing the value of our coun-
try's product. Although the cotton crop
this year has been enormous. the out
break Of war cut of the European trade
which formed large part of the worlds s
cotton market. The European factories
have been practically unnamed by the
call for army reserves. AS the looms are
idle, the demand which would have con-
sumed the crop under ordinary condi-
tions, has been suspended for the time
being. The cotton growers, who had
visions Of great prosperity. now see them
selves facing bankruptcy unless assis-
tance is forthcoming in their own country.
IF the South were to sell its great
crop at the extremely low prices now
quoed, it would mean that many millions
of wealth which should come to this
country would be literally thrown away.
But If the South is helped by the North
and the East and the West to hold its
crop for a while longer, it will find a
tremendous market as soon as foreign
trade has resumed its normal footing.
Boom After the War.
After the war the factories abroad will
reopen and the looms will be worked
continuously to supply the great demand
for cotton goods Prices OF cotton will
soar and the South again will be pros
porous.
The citizens who buy these cotton
bales now are not only helping to ce-
ment the business relationship between
the different sections Of the United
States, but at the same time they are
making a good. sound investment They
are benefiting both themselves and the
business of the country.
No one section of the country can
do business today in complete independ-
ence Of the remainder Of the country. The
South finds part of its cotton market in
the North, and the North finds an auto
mobile market in the South. The East
provides the West with great harvesting
machines, and the West, in return, pro-