Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-08-12
METHODS TO PROTECT COTTON.
Delegation Headed by HOke Smith
Promised Aid by President.

washington, aug. 0.-PrSSlQenl
Wilson received delegation OF
Southern Senators and Representa-.
tives to-day, despite the serious i'll
ness Of Mrs. Wilson, to confer with
them concerning the immediate and
pressing problem which faces the
South in regard to financing and
transporting to foreign mills this
years cotton crop.
Senator Hoke Smith, Of Georgia,
headed this committee, the other
members of which were Senator
Overman, of North Carolina, and
Representatives Underwood, of Ala
bama; Lee, OF Georgia. and Garner,
of Texas.
A committee, headed by Rcprcsen-
tative Lever, Of South Carolina, call
ed on Secretary MCAdoo and dis
cussed ways and means for the gov
To Prevent Further Harm.
1t is believed tnat incalculable
harm will be done to the South by
the European war even if the hostili-
ties only last for two or three
months. No one expects that peace
will be brought around in anything
like SO short a time.
20 one has yet advanced any plan
tina, sounds promising whereby the
stu. ton can be met. Even the Wis
sonar schemes of the late Populist
Party are being overhauled to see if
they could be utilized in the resent
unparalleled emergency.
Already a vast amount Of harm has
been done, but when cotton begins
to pour on the market Gud there are
no purchasers the situation Of the
farmers and the cotton mercha 4 is
will be desperate.
England's participation in the Eu-
ropean war holds a ray Of encourage
ment that the contest will be soon
ended, and that England will be able
to patrol the seas with her mighty
battleship fleets and protect mer-
chant vessels loaded with American
cotton, grain, tobacco and oil.
English Demand for Cotton.
While there Is a prospect OF some
suspension Of the English mills, a
good demand for cotton is anticipat-
ed in the Lancashire District, which
is the largest consumer of cotton in
the world. Germany and Austria
both buy large quantities of Ameri-
can cotton, but there Is little likeli-
hood Of our being able to do much
trade with those countries.
Cotton is not generally construed
TO be contraband Of war, but if it is
on board a ship containing contra
band goods iC is subject to seizure
as a prize Of war.
The general advice being given to
Southern farmers is to hold their
cotton, but three-fourths Of them are
unable to do this, owing to the ne
cessity for paying Indebtedness in
Cured to merchants, bankers and
others since the last crop.
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 administration is needed
it will be given.
Wilson Will Aid.
President Wilson assured the
Southerners that he is deeply inter
ested in the problem and will take
it up in connection with the other
questions growing out OF the Euro
pean war.
The delegation outlined to the
President plans made by a special
committee of Southern congressman
to find out how much OF the cotton
crop can be turned into cloth in the
United States and how many OF the
mills OF Europe will be closed down.
Interview satisfactory.
Representative Underwood pre-
dicted that the European war would
result in every cotton mill in the
United States running night and day
to care for the raw cotton produced
in the South.
The interview was very Satisfac-
tory, said Senator Smith afterward.
'EVerythinS possible will be done
here TO facilitate the carving Of the
cotton product OF the South to the
consuming mills and toward reiiev-
ing he cit inn Arnn mht nI L.. %