The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-01
Heflin Says Militant Cotton Representatives Accom-
 plished Much Good
EXPECTS ACTION
 EARLY IN DECEMBER
Points to Statement of McAdoo That Problem Is One for the Government. Says Some of Congrcssmen
 Were Hopeful of Success

Without calling Senator Bankhead bv name. J. Tom Hefiin. who repre.ant. tr. Fifth Alabama district fin Congress. LOOK on yesterday sharp issue with a statement made by the senator in Mont gomery last week to tho effect that every man of intelligence fin Washing ton at the time knew as long ago as a month that the federal governmenh would not aid the southern farmer. MT. Hefin said that on the contrary great many men believed then and know now that the cotton problem. be- ing too large for any individual state to handle, was and is problem for the government to take hold of and solve. T believe that the so-called militant cotton representatives" said Congress- man Hefiin, accomplished much good Tor the southern farmer by their ac-s tivfty. Good fruit will be borne, I.e ready Secretary McAdoo has made n public statement to the effect that the cotton problem is a problem for tho government. And I predict that when Congress reconvenes December 1. the l President will initiate movement in the interest of the south, and that re- lief will bs forthconinE
 Leader Mann's Position As a matter of fact, some of us had hope that we would be successful in re- quiring by the enactment of law the government to lend money to the south. In the beginning. MT. Mann. republican leader. fought us tooth and toe nall Later, however. he made tho announce ment on the floor that he thought there was statesmanship sufficient in Con- gress to solve the cotton problem, ana
 indicated that he would lend his aid In the passage of a bill However, when the actual show down came, he and his entire flock voted against us. What would have been the result in republi- can districts which prosper when cot ton Is cheap had those republicans rem dered us assistance in an effort to boost the price of cotton?
 "The answer is obvious. As a mat ter of fact there Is little question but that a majority of the members of Congress know tha. something should be done for the relief of the south With elections staring them in the face, however, it was but natural that rep resentatives from republican and even democratic statss north of the Mason
 Dixon line should obey that impulse and defend themselves.
 "Thcre will probably be- however, A different story fin December. for then elections will be over. And further more. Secretary McAdoo. evidently speaking with the approval of tho President has declared the cotton problem a government problem.
 Congress Good at Heart Congress is good at heart. ire. spective of political affiliatlon. When / a fire destroyed Salem. southerners voted for the Salem relief bill South erners gladly responded to the appeal of San Francisco. when that city was destroyed by an earthquake. There arc other incidents in which southerners torc down the boundary line between this section and the other. And now Wo are in distress. I predict that in De- lief. unless relief in the meantime has already been secured.
 "ws talked with the President re- garding the situation. and I believe that he is interested to such nextent that if distress continues he will inc itiate the relief movement by a special message to Congress-"
 Congressman Heflin. having com Tjetcd speaking tour in the Seventh district, predicted the overwhelming re e-election If Congressman Burnett. "He should be re-elected." said Mir. Heflin, flor he Is member of Con- gress almost invaluable to Alabama.
 He will be tho dean of the House dele- eatjon as soon Oscar W. Underwood enters the Senate"