The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-10-25
SPIN THE COTTON.

Times prints an editorial I'm this con-
nection which it is worth while to
read. While Southerners are forced by
the logic of circumstances to disagree
with The Times view, It Is neverthe-
less easy to see that the editor of that
paper is endeavoring TO take a broad
and logical view OF the situation-a
view which to him. no doubt, seems
nearer to the correct one than those
Of the interested Southern editors. 1t
Is given for what g. may be worth. it's
caption being, spin the Cotton"
Nobody has arisen anywhere to
argue in public that the cotton plant
ers shall not be assisted in an emer-
gency which Ia almost as much the
country's as 1t is theirs. The only
question Is how the assistance shall
be rendered in a manner which shall
not do more harm than good. and
with suitable economy OF resource
At a time when there is q great need
Of economy. There are two fundamen-
tai faults Of all proposals yet made
One is that 1t Is proposed to take the
cotton out Of commerce on an arti-
fetal basis. The effort should be made
to put the cotton into consumption.
in order that It's W eight shall not op-
pres the market. and in order that one
Of the blessings OF nature shall be en-
ioyed as widely as possible. The sec
ond fault in the prodigality with which
It is proposed to use the resources OF
other people. The Treasury's funds
are thought to be hottomless. Even tha
bankers $15O.OO0.OOO fund proposes to
allocate depositors' cash as though
1t was free for that use, and as though
less money might not be made to go
further by other methods.
To get tho cotton out of sight it
must be put into cloth. The way TO
help the planter is to help the spin
ner Spinners' takings stay taken.
They never trouble the market fur
ther, and the planter, seeing the sta
pie disappear, is encouraged to plant
again. A natural or economic check
to the production OF too much cotton
is desirable, but the proposal to leg
lslate against the planting of cotton
Is an absurdity not fit to mention. A
hint as to how the desired result can
be produced without the locking up
Of s150.00O is afforded by the method
used in England regarding the dead
lock In the secrity market The total
is not guaranteed, but
one-quarter of 1t. II syndicate pf
those so ready to help the planters
would guarantee one-quarter OF the
legitimate borrowings upon the un-
picked crop thc credit market would
be unlocked :. light be that not even
the quarter guarantee would be re-
luired when all the credits were liqui-
dated. The method of guarantee might
be applied to spinners' purchases in
I manner to encourage their buying
and spinning. The Exchange being
closed, they are, unable to hedge"
their purchase of fibre. and can make
no calculations about their possible
losses. A score Of millions OF guar
lntee against the fall OF cotton to
price below q guaranteed minimum
would enable the wheels to be started
and assure the employment Of an army
befors) which the planters dwindle
20 insignificance.
Meanwhile 1t should be remember
I'd that reinforcements to the volun-
teers in behalf OF the planters are
coming up. The world cannot get along
without cotton. Not only
is 1t necessary of life, 1t is the base
Of many sorts Of industry which can
not be allowed to remain stagnant for
reasons OF wider application than the
relief Of the planters. There Is as
much reason for the British Govern
ment or bankers to finance the mills
ns there % for our government or
to finance our planters. When
the Lancashire looms are idle there
will be another cry OF disasters
even that from our South.
There will be similar conditions in
and Rhode Island. BeT
'ore our government commits itself
alone to the absurdities and extrava-
gances suggested this side the water.
there might be consideration OF a.
joint movement for the stranardiza-
ton OF cloth as we'll as of ataple. The
increase of demand and consumption
is better remedy than the reduction
Of supply.
1t is not true that there is too much
cotton. There is only too much for
The maintenance of the price. Under