The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-08-28
WATSON ISSUES APPEAL
TO COTTON PLANTERS
Urges Growers to Stand Firm-Pres-
ident of Southern Cotton Con-
gress Advises Awaiting Ac-
tiOn of Federal Powers
Letter to McAdoo.

LetteT 10 McAdOO.
E. j. Watson, president of the
Southern Cotton congress, last night
addressed the following letter to Will
liam q. McAdoo, secretary of the
treasury:
"As president of the Southern Cot
ton congress, composed of producers,
merchants, bankers and manufacture
ers, and speaking for the South's cot
ton farmers, am glad to see that
you have called meeting in Wash
lngton tomorrow to devise some plan
for saving the South from being fore
ed to sell its only money crop at
prices that will be disastrous to every
interest in the South, and trust that
this conference will evolve some plan
to enable the banks of the South to
finance at least one-third of the cot
ton crop. If State banks are exempt
ed from the tax on notes issued for
circulation, they can avail themselves
OF the emergency currency provided
for under the Vreeland-A -Aldrich act,
which will very materially aid in TAX
ing care of the situation. We consid-
er 1T imperative that whatever is done
be done speedily, as cotton is being
harvested and is already moving. Un-
less relief is forthcoming, the farmer
will be forced to sell far below the
cost of production or fail to meet his
obligations"
Appeals to Growers.
f. j. Watson, president of the
Southern Cotton congress, last night
issued statement urging the farm
ers of the South to hold the cotton
crop until definite policy is an
nounced by the federal government.
"It is absolutely essential to our
very existence that eyver cotton
grower and handler of cotton with
hold his cotton from the market un-
til the federal government has pro-
mulgated the probable value of the
cotton and has outlined the course to
pursue" says Mr.. Watson.
The statement follows:
"From every quarter of the cotton
belt there comes the persistent in
quiry for exact information as to
what to do with the cotton in the
present crisis. No man living can
predict the outcome of the present
situation. Some of the ablest men
we have for days have been wrestling
with the problem and great headway
has been made. The only thing that
is absolutely certain is that the only
possible hope for relief is in the fed
eral government. l can only say to
the farmers of the South that the
federal government, both in and out
of the halls of the national congress,
is doing everything in IT'S power to
work out speedily a practicable plan
to avert the disaster. Today the eff
forts that have been making in Wash
ington will doubtless crystalize into
definite line of procedure. There is
therefore but one thing that can say
to the men all over the South who are
waiting and watching and 1 want to
say that with all the earnestness at
my command: 1t is absolutely essen
tial to our very existence that every
cotton grower and handler of cotton
withhold his cotton from the market
until the federal government has pro-
mulgated the probable value of the
cotton and has outlined the course to
pursue.
Suicidal Policy.
"The dumping of the first bales of
cotton on a market which sin't a mar
ket, right now, before the authorities
in Washington can evolve the finan-
cial plan, will be suicidal.
"Above everything we should not
delude ourselves. The federal gov
ernment only has the power to do GER
tain things under the constitution and
under existing laws, and in order to
relieve the cotton situation amend
ments to existing currency laws and
some new laws must be rushed
through congress. The restrictions
are far greater than supposed. Be-
., sides snd 81 aeuper concern rs
the fact that you can't pass just any
thing through congress. There must
be concentration upon those measures
that can be passed. Our people should
get it out of their minds right now
that there is even a remote possibility
Of snch thing as federal valoriza-
ton of cotton. The United States
government is not going to bug and
hold anybody's cotton and sucn
proposition would not even be con.
sidercd. Uneconomic ventures are