The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19
the COTTON SITUATION,
DELII;TE,S TO SOUTHERN CON.
GRESS DISCUSS MEANS FOR
MEETING CRISIS.
Plan Of Safety Calls for E.stablisl,-
ncnt of Standard Grades, Liccns-
cd Warehouses and Issue of SuiIi.
cicnt Currency.

Washington, Aug. 13.-Thc problem
OF saving the cotton crop Of the South
in the face of the closing of the Eu-
ropcan cotton markets by war was
taken up today by a Southern Cotton
congress committee, which met here
In special session. Delegates represent
ing the cotton States organized lis
tened to members of congress who
outlined Legislative plans for meeting
the cotton crisis, discussed the situa-
ton and named a committee to thrcsh
out plan for saving the 13,5OO. 600
bales of cotton which will soon be
harvested in the cotton States.
Representative Lever of South Car
olina and Senator Hokc Smith of
Georgia, who have had charge of the
Legislative end of the movement to
provide federal aid to meet the situa-
uon' addressed the congress. They
with Senator Ransdcll of louisiana.
formulated the scheme which will
probably be put through. 1t con-
templates the establishment of stand
ard cotton grades, government licens-
cd cotton warehouses and the issue
or sufficient emergency currency,
about $3OO,OOO.OOO to be loaned ON
cotton, to enable the South to hold
the surplus of the crop over until
market conditions become more near
ly normal.
"A flood of suggestions and plans
were proposed by delegates to the
congress. They ranged from pro-
posals that the government valorizc
cotton or issue currency against it, to
plans for the destruction of half Of
the crop, to maintain the price. All
these plans were referred to comit-
tees elected by the various State del
egations.
The congress adopted n resolution
indorsing the amendments to the
emergency currency act proposed by
Senator Ransdcll, which would make
emergency currency available on
warehouse rccipts for cotton as Sc
curity. Senator Ransdell told the con-
gress that although the treasury de-
partmcnt had decided such receipts
would be proper security under the
present law. he was anxious to make
sure Of it,
The resolutions committee clectcd
was: II. G. Ihett Of South Carolina;
w. l.. Lewis, Texas; Hugh McI,ae,
North Carolina; l.. Melton, Alabama;
IL. Il. Paten, Virginia Frank Tomlin-
son, Arkansas; r. S. Etheridge. Geor-
gia, and j. Frank Adams, Florida.
The committee on legislation in
cludcd: $. G. Mayfleld South Caro-
lima; L.. II. Konc, Texas; A. j. Nc
kinnon. North Carolina; Ray Russell,
Alabama; Chas W. Perridy, Virginia;
Ben B. We'll, Arkansas; Ii. t.. Stock
bridge, Georgia and ]. ID. Smith,
Florida.
Ihc congress also named "a COM
mittee of two members from each
or the cotton States to confer with
Secretary McAdoo of the treasury as
to the financial aspects of the situr-
ton.
The congress will meet tomorrow
to thresh out the various plans Of ro-
lief proposed.
When Commissioner Watson of
South Carolina, president OF the
southern Cotton congress. called
tho congress into extraordinary
session just before noon TODAY
nc saw before him gathered in
the spacious house caucus room some
where between 400 and 500 serious
minded, determined looking NOR
chants, bankers and cotton men gath
ercd from all over the cotton growing
states bent on their mission of say.
ing the cotton crop from going for
Il song because of tho I,uropcan war
Situation 1t Is probable that ncvc.,
pcI"re has any set of men come to
washington more determined to work
out some plan that will save them
selves and their ncighbOrs from Gnan-
clal loss and ruin than those who arc
mere now. They came from each of
the states in the South where the
hcccN staple is grown and were a
most representative body Of PROSPER
GUS citizens.
After Mr.. Watson had called thc
meeting to order bright Williamson
"f Darlington, former president of thc
south Carolina Bankers association.
"'o\c" the adoption of Il resolution
prepared at the request of the pcuplc
oi sumter on the death of Mrs Wood