Evening star., 1914-10-08
Senator Bankhead Declares
Any Relief by Government
Would Come Too Late.
SUGGESTS STATES BUY
HALF OF ALL CROPS
Plan Provides Loan in Form of
Script-Advocates Taxing All
Cotton Produced Next Year.

The frank admission that the saliva
tion of the southern cotton growers
would have to be worked out by the
states rather than by the national gov
ernment, and that if the planters were
TO wait for the passage of Dill lot
the government to buy cotton at lo
cents, or to lend large amounts on cot
ton direct, the relief would not come In
time for next years crop, was mdoe
on the floor of the Senate TINS altei
noon by Senator Bankhead OF Alaoar d.
Senator Bankhead suggested thdl
each state individually, and wlthout
waiting for all the others TO JOIN ILL.,
should provide for a loan TO ouy one
half of the crop of cotton OF each ihui-
vfdual planter. This loan wouio oe
sued in the form of script, ranging
down as low as $40, but no interest
would be paid on the denominations
lower than $780, This could be used in
navine for the cotton and would permit
the nlanter to discharge his debts 10
the merchants, who could pass them
along TO the banks in settlement OF
their debts.
The hanks could exchange the small
denominations for $1,000 bonds pear
ing interest at per cent. iheH az.
houses should be established py tne
state and the counties shouid oe au-
fhorized to provide warehouses ior tne
storage of the half of the crop oouehI
by the state
Would Tax 1915 Cotton.
To avoid tremendous crop next
wear, making it impossible then TOT 'he
state to sell the half of this years crop
it would be holding, he proposed a TAX
of so cents bale on all cotton pro-
duced next year and of 70 cents ar
acre on all land planted in cotton Ior
next years crop. In addition there
would be tax of 81 on each paie
bought by the state.
Every senator and congressman IN
Washington who knows anything about
the situation. and is candid enough TO
admit il. realizes that no law can De
passed at this tsne for the government
to buy cotton or to loan money direct
alluding to the efforts of some of the
members of Congress to force action
II think it would be wicked to hold out
any false hope to our people The cot
ton growing states have twenty senators
out of ninety-six and ninety-eight repre-
sentatives out of 435. The people of the
other states are interested in the low
price of cotton just as our people are
interested in cheaper flour and woolen
goods. The producers of many other ar
ticles are likewise in distress as re-
suit of the war. and are looking about
for relief.
when it is proposed that the gov
ernment should buy or lend on cot
ton, the suggestion is promptly made
to include copper, tobacco. naval
stores and various other things pro-
duced by other sections of the coun.
try With the character and volume OF
opposition to any legislation looking to
the special relief of the cotton grower
1t would be impossible to obtain
vote before time to plant the next
crop, even if bill could be framed at
all that would command sufficient
votes to pass it.
Real Trouble Just Beginning.
"I realize that the real trouble is just
beginning, and that our people do not
yet entirely appreciate the serious
situation ahead of them. All who are
well informed believe that the war Will
not soon end. The time for the pay
ment of debts is arriving. The farmer
owes the retail merchant. The retail
merchant is indebted to the wholesale
merchant and the bank. The whole
sale merchant owes the bank. The
farmer has nothing with which to pay
except his cotton, for which there Is
no market. I doubt if the crop could
be sold under present conditions for b
cents pound. l am told that eastern
spinners are talking of being able to
buy their supply at cents a pound.
This crop was raised at cost OF
about 10 cents. and sale at less
price will result in loss After the pres
ent crop had been grown this great crisis
arose without the fault of the farmer.
and if he cannot get above cost for his
cotton he cannot pay what he owes the
merchant. If he cannot pay the mer-
chant, the merchant cannot pay the
wholesaler or the bank What is the
result? Judgments, executions, sales,
sacrifices of property, bankruptcy and
debts unpaid"
President Wilson today listened to
further suggestions from southern con-
gressmen to- relief for the cotton
situation in the south. The Georgia
delegation called upon him and dis
cussed the outlook. They offered the
suggestion that if the 10 per cent tax
on emergency circulation by state