Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-26

(Corres. of The Associated Press.)
London, Oct. 11.-Discussing the
plight of American cotton growers, the
cotton factory times, a prominent Eng
fish trade paper, says: 1T is to be
hoped that, for their sakes as well as
ours, the planters will get through
without serious loss. The call for con-
ton will come in due time, and it is
essential in the general interest that
it should then be forthcoming in SUI
ficient quantities, which could hardly
be the case If the growers were ruin II
or very severely hit at the present
time
The World Record has prepared a
table, based on figures of the Inter
national Cotton Federation, which
show that about one-half of the cotton
produced in America for the year
ended September l, 1918, was used by
the countries now at war. Great
Britain, Germany, France, Austria,
Russia, Belgium and Japan are repre-
scented as consuming 7,534,934 bales out
of a total of 14,5O3.757 bales. Italy,
Spain, Portugal, Holland, Sweden, Den
mark and Norway, which took 1,193,SS7
bales of cotton in 1913, are also more
or less seriously affected by the war.
Cotton spinners at Manchester were
much disgruntled by the action of the
Federation of Master Cotton Spinners'
Associations in running short time.
For a time serious labor troubles were
threatened But conditions in the cot
ton market have now become so bad
that complete suspension of cotton
manufacturing plants seems imminent
unless the government finds some way
to offer relief.
Spinners are indignant over the con-
tinued closure of the Liverpool cotton
market and have inspired efforts to
effect direct business relations be-
tween the growers and consumers OF
cotton, thus eliminating the Liverpool
cotton dealers. The Manchester
Guardian, and other prominent papers
located in cotton manufacturing cen
tiers, while admitting that such a plan
might be desirable, say it would re-
quire a long time to handle cotton di
rect because of the great amount of
machinery required to take care of it
properly and the necessity for the
careful grading which Liverpool deal
ers have afforded.
Speaking of the proposed elimination
Of Liverpool interests from the cotton
trade, the Cotton Factory Times says;
Cotton planters in America have al
ready considered the necessity of pro-
tecting themselves against the Liver
pool interests, and it is reported that
they nave decided that no cotton
shall be planted next year. This is of
course meant as a warning that if
their stocks of materials are not taken
off their hands now a greatly en-
CHANGED price will be charged for it
later on.
Opinions may differ as to whether
some of the present dislocation of
trade could not be avoided, but II is
daily becoming more clear that there
are too many conflicting interests at
work in the business, which makes it
very difficult for trade to move, and
those interests seem bent on blaming
each other for some portion of the
present unsatisfactory situation
Thomas Temperly, of Bolton, in a
letter on the plight of the cotton trade,
charges that Liverpool cotton lords"
are supported by English banks in
keeping the Liverpool cotton market
closed and preventing mills from get
ting the supply of raw cotton they
need This is much the same position
taken by Gordon Harvey. a member
of Parliament, who charged that Liver
pool interests maintain an artificial
cotton market and even when the
Liverpool market is open do not per-
init trading unless prices are in their
favor.