The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-08-11
The War and Cotton.

war between the states. Cotton is the
chief agricultural product of the
South. Every year it puts $9OO,OOO,-
900 in circulation. Georgia produces
one-sixth of the cotton crop of the
! South. and in this section-the
Southern half-the bulk of the GeOr-
gia crop of cotton is produced.
In August of each year the
cotton crop begins to move and
there is usually . brisk demand
ior new cotton and there is al
ways adequate money tc buy all Of
the cotton offered. Cotton and its
by-products are cash and every in
telligent man, even in Europe, I'M
derstands what the cotton crop is to
the South.
Ten days ago middling cotton
brought II cents in Dawson, but at
the moment there is absolutely no
market for cotton anywhere. Nobody
knows what cotton is worth. We
know what it ought to be worth, but
today there is no sale, no demand for
it. 1t is a condition that has not ex-
listed since the close of the civil war.
1t is a condition that, if it be prolong-
ed even for brief period. must de-
press trade and industry and put a
blight on business. Every bank, ev-
cry mandatory, every business firm,
every man who works with hand and
brain in town or country will feel
the effects of the situation that prom
ises to develop.
What is the cause? The European
strife, of course. How long will the
menace exist? No man can answer
that question. OF course there is
hope that if war must go on its dura-
ton will be brief.
The situation bristles with contin-
gencies of perplexing nature. With
Great Britain, Germany and France,
the foreign nations that are the con-
sumers of American cotton, drawn
into active hostilities the future will
hold ominous phases. Cotton may be
declared cOntraband of war, and If
that is the outcome transatlantic
shipments of cotton will entirely
cease. The only demand for the sta
pie will come from American mills
and from Japan and China. That
would absorb not over fifty per cent
of the American crop, and even that
demand might feel the depressing eff
feet of the situation. In that event
cotton would fall far below its just
intrinsic value, not to speak of spec
ulative value. 1t is easy to under
stand what the situation would be.
it would be deplorabIe for the
South.
The South cannot stand the expe-
rience described above. The cotton
growers ought not to be forced, if
such a situation does develop, to sell
their product at a great loss. Many
will have to do so, for there are
growers who must sell even at a
sacrifice.
In this connection it is crafty
ing to note the inception of plans at,
Washington for the movement of the
cotton crop. The committee of con-
gress appointed for the purpose of
comforting with the president has
received the most satisfactory assur-
ances from him that all of the infiu-
ence of the government will be ex-
erted to aid the movement of cotton,
and it is certain that if any addi-
tional legislation is necessary it will
be forthcoming.
1t is a time when the national gov
eminent can render signal service to
the South and the whole country.
Cotton may be forced down to a price
below its value, but when peace
comes cotton will again regain its
supply and demand value. There is
no more solvent collateral than bale
of cotton, and the South ought to be
helped if such procedure becomes
necessary to save the cotton crop, to
get fair value for the product.
If Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo, acting for the United States
government, will put 100000, 900
of government funds at the disposal
of Southern banks they can deal with
the situation. 1t would be use
of the national resources as wise
and beneficent as the federal gov
eminent has ever made, and we can
not doubt that the Secretary of the
Treasury is intelligently advised as
to the danger and that he appreci-