Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-17

AT THE late session Of Congress desperate
n attempt was made by sundry statesmen OF
the true demagoglc type to break up the cot
ton exchanges of the country by legislation OF
the most drastic character. The fight was led
by Senator Clark, Of Arkansas, who, although
Of a rather more pleasing exterior than the
late Jeffres Davis of his state is really at bot
tom no better than JEFF He wanted to put all
sorts of restrictions and penalties upon those
engaged in the business of buying co-ton-re-
strietons and penalties which would nave
driven the dealers in cotton out OF business,
But he failed, thanks to the better sense OF
Senators who looked at the subject from
strictlv buslness and not from mere neigh
borhood and political point of view nave
received within the last few days letter iro''
Governor o'Neal, Of Alabama, one OF the sahest
of the Governors of the states, in which ne
says:
For many years the South has been led to
believe, through demagogic appeals, that COT
ton exchanges were gambling institutions an'
that with their abolition the price OF cotton
would be materially advanced. AS result ol
the war cotton exchanges have been closeu.
There was no method by which spinners oouiu
protect their purchases or ascertain the aotual
value OF cotton. Prices varied in such locali-
absolutely convinced the South that the cotton
exchanges are necessary adJuncts in the mar
keting of its crop. There will never be again
In the South any camor for the abohuon OF
the cotton exchanges. over a year ago, when
the Clark bill was pending, which sought
to close the cotton exchanges of the country
I wrote a letter to Mr. Underwood, calling MS
attention to the fact that the leading writers
or political economy were all united in the
opinion that the cotton and other exchanges
performed a necessary function in modern COM
nerce and that their abolition would entail
enormous losses upon the South and put tho
cotton producer at the mercy OF the Foreign
and domestic spnners and consumers Ihis
war has removed many illusions"
This is a most significant indication or the
return of sanity among the peoples. Mr. LIN
coin was entirely right-"You can't fool all OF
the people all of the time"
CIPEAKING OF Mr.. Underwood suggests the
y organization Of the next House. Who viii
succeed him as Democratic leader of that bodyT
The man most talked of is Representative
Claude TIitchin, of Scotland Neck, North Caro-
lima, the ranking member of the Ways and
Means Committee. and now serving his seventh
term In Congress. BY all the rules of the
game. he ought to follow underwood put II
is not dead sure that he will Mr. Fitzgerald
of New York. is spoken of as a possible COM
petitor of the Tarheel Congressman for this
place of honor and hard work Neither of
these men is quite the same sort of leader Mr.
Underwood has proved himself to be- hut of
the two Mr.. Kitchln has probably the lead on
the gentleman from New York. Kitchin is
better speaker than either Underwood or Fitz-
gerald and he has always been very attentive
to his duties in the House; but facility Of
speech is not the surest sign of the gifts of
leadership. 1t may be said that Kitchln is
not quite so easily disturbed as Fitzgerald, and
however he may boil in his heart he keeps
the bubbles down. The elevation Of Under
wood TO the Senate will help that body. but
it will create IAN aching void" in the House
1t will also put Underwood out Of the presi.
Dental entries for the 1916 stakes.
RANDALL.