Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-09-03
Comprehensive Explanation Of tn
Real Meaning of Term.


1t is not a small matter to the
southern farmer that England has de-
clared cotton to be contraband.
In times of war shipments on the
sea are divided into three classes: alb
solute contraband, conditional contra
band and free goods.
Heretofore cotton has been regarded
as free or non-contraband. In other
words, when being transported in neu-
trail vessels even though the destina-
ton was to the port Of its enemy II
could not be disturbed in transporta-
ton by a belligerent. Under this rule
last spring many thousands Of bales
of cotton were transported to Ger
many and Austria, to the great bene-
fit Of cotton planters and to the great
profit Of the cotton merchants. Ger
many consumes about 100000 bales
Of American cotton a year. A dis
turbance Of this trade means loss to
the southern farmer.
In international law the term 'ab-
solute contraband" is applied to such
goods used exclusively for warlike
purposes as are being transported
with a view of sale to q belligerent
To make any goods absolute contra
band 1t is necessary that their use
shall be exclusively for war and that
they are destined for nation at wal
even though the goods may pass
through a neutral country before
reaching their final destination.
On the other hand conditional con-
traband' relates to goods not used
exclusively for war purposes though
destined to a port Of a belligerent.
Free goods are such as are not used
to great extent for warlike purposes
or are so connected with humanitarian
use as to make their transportation
necessary at all times.
Heretofore cotton has been regarded
as free and this by international agree
ment and by a general concensus OF
opinion. No nation in time Of wal
has the right without the consent OF
other nations to change this character
Of cotton either to absolute or con-
ditional contraband.
England is violating international
law when she changes cotton from
free to contraband. She makes 1t i'm
possible for the cotton merchant tc
risk shipping even to neutral port
for any merchant may be bankrupt
through the seizure by England Of his
cargo Of cotton.
The merchant will not buy cotton
ordinarily unless he Is able to sell il
and ship 1t. AS the demand for cotton
is reduced, correspondingly is the
price.
The south is greatly interested in
the maintenance by the United States
Of cottons character as free and not
contraband. The suggestion that Eng
land will sustain the price Of cotton is
"buncombe" England has all she can
do to pay for the food stuffs, muni-
tions Of war and raw materials needed
by her. 1t may sound we'll to talk
about her sustaining the cotton mark
ct. She will not and cannot do It.
but the United States can sustain this
market by insisting that shipments OF
cotton be permitted in accordance
with existing international rules.
1t is foolish for the citizens OF
America and particularly Of the south
to let sympathy for England and her
Allies go so far as to suffer them to
destroy the prosperity Of the south
The souths demand that there be nc
interference with the shipment Of cot
ton Is just and should be enforced by
our government.-Green Piedmont