The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-12-31
TEXAS FARMERS THROW DOWN
GAUNTLET TO GREAT
BRITAIN.
THEY DEFY SEIZURE
Have Offer for n Million Bales--
They Demand Pro
lection.

Fort Worth, Tex, Dec. 27.--The
farmers of Texas have thrown down
the gauntlet to Great Britain; they
will defy seizure by sending 1900
900 bales of cotton, whose desti-
nation will be somewhere in Eu-
rope"
The offer to buy this large quanti-
ty OF cotton was received by presi-
dents of farmers unions at their
meeting in New Orleans, Dec. 6.
According to the proposition. produc-
ers will be paid 20 cents a pound for
all cotton delivered at a certain neu-
trail port" the purchase price to be
deposited In an American bank sub
ject to order as soon as the ship
reaches port. When the offer was
received no one, not even officials Of
the union gave serious attention. for
apparently there was no way to ship
cotton to any but entente ally ports.
Later farmers and business men of
the south got together and decided to
give the proposition a thorough test
1T was too good to pass by. A
Christmas present OF nearly $6,000.-
900 to the farmers would not only be
helpful to them, but the entire coun-
try. especially Texas, which state
will supply the bulk OF the consign-
ment.
Arrangements have been complet-
ed for the first shipment, according
to Hemp N. Pope. president of the
Texas union, and the vessel will
leave Galveston within a month. Pope
is confident of delivering the goods,
for he points out that England would
have good reasons to hesitate in seiz-
ing an American ship, flying an Amer
lean flag and taking a cargo owned
by American farmers and bound for
a neutral port.
Pope, Peter Radford former presi-
dent OF the Union, F. S. Weinert
head Of the Texas warehouse de-
partmsnt. and Texas bankers have
asked the state department whether
the Union states will protect the
shipment and prevent seizure by the
British. These inquiries have been
referred to Con. Johnson OF Tyler.
Tex, Solicitor General. Even II the
state department fails to give assur-
ances that England will refrain from
such seizure. the Texans will make
the shipment anyway, and IL the
British do hold up the vessel and
seize the cargo the farmers union,
backed by allied interests will de-
mand of President Wilson and con-
gress that the United States immedi-
ately discontinue sending to the al
lies not only munitions Of war, but.
also food.
Should England seize the cotton on
the high seas, that country would be
bound to take the case to prize
court and pay the farmers the origi-
nal contract price, 20 cents a pound,
nevertheless, the farmers declare
they will not stand for any prize,
court procedure, declaring that there
is no international law that prevents
one neutral from shipping goods to-
neutral.
The price of 20 cents. is almostI
double the prevailing market price.
But the Farmers union is requiredl
to charter the vessel and pay part
of the transportation charges. Pope,
estimates that the final price to the,
shippers will be about IT cents. And,
II the south is able to fill the order,
for / 100000 bales, other orders Will
follow, 1t is declared, and give the
south great lift toward prosperity.
Pope points out that England buys,
American cotton then sells 1t to Eu-,
ropean neutrals at a higher price.
which constitutes unfair discrimina-|
ton. ~...
Pope admits that the cotton VIII
go to q belligerent, but,
refused to say whether 1t is destined.
for Germany.
"There is no idea Of sending the,
entire 1000. 900 bales at once" ex-,
planned Pope. but we will send one
ship even II she 10 sunk. We want
the government to give US protection
that is due US. l do not mean gun