The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-09-09
Cotton Grievances.
From the New York Times.

AAAS
What a tinorous king is cotton! Most
of his Universities never happen. Last
year the war caught the south with a
ably in any event the size Of the cror
would have depressed the price, but with
international trade suddenly paralyzed.
thrust from a peace to a war basis, the
plight of the grower for once was not To
be envied. But he began to howl before
he was hurt. He appealed to the govern
ment for money and the government did
all it could. Mr.. McAdoo placed a high
moral premium upon emergency currency
issued to the national banks to be loaned
on cotton. That was not enough. Wal
street was induced to join with the banks
of the south and southwest in a credit nool
Of s135, ZOO. 1000 to be loaned to the planters
be left on their hands after the support
ers of the "buy-a-bale" movement
throughout the north had been piled un'
It was proposed at one time to push gov
eminent aid to the point Of .vaiorizing"
the whole cotton crop, which would be for
the government to fix the price and then
issue money against the staple directly or
indirectly.
And none Of this special aid was need
ed. The $135. 100000 credit pool was never
drawn upon at all. The ''buy-a-bale" abb
surdity persisted in unsympathetic ridicule.
and the cotton crop was m~erchandized ia
the only proper way, What the south
couldn't carry over with the regular and
proper assistance of the bankers it sold for
what it could get, and, in the meantime.
the demand for the staple wonderfu1iv re,
vived. The price advanced from a nom
cents, where 1t now is. At this prtce thers =
is profit in growing 1t.
But now, another crop is coming on-a
natural phenomenon quantity and dis
agreeably foretold last winter by the Sec
rotary OF agriculture, who alone amonp
public officials at Washington had the
wit and courage to oppose any scheme of
pecially a 'valorization'' Of the outpmt
which would only cause an unsalable s,,a..
plus to pile higher and higher until Il
might bankrupt even the United States
f the south ought ought to to see saao to oh f t bbank .Ss
acreage in 1915 was much reduced. II has
been much reduced, and still a cotton cron
is indicated which only a few years aep
would have been thought very large. And
the south Is seeming the air for helm
There are "rumoTs from Washfnptonn =
an international pool to facilitate the sale
ed that the British government viii ~
solicited to declare cotton c~ontraband ana
then purchase for itself the amount thy
Germany might be expected to buy If har
IDEAS. 49, 1iese are fantastic
The crop now growing was planted N
full knoWleoge OF wal conditions and war
hazards. wherefore there is less reason
shifts OF economic experiments on fha
planters behalf. Moreover. the bankine
power OF the cotton-growing region is
maen greater than last year, owing to
Iederai reserve banks having been esfah-
lished at Richmond, Atlanta, Dallas. Kan
saS1 City. and st. Louis. so that neifhar
pnliantnropy nor uneconomic assistance IL
q cotton crop. II the south has ra,sas tce
warned and advised as it has been. sh ~,
blame itself. 1t could have raised mora
IS olner Things In place of cotton.
No geeaS