The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-14
SMITH ON COTTON OUTLOOK.
ATTITUDE OF PRESIDENT AS TO
, COTTON EXPORTS PROBLEM
Is REASSURING.
disposition Shown by Federal Reserve
Bosrd In Regard to Financing Crop
u Encouraging. Nothing VIII DC
Omitted That Can be Done"
Columbia state.

II think can with propriety now
state publicly my attitude and the
reasons therefor" said Senator Il. ID.
smith yesterday. In discussing the
cotton exports problem.
Il have felt strong pressure to
use the press and In my speeches to
Join the agitation against the action
OF England I'm reference to her order
In council of March IL. but I recog-
nized~the fact that the Democratic
administration was charged with oil
OF the responsibility attaching to the
circumstance.
Il did not think II wise TO lend my
support To what seemed to be a
harsh and damaging criticism OF the
ADMINISTRATION; for the public at large
10 ei 'or for a thing To be done by
their officials. the function OF whose
oiiice' Is TO do this thing. Is tanta-
mount to saying that there Is a
dereifction upon the part of those so
CHARGED. i believed that President
Wilson and his cabinet were doing all
In their power to discharge the du-
ties imposed upon them for the best
Interests OF the American people.
"I,thousht. however. 1t was my
duty to write to them. signifying my
appreciation OF the grave response
bility that was upon them. and to
call their attention to the gravity OF
the cotton situation growing out of
the order In council OF England of
March IL 4 did not hesitate, under
other circumstances. to use both
press and platform In the agitation
for better prices and better market
Ing facilities for cotton. Under those
circumstances we were dealing with
a condition where public sentiment
properly directed might ultimately
force the proper legislation. The
probtems then imposed the respon-
sibiiity of their solution upon the
public. and the public had right to
express It's sentiments. looking to
proper legislation. through It's repre-
sentatives. In a word. the situation
then was amenable to national legis-
iation.
10 the presen, situation IL is pos
sibie and perhaps probable. that the
remedy Is % be found through din
loinatic NEGOTIATIONS. IL was. there
fore. the duty Of those charged with
ssstiins international questions 10
meet this situation. and believed
them as I do now. that the admins
tration was using every means in It's
power and would continue, step by
step To exhaust every means given Il
by hw TO settle properly this ques-
ton.
There was also graver question,
perhaps. growing out of the attitude
OF Germany I'm her submarine war
fare, that was In progress OF final de-
termination. Upon the proper settle
ment OF this question. In my opinion.
depended largely the satisfactory set
tlemeut OF the cotton question with
England.
Il felt that the efforts OF the ad-
ministyation 10 maintain peace were
commendable and should receive the
support OF every American-to main
tain peace. OF course. with national
self-respect and without loss OF any
national rights. without the loss of
any OF our commercial rights OF the
personal rights of any of our citizens
going to and fro abroad.
while the administration was
srappllng with this grave situation, I
refralned from giving utterance to any
views or opinions that might add In
the slightest degree To the difficulties
that already beset the administration.
But now that the question with
Germany has been brought TO this
last stage. l think II proper that GER
tain communications that L have had
with the president and with the sec
retary OF state should be known In
subetance. On the 18th OF July
wrote Secretary of State Lansing as
follows:
'During the last session OF con-
gress committee was appointed TO
investigate the matter OF export cot
ton, The latitude OF certain powers
now engaged in war Is TO close neu-
trail ports and seize certain ships
having American cotton destined for
other countries than the one max
Ing the seizure. The new crop OF
cotton Is now about to be placed upon
the market. II Is absolutely essential
that the growers and shippers of this
all lL., arLlcIc ..k.Llll T.