Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-27
ENGLAND's STAND ON COTTON TRADE
tJoscph Norwood In the Columbia STATED
ono OF tho Days Best Cartoons.

we hear great deal of clamor OF
iate Tor interference on the part of
our government with the policy of
Great Britain Of preventing cotton
from reaching Germany and her allies
especially Is this clamor vigorous
"heh cargoes OF cotton consigned IN
such neutral nations as Norway, Den
mark, Sweden. Switzerland are stop-
pea and carried into British ports To
those VINO raise this clamor, II an
pears that our government is not pro-
tectinS our section OF the country as
II could and should, showing great
Partially to Great Britain and her
allies while holding Germany to n
strict accountability for her misdeeds
Those who raise this clamor are la
boring under certain mistaken ideas
which this writer wishes to point out
Inat we should take this view OF
the situation in this section is natural
as cotton is the product upon which
we depend for our livelihood, and we
naturally resent anything which seems
to operate against it's bringing the
highest price possible. Nevertheless
our people do not place their money
interest above their sense OF justice
and II Is only necessary for them to
see the correctness in the attitude of
our government toward both Great
Britain and Germany. So far as the
writer has seen, practically nothing
has been brought out in our Southern
press making this situation clear.
Friend to South.
Now let us look at the proposition
that President Wilson and his Cabinet
are negligent OF our interests in the
South. That would be very poor poll
ties, for their stronGcs; support is
in the South. Now they can scarce
~ be accused of not knowing their
strength in the South, or the extent
q dc h1t 81 |,
Tor their continuance in office. Besides
there are very large interests in tho
North and East whose trade In dam
aged when cotton is low. The adj
ministration could not afford to wan
tonly drive away their support by ne
GlectinG the interests OF the South.
Furthermore. the present adm!niStra-
ton has been conspicuous since IL
came into power for being especially
favorable to our section. Besides be-
ing Southern by birth, carly training
and sentiment. tho President has been
very liberal in his appointments OF
Southern men TO important posts
Three of his Cabinet. one of the Fed
eral Reserve Board. the Comptroller
Of the Currency, are all Southern men.
Five OF the twelve Federal reserve
banks are located In the South. This
is 4 larger number than are located
in any other section.
Then why this apparent Indifference
To England's policy while holding Ger
many strictly 10 account? To any one
who does not care TO go deeply into
tho matter. this question may he an
swcred supcrticially 10 be sure, but
none the less truly, that England is
at worst only interfering with Am'
lean property, while Germany ha. in
terfcrcd. TO the extent of destruction.
with American lives and threatens to
repeat the oifensc rs often As similar
conditions arise We can afford TO go
n little slowly in adjusting onenscS
which can be adjusted in dollars. but
when our lives and the lives OF our
fellow citizens are threatened. the
greatest prompiness is demanded in
coming to an understanding.
Now To go more deeply into our re-
lations with England and Germany let
us consider carefully two questions
in regard to the policy OF each Cor
that part to which we ohjccD First.
how and to what extent are we dam
aged? Second. arc they acting with
in their rights in the conduct of their
respective policies? First to Eng
land Is their policy damaging us?
Very probably not at all. On the con-
trary il is very likely causing us to
get better price than we could get
If she were TO let cotton pass freely
between all countries neutral or bel
ligcrent. What" says the objector
II have heard that cotton was bring
ing 10 to IS cents in Germany" do
you tell me that 1t would not benefit
us, by the difference between. these
prices and that at which England is
setting to he able to reach the German
market freely" do certainly tell
you just that. Those abnormal prices
in Germany. of which you have heard
so much, are created by England's sue
cess in Keeping cotton out of GERMANY
Remove that restriction, let cotton pour
into Germany as freely as it can reach
England. and the price would be in
Germany the same as il is i'm our own