The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11
The South, Cotton, War and
Curse of Politics in 1914

, own foodstuns and cut his cotton
acreage proportionately.
As matter of fact. the acreage in
foodstuffs has been somewhat in
creased, and the cotton acreage has
been somewhat decreased. but tri-
ought to have been it's decrease. In
stead of 100000 acres this year de-
voted to cotton, 100000 ought TO
have been the outside figure. Having
made this economic blunder. the
South must face the situation calmly,
courageously and with a determination
to avoid such wholly unnecessary
panicky conditions as it permitted to
develop last year in the picking and
marketing of its crop. If it can rid
itself Of the work of the political
schemers who try to raise false issues.
and IL its business people and its
newspapers will meet the situation
sQuarely and fairly, there need be no
serious disturbance even though the
South may not be able to market the
stock carried over and the new crop
promptly and at profitable figures.
In this connection, a movement as I'M
wise as that which created the movement
buy a bale at 10 cents" and which pla-
carded the whole country with appeals to
Help the South" Is being stirred up by
some of the same politicians who last
year misled the South as to the han
ding Of its cotton. and now are seek
ing to arouse antagonism to Great
Britain demanding that the govern
ment shall adopt retaliatory meas
ures against that country If Great
Britain does not throw the markets
of the world open to cotton ship
ments.
1t is dificult to understand how in
telligent men in the South can be
guilty of such a piece of folly. Great
Britain and its allies are fighting for
existence. Their defeat would be as
disastrous to the United States as II
would be to them They are fighting
the battle Of this country and Of every
other country against militarism
the success Of which would throw
civilization back for 100 years and
inevitably engulf this country in an
overwhelming disaster.
Under such conditions it behooves
the people of the South to recognize
the fact that Great Britain is not
going to permit cotton to reach Ger
many if 1t can possibly avoid il.
Every bale Of cotton that enters Ger
many is simply aiding that country
in the campaign illustrated in the
sacking Of Belgium and in the muir
derous destruction of the Lusitania-
Every bale of cotton that enters Ger
many would simply prolong the war.
Great Britain, therefore, by reason of
its ability to practically blockade the
North Sea and keep cotton out of Ger
many, will do it. Any movement IN
this country to create hostility to
Great Britain because of its position
is shortsighted and is necessarily Gre
ating an agitation which cannot pos
sibly be of any help. In all serious
ness 1t may be suggested that Great
Britain and its allies in Europe and
Asia could. from the purely material
or military point of view, far better
afford to be at war with the United
States than to permit cotton to go freely
and fully into Germany.
This country is not one-fifth as well
prepared for war as was Great Brit
ain, and the unpreparedness of that
country is one of its monumental mis-
takes: but IL trusted Germany beyond
the point OF wisdom and safety.-From
the Minneapolis Record.